human
I--I am coming, dear--coming,
gpt
Then I will wait for you.
human
Excuse me, madame, I said;
gpt
Oh, of course in that case I will leave you alone,
human
Well? he asked when she had gone.
gpt
What do you mean by these strange threats? I do not know you, and I've nothing whatever to fear from you.
human
As time is of importance to both of us, I may as well speak plainly at once, m'sieur, I said, folding my arms resolutely.
gpt
I require Zoraida's release before the dawn.
human
Impossible!
gpt
Then you will no longer be Governor-General of this colony!
human
Your words are absolute nonsense. _Diable_! You English are always more or less insane!
gpt
Do you absolutely refuse to grant her liberty?
human
Most decidedly I do.
gpt
Then listen! I said determinedly.
human
Listen, while I bring back to your recollection certain curious facts that, although concealed, are nevertheless not forgotten. You jeer at my discomforture; you would send a pure, innocent woman to the guillotine, because you fear the consequence of her escape might be your removal from office. Very well. Believe me, you will soon enough be recalled, and sink to a fitting end of ignominy and shame.
gpt
Be silent until I have finished; then give me your decision, I continued resolutely.
human
Not long ago there lived in London a nobleman who had a young and beautiful daughter. She had the misfortune to be an heiress. An aged ex-Minister, a Frenchman, met her, and coveted her gold. He proposed, and was accepted by the nobleman, but there were two barriers to their marriage: firstly, a lover to whom the heiress had already given her heart; and secondly, a cousin who had lived in Paris a long time, and, knowing its seamy side, knew also Mariette Lestrade, a whilom luminary of the Moulin Rouge, who resided in a pretty bijou villa on the edge of the Bois, under the protection of the ex-Minister. The latter, however, was not a man to be easily turned from his purpose, for, strangely enough, the heiress's cousin was found murdered in his chambers in St James's Street, and--and the alleged murderer--
gpt
The murderer escaped!
human
Yes, quite true, he did escape. He escaped to marry and secure the fortune of the heiress, and--_to become Governor-General of Algeria_!
gpt
What--what do you allege? he gasped, jumping to his feet, his face livid.
human
Do you impute that I--I committed the murder?
gpt
I impute nothing, I answered quietly.
human
I have already in my possession absolute proof of the identity of the murderer.
gpt
Proof? he gasped.
human
What--what do you mean?
gpt
If you desire me to explain, I will, I said.
human
Violet Hanbury's lover, a compatriot of yours, is believed to have committed the crime.
gpt
It was proved, he declared quickly.
human
The knife with which the victim was struck was his, and upon the floor was found a gold pencil-case, with his name engraved upon it; besides, he was seen there by the valet. The police have searched for him everywhere, but he has disappeared.
gpt
I now appear in his stead to disprove the terrible charge against him-- to bring the assassin to justice.
human
If you can, he said, assuming an air of haughty insolence.
gpt
Believe me, m'sieur, I shall have but little difficulty.
human
And the proof! Of what, pray, does it consist?
gpt
It is something, the existence of which you little dream.
human
Oh! he cried.
gpt
This is infamous!
human
You seek an explanation, therefore I will conceal nothing. When you are before a criminal court, which will be at a date not far distant, M'sieur de Largentiere, you will have to explain why the murdered man called on you at Long's Hotel in Bond Street, in the afternoon of the day of the murder.
gpt
He did not call.
human
The Court will decide that.
gpt
Bah!--do your worst. I--I am Governor-General of Algeria, and you--you are an unknown alien.
human
True, you are on French soil, but there is such a thing as extradition. In a week I shall be in London, and then--
gpt
What then?
human
I shall place the Criminal Investigation Department at Scotland Yard in possession of such facts that your extradition will be immediately demanded.
gpt
You talk nonsense, he cried impatiently.
human
Let us end this interview. I--I am really too busy to listen to such empty threats and idle boasts.
gpt
My only boast is that I shall be the means of bringing an assassin to justice,
human
I have not the slightest fear of the consequences of your ridiculous story, he answered, with a sneer.
gpt
You are at liberty to act as you think proper. As for this remarkable evidence which you assert is in your possession, well--I do not know its nature, neither do I care.
human
Perhaps it will be as well if you are acquainted with its nature, I said.
gpt
You declare that Fothergill did not call on you at Long's on that day?
human
Most decidedly I do. I had not seen him for quite a week prior to the tragedy.
gpt
Then would it surprise you very much to know that, an hour after calling on you in Bond Street, he wrote to the man who is now suspected of the crime, telling him the details of that interview--
human
The details?
gpt
Yes, the details, I repeated.
human
They were given very minutely regarding Mariette Lestrade and her relations with you, your efforts to preserve your secret, and your threats of violence should he divulge anything to prejudice you in the eyes of Lord Isleworth.
gpt
Absurd. No such letter was ever written.
human
It was, I replied, and drawing slowly from my pocket a piece of folded paper, I added,
gpt
Its original still exists, and I have a copy here.
human
The--the dead man--wrote it?
gpt
Yes. It will prove interesting reading at the trial. Glance at it for yourself.