rible murder-demon. If Cardillac could get his
jewels back again into his hands, you were safe. The danger grew
greater every instant. I met you on the Pont Neuf, made my way to your
carriage, threw you the note which implored you to give the jewels back
to Cardillac immediately. You did not come. My fear became despair,
when, next day, Cardillac spoke of nothing but the priceless jewels he
had seen before him in his dreams. I could only suppose that this
referred to _your_ jewels, and I felt sure he was brooding over some
murderous attack, which he had determined to carry out that night. Save
you I must, should it cost Cardillac's life. When, after the evening
prayer, he had shut himself up in his room as usual, I got into the
courtyard through a window, slipped out through the opening of the
wall, and stationed myself close at hand, in the deepest shadow. Very
soon Cardillac came out, and went gliding softly down the street. I
followed him. He took the direction of the Rue St. Honore. My heart
beat fast. All at once he disappeared from me. I determined to place
myself at your door. Just as fate had ordered matters on the first
occasion of my witnessing one of his crimes, there came along past me
an officer, trilling and singing; he did not see me. Instantly a dark
form sprang out and attacked him. Cardillac! I determined to prevent
this murder. I gave a loud shout, and was on the spot in a couple of
paces. Not the officer, but Cardillac, fell gasping to the ground,
mortally wounded. The officer let his dagger fall, drew his sword, and
stood on the defensive, thinking I was the murderer's accomplice. But
he hastened away when he saw that, instead of concerning myself about
_him_, I was examining the fallen man. Cardillac was still alive. I
took up the dagger dropped by the officer, stuck it in my belt, and,
lifting Cardillac on to my shoulders, carried him, with difficulty, to
the house, and up the secret stair to the workshop. The rest you know.
You perceive, Mademoiselle, that my only crime was that I refrained
from giving Madelon's father up to justice, thereby making an end of
his crimes. I am innocent of bloodguilt. No torture will draw from me
the secret of Cardillac's iniquities. Not through any action of mine
shall that Eternal Power, which hid from Madelon the gruesome
bloodguilt of her father all this time, break in upon her now, to her
destruction, nor shall earthly vengeance drag the corpse of Cardillac
out