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his terrified grandmother。 This second accident gave him a feeling of
distrust； he thought； though vaguely； of Ferragus and Madame Jules。 To
throw light on these suspicions he had the broken axle brought to his
room and sent for his carriage…maker。 The man examined the axle and
the fracture； and proved two things： First； the axle was not made in
his workshop； he furnished none that did not bear the initials of his
name on the iron。 But he could not explain by what means this axle had
been substituted for the other。 Secondly； the breakage of the
suspicious axle was caused by a hollow space having been blown in it
and a straw very cleverly inserted。
〃Eh！ Monsieur le baron； whoever did that was malicious！〃 he said； 〃any
one would swear； to look at it； that the axle was sound。〃
Monsieur de Maulincour begged the carriage…maker to say nothing of the
affair； but he felt himself warned。 These two attempts at murder were
planned with an ability which denoted the enmity of intelligent minds。
〃It is war to the death；〃 he said to himself； as he tossed in his bed；
〃a war of savages； skulking in ambush； of trickery and treachery；
declared in the name of Madame Jules。 What sort of man is this to whom
she belongs？ What species of power does this Ferragus wield？〃
Monsieur de Maulincour； though a soldier and brave man； could not
repress a shudder。 In the midst of many thoughts that now assailed
him； there was one against which he felt he had neither defence nor
courage： might not poison be employed ere long by his secret enemies？
Under the influence of fears； which his momentary weakness and fever
and low diet increased； he sent for an old woman long attached to the
service of his grandmother； whose affection for himself was one of
those semi…maternal sentiments which are the sublime of the
commonplace。 Without confiding in her wholly； he charged her to buy
secretly and daily； in different localities； the food he needed；
telling her to keep it under lock and key and bring it to him herself；
not allowing any one； no matter who； to approach her while preparing
it。 He took the most minute precautions to protect himself against
that form of death。 He was ill in his bed and alone； and he had
therefore the leisure to think of his own security；the one necessity
clear…sighted enough to enable human egotism to forget nothing！
But the unfortunate man had poisoned his own life by this dread； and；
in spite of himself； suspicion dyed all his hours with its gloomy
tints。 These two lessons of attempted assassination did teach him；
however； the value of one of the virtues most necessary to a public
man； he saw the wise dissimulation that must be practised in dealing
with the great interests of life。 To be silent about our own secret is
nothing； but to be silent from the start； to forget a fact as Ali
Pacha did for thirty years in order to be sure of a vengeance waited
for for thirty years； is a fine study in a land where there are few
men who can keep their own counsel for thirty days。 Monsieur de
Maulincour literally lived only through Madame Jules。 He was
perpetually absorbed in a sober examination into the means he ought to
employ to triumph in this mysterious struggle with these mysterious
persons。 His secret passion for that woman grew by reason of all these
obstacles。 Madame Jules was ever there； erect； in the midst of his
thoughts； in the centre of his heart； more seductive by her presumable
vices than by the positive virtues for which he had made her his idol。
At last； anxious to reconnoitre the position of the enemy； he thought
he might without danger initiate the vidame into the secrets of his
situation。 The old commander loved Auguste as a father loves his
wife's children； he was shrewd； dexterous； and very diplomatic。 He
listened to the baron； shook his head； and they both held counsel。 The
worthy vidame did not share his young friend's confidence when Auguste
declared that in the time in which they now lived； the police and the
government were able to lay bare all mysteries； and that if it were
absolutely necessary to have recourse to those powers； he should find
them most powerful auxiliaries。
The old man replied； gravely： 〃The police； my dear boy； is the most
incompetent thing on this earth； and government the feeblest in all
matters concerning individuals。 Neither the police nor the government
can read hearts。 What we might reasonably ask of them is to search for
the causes of an act。 But the police and the government are both
eminently unfitted for that； they lack； essentially； the personal
interest which reveals all to him who wants to know all。 No human
power can prevent an assassin or a poisoner from reaching the heart of
a prince or the stomach of an honest man。 Passions are the best
police。〃
The vidame strongly advised the baron to go to Italy； and from Italy
to Greece； from Greece to Syria； from Syria to Asia； and not to return
until his secret enemies were convinced of his repentance； and would
so make tacit peace with him。 But if he did not take that course； then
the vidame advised him to stay in the house； and even in his own room；
where he would be safe from the attempts of this man Ferragus； and not
to leave it until he could be certain of crushing him。
〃We should never touch an enemy until we can be sure of taking his
head off；〃 he said； gravely。
The old man； however； promised his favorite to employ all the
astuteness with which Heaven had provided him （without compromising
any one） in reconnoitring the enemy's ground； and laying his plans for
future victory。 The Commander had in his service a retired Figaro； the
wiliest monkey that ever walked in human form； in earlier days as
clever as a devil； working his body like a galley…slave； alert as a
thief； sly as a woman； but now fallen into the decadence of genius for
want of practice since the new constitution of Parisian society； which
has reformed even the valets of comedy。 This Scapin emeritus was
attached to his master as to a superior being； but the shrewd old
vidame added a good round sum yearly to the wages of his former
provost of gallantry； which strengthened the ties of natural affection
by the bonds of self…interest； and obtained for the old gentleman as
much care as the most loving mistress could bestow on a sick friend。
It was this pearl of the old…fashioned comedy…valets； relic of the
last century； auxiliary incorruptible from lack of passions to
satisfy； on whom the old vidame and Monsieur de Maulincour now relied。
〃Monsieur le baron will spoil all；〃 said the great man in livery； when
called into counsel。 〃Monsieur should eat； drink； and sleep in peace。
I take the whole matter upon myself。〃
Accordingly； eight days after the conference； when Monsieur de
Maulincour； perfectly restored to health； was breakfasting with his
grandmother and the vidame； Justin entered to make his report。 As soon
as the dowager had returned to her own apartments he said； with that
mock modesty which men of talent are so apt to affect：
〃Ferragus is not the name of the enemy who is pursuing Monsieur le
baron。 This manthis devil； ratheris called Gratien； Henri； Victor；
Jean…Joseph Bourignard。 The Sieur Gratien Bourignard is a former ship…
builder； once very rich； and； above all； one of the handsomest men of
his day in Paris；a Lovelace； capable of seducing Grandison。 My
information stops short there。 He has been a simple workman； and the
Companions of the Order of the Devorants did； at one time； elect him
as their chief； under the title of Ferragus XXIII。 The police ought to
know that； if the police were instituted to know anything。 The man has
moved from the rue des Vieux…Augustins； and now roosts rue Joquelet；
where Madame Jules Desmarets goes frequently to see him； sometimes her
husband； on his way to the Bourse； drives her as far as the rue
Vivienne； or she drives her husband to the Bourse。 Monsieur le vidame
knows about these things too well to want me to tell him if it is the
husband who takes the wife； or the wife who takes the husband； but
Madame Jules is so pretty； I'd bet on her。 All that I have told you is
positive。 Bourignard often plays at number 129。 Saving your presence；
monsieur； he's a rogue who loves women； and he has his little ways
like a man of condition。 As for the rest； he wins sometimes； disguises
himself like an actor； paints his face to look like anything he
chooses； and lives； I may say； the most original life in the world。 I
don't doubt he has a good many lodgings； for most of the time he
manages to evade what Monsieur le vidame calls 〃parliamentary
investigations。〃 If monsieur wishes； he could be disposed of
honorably； seeing what his habits are。 It is always easy to get rid of
a man who loves women。 However； this capitalist talks about moving
again。 Have Monsieur le vidame and Monsieur le baron any other
commands to give me？〃
〃Justin； I am satisfied with you； don't go any farther in the matter
without my orders； but keep a close watch here； so that Monsieur le
baron may have nothing to fear。〃
〃My dear boy；〃 continued the vidame； when they were alone； 〃go back to
your old life； and forget Madame Jules。〃
〃No； no；〃