Mascarin, who was anxious to make as deep an impression as possible upon
Croisenois and Paul, broke off his story abruptly, and paced up and down the
room. Had his intention been to startle his audience, he had most certainly
succeeded. Paul was breathless with interest, and Croisenois broke down in
attempting to make one of his usual trivial remarks. He was not particularly
intelligent, except as regarded his self-interests, and though, of course, he knew
that there must be some connection between his interests and the recital that
Mascarin had just made, he could not for the life of him make out what it was.
Mascarin seemed utterly careless of the effect that he had produced. But the
next time that his walk brought him to his desk he stopped, and, adjusting his
glasses, said, "I trust, Marquis, that you will forgive this long preliminary address,
which would really make a good sensational novel; but we have now arrived at
the really practical part of the business." As he said these words, he took up an
imposing attitude, with his elbow resting on the mantelpiece.
"On the night of which I have spoken, I and my friends released ourselves from
all the bonds of virtue and honor, and freed ourselves from all the fetters of duty
to our fellow-men. The plan emanated from my brain complete in all its details in
the will I made twenty years ago to my friends. Marquis, as the summer goes on,
you know that the ripest and reddest cherries are the fullest flavored, just so, in
the noblest and wealthiest of families in Paris there is not one that has not some
terrible and ghostly secret which is sedulously concealed. Now, suppose that one
man should gain possession of all of them, would he not be sole and absolute
master? Would he not be more powerful than a despot on his throne? Would he
not be able to sway society in any manner he might think fit? Well, I said to
myself, I will be that man!"
Ever since the Marquis had been in relation with Mascarin, he had shrewdly
suspected that his business was not conducted on really fair principles.
"What you mention," said he, "is nothing but an elaborate and extended system
of blackmail."
Mascarin bowed low, with an ironical smile on his face. "Just so, Marquis, just so;
you have hit on the very name. The word is modern, but the operation doubtless
dates from the earliest ages. The day upon which one man began to trade upon
the guilty secret of another was the date of the institution of this line of business.
If antiquity makes a thing respectable, then blackmailing is worthy of great
respect."
"But, sir," said the Marquis, with a flush upon his face, "but, sir--"
"Pshaw!" broke in Mascarin, "does a mere word frighten you? Who has not done
some of it in his time? Why, look at yourself. Do you not recollect this winter that
you detected a young man cheating at cards? You said nothing to him at the
time, but you found out that he was rich, and, calling upon him the next day,
borrowed ten thousand francs. When do you intend to repay that loan?"
