Later--too late--he discovered what vile intrigue it was that he
had served. And when he became sincerely repentant he loathed
this Coralth who had caused his crime.
Nor was this all. The recognition of Coralth had inspired him
with remorse. It had aroused in the recesses of his conscience a
threatening voice which cried: "What are you doing here? You are
acting as a spy for a man you distrust, and whose real designs you
are ignorant of. It was in this way you began before. Have you
forgotten what it led to? Have you not sin enough already upon
your conscience? Blood enough upon your hands? It is folly to
pretend that one may serve as a tool for villains, and still
remain an honest man!"
It was this voice which had given Chupin the courage to light his
cigar with the bank-note. And this voice still tortured him, as
seated on the bench he now tried to review the situation. Where,
indeed, was he? With rare good luck he had discovered the son whom
Madame Lia d'Argeles had so long and successfully concealed. But
contrary to all expectations, this young fellow already knew of
the inheritance which he was entitled to. M. de Coralth had
already achieved what M. Fortunat had meant to do; and so the plan
was a failure, and it was useless to persist in it.
This would have ended the matter if Chupin had not chanced to know
the Viscount de Coralth's shameful past. And this knowledge
changed everything, for it gave him the power to interfere in a
most effectual manner.
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