The Champdoce Mystery by Emile Gaboriau (crime books to read TXT) π
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- Author: Emile Gaboriau
Read book online Β«The Champdoce Mystery by Emile Gaboriau (crime books to read TXT) πΒ». Author - Emile Gaboriau
For two hours his efforts were fruitless. Giving up his search in despair, he turned once more to regain the Chateau, and, taking the path through the wood, suddenly perceived a human form stretched on the turf beneath a tree. He moved cautiously towards the figure, and at once recognized Norbert. The faithful servant bent over his young master, and shook him by the arm to arouse him from his state of stupor. At the first touch, Norbert started to his feet with a shriek of terror. With mingled fear and pity, Jean noticed the look that shone in the young manβs eyes, more like that of some hunted animal than a human being.
βDo not be alarmed, M. Norbert; it is only I,β said he.
βAnd what do you want?β
βI came to look for you, and to entreat you to come back with me to Champdoce.β
βBack to Champdoce?β repeated Norbert hoarsely; βno, never!β
βYou must, Master Norbert; for your absence now would cause a terrible scandal. Your place at this critical time is by the bedside of your father.β
βNever! never!β repeated the poor boy; but he yielded passively when Jean passed his arm through his, and led him away towards the Chateau. Supported thus by the old manβs arm, he crossed the courtyard, and ascended the staircase; but at his fatherβs door he withdrew his hand, and struggled to get away.
βI will not; no, no, I cannot,β gasped he.
βYou must and you shall,β returned the old man firmly. βWhatever your feelings may be, no stain shall rest on the family honor.β
These words roused Norbert; he stepped across the room, and dropped on his knees by the bed, placing his forehead upon his fatherβs icy hand. He burst into a passion of tears and sobs, and the simple peasants, who surrounded the couch of the insensible nobleman, breathed a sigh; for, from his pallid face and burning eyes, they believed he must be mad. They were not far out in this surmise; but the tears relieved his over-wrought brain, and with this relief came the sense of intense suffering. When the physician arrived, he was able to appear before him merely as a deeply anxious son.
βThere is no hope for the Duke, I regret to say,β said the medical man, who felt that it was useless to keep Norbert in suspense. βThere is a feeble chance of saving his life; but even should we succeed in doing so, his intellect will be irretrievably gone. This is a sad truth, but I feel it my duty to inform you of it. I will come again to-morrow.β
As the doctor left the room, Norbert threw himself into a chair, and clasped his hands round his head, which throbbed until it seemed as if it would burst. For more than half an hour he sat motionless, and then started to his feet with a stifled cry; for he remembered the bottle into which he had poured the poison, and which had been left on the table. Had any one drunk from it? What had become of it? The agony of his mind gave him the necessary strength to descend to the dining-room; but the bottle was not on the table, nor was it in its customary place in the cupboard. The unhappy boy was looking for it everywhere, when the door silently opened, and Jean appeared on the threshold. The expression upon his young masterβs face so startled the faithful old man that he nearly dropped the lighted candle that he carried in his hand.
βWhy are you here, Master Norbert?β asked he in a voice that trembled with emotion.
βI was looking forββI wanted to findββ,β faltered Norbert.
Jeanβs suspicions at once became certainties; he walked up to his young master, and whispered in his ear,β
βYou are looking for the Dukeβs bottle of wine, are you not? It is quite safe; for I have taken it to my room. To-morrow the contents shall be emptied away, and there will be no proof existing.β
Jean spoke in such a low voice that Norbert guessed rather than heard his words, and yet it seemed that the accusing whisper resounded like thunder through the Chateau, filling the old house from cellar to roof-tree.
βBe quiet,β said he, laying his hand on the old manβs lips, and gazing around him with wild and affrighted glances.
A more complete confession could hardly have been made.
βFear nothing, Master Norbert,β answered Jean; βwe are quite alone. I know that there are words which should never be even breathed; and if I have ventured to speak, it was because it was my duty to warn you, and to inculcate on you the necessity of caution.β
Norbert was filled with horror when he saw that the old man believed him to be really guilty.
βJean,β cried he, βyou are wrong in your suspicions. I tell you that my father never tasted that wine. I snatched the glass from him before his lips had touched it. I flung it out into the courtyard, and, if you search, you will find its scattered fragments there still.β
βI am not sitting in judgment upon you; what you tell me to believe I am ready to accept.β
βAh!β cried Norbert passionately, βhe does not believe me; he thinks that I am guilty. I swear to you by all that I hold most sacred in this world, that I am innocent of this deed.β
The attached servant shook his head with a melancholy air.
βOf course, of course,β said he; βbut it is for us two to save the honor of the house of Champdoce. Should it happen that any suspicions should be aroused, put all the guilt upon my shoulders. I will defend myself in a manner which will only fix the crime more firmly upon me. I will not throw away the bottle, but will retain it in my room, so that it may be found there, and its contents will be a damnatory evidence against me. What matters it how a poor man like me is sent out of the world? but with you it is different. Youββ
Norbert wrung his hands in abject despair; the sublime devotion of the old servant showed how firmly Jean believed in his criminality. He was about to assert his innocence further, when the loud sound of a
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