The Orphan's Tale Read Online Free PDF

much less fatiguing if you would finally alight." He smiled at Malet's expression. "No, you don't annoy me, my dear sir. It's only that I find myself sadly reminded that I lack your energy."
    Malet sat down.
    "Thirty thousand francs," Count d'Anglars said again. "On what case can he give us information?"
    Malet managed to convey the impression of restlessness even while sitting still with his hands folded. "Not a case," he replied. "A man."
    " Indeed?" D'Anglars reached for the glass of sherry that was always poured for Malet's visits. "And who is this man?"
    " Constant Dracquet."
    Even as he found himself enmeshed in the trailing threads of thought and speculation that the name carried with it, d'Anglars noticed that Malet had grown very still and was watching him. He set down his glass untasted. "Dracquet, you say?" he said.
    " Yes, Excellency." Malet touched the rim of his glass, but his eyes never left the Count's face. Though his expression remained suitably grave, his eyes began to dance as d'Anglars pushed himself to his feet and started to pace.
    " You do have a lead on him?" d'Anglars demanded after a moment. "This isn't a false alarm?" He answered his own question before Malet could speak. "No, you never play that sort of prank." He paused and then repeated, "Dracquet, you say?"
    " Yes."
    Count d'Anglars' elegant features warmed suddenly in an almost unwilling smile. "You have been watching a long time for this chance," he said.
    Malet kept his eyes lowered as he raised his glass and sipped from it. "Yes," he said at last.
    D'Anglars saw the twinkle in Malet's eye and sat down again. "Hm," he said. "And you have been blocked all these years. Oh, I have noticed. Short of turning things upside down, there was no way I could interfere." He added, almost to himself, "And I won't use the weapons of chaos, no matter what is at stake."
    " Nor would I ask you to," said Malet.
    D'Anglars's voice lost its smile. "We have seen too much of chaos in our lives, you and I," he said. He went on as though he had not voiced that last thought, "The damnable thing is that he presents so respectable a front. He moves in the best circles of society - in which case, my dear Malet, I find myself wondering why he makes his primary home in Montmartre, of all places! - gives parties and receptions that the crème de la crème all attend - "
    " Yourself included?" Malet asked mildly.
    " I?" d'Anglars raised his head as suddenly as a man who has been unexpectedly struck. "No, M. l'Inspecteur, I have not attended his receptions. I always seem to be ill at those times."
    Malet smiled. "So would I be," he said.
    " But all that is to the side," said d'Anglars. "Thirty thousand francs to capture the man I am certain was responsible for M. de Grandpré's assassination outside the Chambre des Deputés six years ago? Vidocq could get nothing on him, but I could sense it... And those terrible murders near Reuilly. I know he was involved in them, but there was no proof. Selling weapons to the Spaniards in 1823 - ! And all other sorts of filth and treason!"
    " It's all connected," said Malet. "Like steps on a staircase. The more power the criminal gains, the greater distance he sets between himself and the actual crimes. Go-betweens, hired assassins, spies - it's all part of the hierarchy. Destroy the web, and the spider will merely spin another. You must first kill the spider."
    D'Anglars raised his sherry again and took a large swallow. "Ah yes," he said. "If anyone would know, it would be you. Some people are still puzzled by the fact that you, raised in a prison, the protégé of the greatest criminal of modern times, chose to side with the Law when you left the prison."
    " They puzzle too much over the obvious."
    " I have never had that difficulty, myself," said d'Anglars quietly. "Nor has anyone, honored with your acquaintance." He continued briskly, "Fight Dracquet: use the informer. The thirty thousand francs are yours, and a draft will be put in