He hinted it himself.' Accordingly on hearing
of the count's sudden death, he said to himself, 'If Marguerite
was my wife, and if I could prove her to be M. de Chalusse's
daughter, I should obtain several millions.' Whereupon he
consulted his legal adviser who assured him that it would be the
best course he could pursue; and so he came here. You repulsed
him, but he will soon make another assault, you may rest assured
of that. And some day or other he will come to you and say,
'Whether we marry or not, let us divide.'"
Mademoiselle Marguerite was amazed. The magistrate's words seemed
to dispel the mist which had hitherto hidden the truth from view.
"Yes," she exclaimed, "yes, you are right, monsieur."
He was silent for a moment, and then he resumed: "I understand M.
de Fondege's motive less clearly; but still I have some clue. He
had not questioned the servants. That is evident from the fact
that on his arrival here he believed you to be the sole legatee.
He was also aware that M. de Chalusse had taken certain
precautions we are ignorant of, but which he is no doubt fully
acquainted with. What you told him about your poverty amazed him,
and he immediately evinced a desire to atone for the count's
neglect with as much eagerness as if he were the cause of this
negligence himself. And, indeed, judging by the agitation he
displayed when he was imploring you to become his son's wife, one
might almost imagine that the sight of your misery awakened a
remorse which he was endeavoring to quiet.
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