"
"That is true," said the Skeleton.
"A bailiff here!" cried Frank, the victim of Boulard, with astonishment.
"And what is his name?"
"Boulard," said Cardillac.
"It is my man," cried Frank, doubling his fists; "it is he who stole my
savings."
"The bailiff?" asked the provost.
"Yes; seven hundred and twenty francs which he collected for me."
"You know him? he has seen you?" asked the Skeleton.
"I should think I had seen him, to my sorrow. But for him I should not be
here."
These regrets sounded badly in the ears of Skeleton; he fixed his squinting
eyes on Frank, who answered some questions of his comrades; then leaning
over toward Cripple, whispered in a low tone, "Here is a kid who is capable
of informing the keepers of our plant."
"No: I answer for him: he will denounce no one, but he is still a little
timid about crime, and he might be capable of defending Germain. Better get
him out of the way."
"Enough," said Skeleton, and he said in a loud tone, "I say, Frank, won't
you have a settlement with this rascally bailiff?"
"Let me alone; let him come, his account is made out."
"He is coming, get ready."
"I am all ready; he will bear my mark."
"That will make a scuffle; they will send the bailiff to his ell, and Frank
to the dungeon," whispered Skeleton to the Cripple, "we shall get rid of
both."
"What a head! Is he not a trump?" said the robber, with admiration; then he
resumed aloud, "Shall Pique-Vinaigre be informed that by the assistance of
his story we mean to stuff the keeper and finish the traitor?"
"No; Pique-Vinaigre has too much milk in his composition, and is too great
a coward; if he knew it he would not tell his story; the blow struck, he
will bear his part.
Pages:
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176