Chapter

 1  1,1|           in the employment of the Count de Chalusse." ~Pascal and
 2  1,1|       Chalusse?" ~"Yes, madame - a count - and so rich that he didn'
 3  1,1|           clouds, and the deceased count has been passing her off
 4  3,3|            you acquainted with the Count de Chalusse, who died a
 5  3,3|        inquire? Certainly not. The count told me the whole story,
 6  3,3|            woman, she resisted the count's advances for awhile -
 7  3,4|    particulars, my dear baron. The count was not very explicit when
 8  3,4|  discontinued his search, that the count began his. It was a long
 9  3,4|             de Valorsay, "the poor count was fated to have no peace.
10  3,4|           sex. Pretending that the count had turned her from the
11  3,4|      sooner or later. And when the count announced his intention
12  3,4|  everything to her husband." ~"The count was a patient man," sneered
13  3,4|        this. In any case, the poor count found it impossible to escape
14  4,1|            extorted money from the Count de Chalusse," he thought; "
15  4,1|       wreak my vengeance? Upon the Count de Chalusse? He is dead.
16  4,2|           She wrote to me that the Count de Chalusse extorted from
17  4,2|        marry the marquis! Then the count must have been fully restored
18  4,2|      resources, simply because the count died too suddenly to be
19  5,4|            the sudden death of the Count de Chalusse changed the
20  5,4|           on the evening after the count's death, and his emotion
21  5,6|      Marquis de Valorsay since the Count de Chalusse's death and
22  5,6|      Argeles must lay claim to the count's estate. If she hesitates,
23  5,6|      belongs to you is that of the Count de Chalusse, your uncle.
24  5,6|            family," he began. "The Count de Chalusse my uncle! I
25  5,6|        mother is the sister of the Count de Chalusse, and it is through
26  6,1|         announced the death of the Count de Chalusse; she had betrayed
27  6,2|          earthly happiness was the Count de Chalusse, your brother." ~
28  6,2|          to have it otherwise. The count is dead, but I can still
29  6,3|        obtaining possession of the count's millions. And if he did
30  7,2|            only the heiress of the Count de Chalusse's millions,
31  7,4|        course! Your brother's, the Count de Chalusse." ~Now M. Wilkie'
32  7,4|          not his mother's, but the Count de Chalusse's estate that
33  7,5|         you are the heiress of the count's property, which is valued
34  7,5|          stylish man in Paris. The count's estate belongs to me,
35  8,1|            the virtues of the late Count de Chalusse, and congratulated
36  8,1|            to his carriage lamp to count the money, and seeing that
37  8,3|            had been engaged by the Count de Chalusse, that the estimable "
38  9,1|         that were missing from the count's escritoire. Even then
39 10,2| highest-priced hireling. "So I can count on you, Victor?" he inquired. ~"
40 11,4|          he was the agent whom the Count de Chalusse had employed
41 11,4|         name of the woman whom the count so dreaded, and who had
42 11,4|      ringing voice: "I am the late Count de Chalusse's ward, Mademoiselle
43 11,5|            instrument in which the count acknowledges you as his
44 12,2|           not the daughter, of the Count de Chalusse. Who knows what
45 12,3|            the mother who does not count as one of the sublime joys
46 12,4|        while Valorsay declares the Count de Chalusse died so suddenly,
47 13,1|           handed to Pascal. "Here, count it," he added, "and see
48 14,1|         obtained anything from the count's estate, which was more
49 14,5|           obtain possession of the Count de Chalusse's estate? That'
50 14,5|        rights to the estate of the Count de Chalusse is already recorded." ~"
51 15,6|           know a man, formerly the Count de Chalusse's confidential
52 15,6|            who would have been the Count de Chalusse's sole legatee,
53 16,1|            Gordon-Chalusse, with a count's coronet in one of the
54 16,1|           Casimir was the deceased count's valet. He is a clever
55 16,1|          been stolen from the late count's estate." ~M. Wilkie bounded
56 16,1|           preceding his death, the count had more than two millions
57 16,2|          at least people say - the count's illegitimate daughter.
58 16,2|     General de Fondege, one of the count's friends. She wouldn't
59 16,2|      impertinent questions, at the Count de Chalusse's bedside; the
60 16,2|          there had been any of the count's relatives in the house,
61 16,2|           same dogmatic tone. "The count apparently died from an
62 16,2|          persistent efforts of the count's intellect, his muscular
63 16,2|    understand!" he exclaimed. "The count was murdered - poisoned." ~
64 16,2|          preceding his attack, the count took two spoonfuls of the
65 16,2|        only one person besides the count knew that the money was
66 16,2|         And this person?" ~"Is the count's illegitimate daughter,
67 16,2|           were one of the deceased count's relatives or heirs." ~ ~
68 16,3|           poison whatsoever in the Count de Chalusse's exhumed remains.
69 16,3|           Whatever happens you can count upon me." ~Left alone with
70 16,3|          dear friend. It is in the count's escritoire, but it won'
71 16,4|        already - the day after the count's death - a second attempt
72 16,4|        committed. Fortunately, the Count de Chalusse distrusted this
73 16,4|   guarantees that the value of the count's estate cannot be less
74 17,4|   perturbation of a person who can count the days by his mistakes,
75 18,3|          times at the table of the Count de Chalusse, who was his
76 18,3|           a year ago, and that the count treated me like a daughter -
77 18,3|           were the daughter of the Count de Chalusse, mademoiselle." ~"
78 18,4|          not a fortnight since the count's death!" ~Madame de Fondege
79 18,5|            you the daughter of the Count de Chalusse." And adding
80 18,5|            had been dazzled by the Count de Chalusse's wealth, and
81 18,5|            are the daughter of the Count de Chalusse?" ~"I think
82 18,5|        mistaken, madame. After the Count de Chalusse's death, a package
83 18,5|            my husband; I loved the Count de Chalusse madly, and he
84 18,5|        with my own hand." ~Now the count's constant terror, the fear
85 19,3|            the night following the count's death. "Ah, well! Pascal,"
86 19,3|      heiress to the fortune of the Count de Chalusse, your father.
87 19,3|           Marquis de Valorsay, the Count de Chalusse had promised
88 19,3|           good intentions, my dear count,' said he,' but suppose
89 19,3|           obtain possession of the count's millions." ~"Ah! the old
90 19,4|          with her request. Had the count decided to brave this scandal
91 19,4|        read as follows: ~"'MY DEAR COUNT DE CHALUSSE - I hereby acknowledge
92 19,4|       letter. And believe, my dear count, in the absolute devotion
93 19,4|          Perhaps on hearing of the count's sudden death he bribed
94 19,5|     defensive, with the son of the Count de Chalusse's sister, who
95 19,5|          and also of poisoning the count." ~The girl shrugged her
96 19,5|           and this is not all. The count's escritoire contains the
97 20,1|           especially from the late count's escritoire, without an
98 20,1|        with what had satisfied the Count de Chalusse. "For I have
99 20,2|           obtain possession of the count's millions, and the abominable