Thus, the hatred of this pair, who were in appearance so
united, is explained; and it is also clear why Hector has ruined a
charming young girl with a splendid dowry, instead of making her his
wife. There is nothing surprising in Tremorel's casting aside his
name and personality to reappear under another guise; he killed his
wife because he was constrained to do so by the logic of events. He
could not fly while she was alive, and yet he could not continue to
live at Valfeuillu. And above all, the paper for which he searched
with such desperation, when every moment was an affair of life and
death to him, was none other than Sauvresy's manuscript, his
condemnation and the proof of his first crime."
M. Lecoq talked eagerly, as if he had a personal animosity against
the Count de Tremorel; such was his nature; and he always avowed
laughingly that he could not help having a grudge against the
criminals whom he pursued. There was an account to settle between
him and them; hence the ardor of his pursuit. Perhaps it was a
simple matter of instinct with him, like that which impels the
hunting hound on the track of his game.
"It is clear enough now," he went on, "that it was Mademoiselle
Courtois who put an end to his hesitation and eternal delay.
Pages:
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379