HOW CARMEN KEEPS HER WORD
If Carmen had not hoped to serve Gontram and his friends she would have left the Larsagny palace at once, but under existing circumstances prudence prompted her to stay and not to repulse the banker entirely; for she suspected that Larsagny held in his hand the threads of the mystery which threatened the Vicomte of Monte-Cristo. Carmen did not have much time to think, for hardly an hour after Gontram had gone, the banker appeared in the boudoir, and looking with astonishment at her, he said:
"What does this mean, Carmen? Our guests will soon be here, and you are not yet dressed."
"Our guests?" repeated Carmen, in amazement.
"Yes. Have you forgotten that the ball for which you yourself sent out invitations ten days ago, takes place to-night?"
"Really, I had forgotten all about it," stammered Carmen. "It is all the same, though; I have a headache and shall remain in my room."
"But, Carmen, what shall we do if you do not appear?"
"That is not my affair," replied Carmen, laconically.
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The banker ran his hands through his hair in despair.
"Carmen, be reasonable," he implored, as he tried to take her hand.
"Don't touch me," said Carmen.
Larsagny bit his lips.
"What have I done to you?" he groaned. "Think of the shame if the ladies appear and find out that my daughter has retired to her room."
Carmen became pensive. Perhaps it might be better if she took part in the ball; she might hear something of interest to Gontram.
"Well, if you desire it, I will appear, but under one condition," she said, coldly.
"Name it."
"I demand that you shall not present me to any one as your daughter."
"But what shall I say?"
"Anything else. And now go, I must make my toilet."
"Carmen, I have one more favor to ask of you."
"Well?"
"I must leave the house about twelve o'clock for one or more hours—"
"He lies," thought Carmen to herself.
"To do this," continued Larsagny, "I must pretend some sudden sickness. You will have me brought to my room, and then—"
"Since when are the bankers and the money-brokers at night in their offices?" asked Carmen.
"But—"
"Do you mean to tell me that you have business on the Bourse at midnight?"
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"Carmen, I swear to you that—"
"If you imagine that you can make me your accomplice in some crime that you are planning, you are mistaken. I will be the first one to deliver you over to the law."
Larsagny trembled, but he tried to smile, and with a hasty au revoir he went away.
Carmen hastily dressed herself; she didn't pay much attention to her toilet, and went down to the parlors, where a number of guests were already assembled.
* * * * *
The greatest names of the empire had been announced by the lackeys.
Suddenly a murmur ran through the assembly. "Mohammed Ben Omar," the lackey had called, and all crowded about the reception-room to see the pasha.
With genuine Oriental grandeur the pasha slowly walked toward the host. Larsagny bowed deeply; the Bedouin answered the greeting by placing his right hand over his heart. That ended the conversation for the present, for Mohammed made a sign that he did not understand a word of French. Only when he saw a remarkably handsome woman he would say:
"Pretty woman."
Carmen had been distinguished in this way, and Larsagny, who felt flattered by it, tried to make the pasha comprehend that she was his daughter.
"Ah, pretty, pretty," repeated the Mussulman, and the banker, his face lighted up with joy, said:
"May I introduce her?"
Mohammed nodded.
Carmen bowed politely when the introduction was[Pg 336] made, and said nothing. Omar offered her his arm, and murmured as he pointed to some pictures.
"Allah il Allah. I come from the painter Gontram. Mohammed resoul il Allah."
"The pasha evidently wishes you to show him the picture-gallery," said Larsagny.
"Then come," said the young girl to the Oriental.
As soon as Omar was alone with his companion, he whispered:
"Pardon me, I have to speak to you."
"Who are you?" asked Carmen.
"A friend, a former Zouave in the service of the Count of Monte-Cristo."
"Well, what have you?"
"A note from the painter Gontram."
"Give it to me—quickly."
Coucou drew the letter from the folds of his bernouse and gave it to the young girl. It read as follows:
"Carmen, my friends are in danger; Jane Zild has been abducted and Spero has disappeared. If every sign does not deceive, the banker must know something about it. Perhaps you may be able to find out the secret.
"In great haste,
"G. S."
Carmen breathed more freely after she had read the lines.
"Well?" said the Zouave, expectantly.
"Go back to Monsieur Sabran and tell him I will move heaven and earth to find out the secret. Gontram is still in the Monte-Cristo palace, is he not?"
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"Yes."
"If I have occasion to go there will I be admitted?"
"Yes."
At this moment a servant rushed into the parlor and exclaimed:
"Mademoiselle, Monsieur de Larsagny has suddenly become ill."
"I shall come soon," said Carmen, coldly, and nodding to Coucou, she went away.
In the banker's room great confusion reigned. The master of the house lay motionless, with closed eyes, on a divan. A physician who happened to be present, suggested opening a vein, and Carmen stood at the bedside, not knowing what to do.
At length she consented, and while the operation was being performed, Carmen searched all of Monsieur de Larsagny's pockets. She soon discovered a letter, and hurried with it to her room. The note read as follows:
"Our revenge is assured. Fanfaro, Gontram, and a former clown determined to discover the vic.'s whereabout, and thanks to their curiosity they have fallen into a trap in the M. C. palace. The little one is in the house in Courb., and the son of the man against whom we have sworn eternal hate will come too late.
"C."
Carmen at once understood the meaning of these lines. She knew the house in Courbevoie spoken about, and throwing a long black cloak over her shoulders she left the palace by the rear door.
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