M. de Valorsay, as you
know, has boasted of his power to overcome your resistance, and he
really believes that he possesses this power. Why I have not
killed him again and again when he has been at my mercy, I can
scarcely understand. The only thing that gave me power to
restrain myself was my desire for as sure, as terrible, and as
public a revenge as the humiliation he inflicted on me. His plan
for your ruin is such as only a scoundrel like himself could
conceive. With the assistance of his vile tool, Coralth, he has
formed a league, offensive and defensive, with the son of the
Count de Chalusse's sister, who is the only acknowledged heir at
this moment--a young man destitute of heart and intelligence, and
inordinately vain, but neither better nor worse than many others
who figure respectably in society. His name is Wilkie Gordon.
The marquis has acquired great influence over him, and has
persuaded him that it is his duty to denounce you to the
authorities. He has, in short, accused you of defrauding the
heirs of the Chalusse estate of two millions of francs and also of
poisoning the count."
The girl shrugged her shoulders disdainfully. "As for the
robbery, we have an answer to that," she answered, "and as regards
the poisoning--really the accusation is too absurd!"
But Pascal still looked gloomy. "The matter is more serious than
you suppose," he replied.
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