Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-07-21
CHAPTER XXI.

manned i'm state of stupor bordering
upon unconsciousness.
Gradually. however. she recovered
her senses sufficiently TO comprehend
the horrors of her present situation;
and, with the faculty of thought that
Of suffering returned.
i The dreadful scene in which she had
taken part was still before her at
frighted vision; all the attending
1 circumstances. unnoticed at the time
now struck her forcibly.
She saw that she had been the dupe
OF a shameful conspiracy; that Raoul
had tortured her with cold blooded
cruelty, had taken advantage of her
tenderness. and had speculated upon
her fright.
But had Prosper anything to dc
with the robbery? This Nine. Fauvel
had no way OF finding. All Raoul
knew how the blow would strike when
he accused Prosper. He knew that
Nine. Fauvel would end by believing
in the cashiers completely.
The unhappy woman sat and
thought over every possible. way
in which Raoul could find out
the secret word without Pros
per's knowledge. She rejected
with horror the idea that the cashier
was the instigator OF the crime; but
in spite Of herself. IL constantly re-
| CURED. And finally she felt convinced
that what Raoul said must be true;
for who but Prosper could have be
trayed the wordT and who but Pros
per could have left so large an
amount Of money In the safe. which.
by order Of the banker. was 10 be al
WAYS left empty at night?
knowing that Prosper was leading
a life OF extravaganza and dissipa-
ton, she thought Il very likely he
had. from sheer desperation, resortrd
10 this bold step to pay his debts; her
blind affection. moreover, made her
anxious 20 attribute the crime TO any
one rather than 20 her darling son.
She had heard that Prosper was
supporting one OF those worthless
creatures whose extravaganza impov-
erishes men. and whose evil influence
perverts their natures. When a young
man Is thus degraded. will he stop al
any sin or crime? Alasi Nine. Fauvel
knew. from her own sad experience
TO What depths even one faul; can
lead. Although she believed Prosper
guilty. she did not blame him. but
considered herself responsible for his
sins.
Had she not herself banished the
poor young man from a fireside which
he had begun ~ regard a. his own
Had she not destroyed his hopes aud
happiness by crushing his pure love
for a noble girl. whom he looked up
on as his future wife. and thus driven
him into life OF dissipation and sin
She.-Was undecided whether 20 con-
fdein Madeleine or bury the secret
In her own breast.
Fatally inspired. she decided TO keep
silent
When Madeleine returned home az
II o'clock, Mime. Fauvel not only was
silent as 20 what had occurred. but
even succeeded ia so concealing al.
traces Of her agitation. thar she rs.
capped any questions from her niece.
Her calmness never left her when
NJ. Fauvel and IDcien returned. al
though she was in terror lest her hu--
band should 20 down 10 the cash
room 10 sre that everything was safe
ly locked mp. IL was not his habit 20
open the money safe at nish hi. hut he
sometimes did So.
As fate would have IL. the banke-.
as soon as n entered the room beran
TO speak of Prosper, ~ wing how dis
tressing II was that so interesting a
Iyoung man should he thus throwing
himself away. aud wondering what
could have happened 70 make him
lsuddenly cease his visits at the house.
and resort 20 bad company.
II NJ. Fauvel had looked at the faces
of his wife and uicce while he harshly
blamed the cashier. he would have
been puzzled al their strange express
sions
All night long Mime. Fauvel suffered
the most .intolcra bic agony. She con. /
ed each stroke OF the town clock a.
the hours dragged on.
In siN hours. she said 10 herself
I'm I'VE hours--iI, four hours-in three
hours-in one hour-and all viii be
discovered; and then what viii hap
pen? Heaven help mel"
At sunrise she heard the servants
moving about the house: then the OF
nee shutters opened; thea. later. She
heard the clerks going into the bank.
She attempted 10 get up. but felt
so III and weak, that she sunk back
on her pillow; and lying there, trem.
bling like leaf. bathed in cold per
spiTation. she awaited the discovery
of the robbery.
She was leaning over the side Of
the bed. straining her ear TO catch a
sound from the cash-room, when Mad.
eleine, who had just left her, rushed
into the room.
The white face and wild eyes of the
poor girl told Nine Fauvel that the
crime was discovered.
DO you know what has happened
auntY' cried Madeleine, in shrill
Mortified tone. Prosper is accused of
robbery. and the police have come 20
take him TO prison!"
groan was Mime. FauveI's only
answer.
kaoni or the marquis Is at the
l...s 49,. "a =.