In any case, call here again at
four o'clock."
But the thought of meeting Madame d'Argeles again was anything but
pleasing to Wilkie. "I would willingly yield that undertaking to
some one else," said he. "Cannot some one else go in my place?"
Fortunately M. de Coralth knew how to encourage him. "What! are
you afraid?" he asked.
Afraid! he?--never! It was easy to see that by the way he settled
his hat on his head and went off, slamming the door noisily behind
him.
"What an idiot!" muttered M. de Coralth. "And to think that there
are ten thousand in Paris built upon the very same plan!"
M. de Valorsay gravely shook his head. "Let us thank fortune that
he is as he is. No youth who possessed either heart or
intelligence would play the part that I intend for him, and enable
me to obtain proud Marguerite and her millions. But I fear he
won't go to Madame d'Argeles's house. You noticed his
repugnance!"
"Oh, you needn't trouble yourself in the least on that account--
he'll go. He would go to the devil if the noble Marquis de
Valorsay ordered him to do so."
M. de Coralth understood Wilkie perfectly. The fear of being
considered a coward by a nobleman like the Marquis de Valorsay was
more than sufficient, not only to divest him of all his scruples,
but even to induce him to commit any act of folly, or actually a
crime.
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