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everything。〃
〃Ah ca！〃 cried the Cardinal； suddenly； 〃what made you go and tell Mere
Perrache that you were my man of business； and that you weren't a
doctor？ I thought we agreed this morning that you were coming as a
doctor？〃
Cerizet did not choose to admit that the usurpation of that title had
seemed to him dangerous； he feared to discourage his accomplice。
〃I saw that the woman was going to propose a consultation；〃 he
replied； 〃and I got out of it that way。〃
〃Goodness！〃 exclaimed Madame Cardinal； 〃they say fine minds come
together； that was my dodge； too。 Calling you my man of business
seemed to give that old pilferer a few ideas。 Did they see you come
in； those porters？〃
〃I thought； as I went by；〃 replied Cerizet； 〃that the woman was asleep
in her chair。〃
〃And well she might be；〃 said the Cardinal； significantly。
〃What； really？〃 said Cerizet。
〃Parbleu！〃 replied the fishwife； 〃what's enough for one is enough for
two； the rest of the stuff went that way。〃
〃As for the husband； he was there；〃 said Cerizet； 〃for he gave me a
gracious sign of recognition； which I could have done without。〃
〃Wait till it is quite dark； and we'll play him a comedy that shall
fool him finely。〃
Accordingly； ten minutes later； the fishwife； with a vim that
delighted the usurer； organized for the innocent porter the comedy of
a MONSIEUR who would not； out of politeness； let her accompany him to
the door； she herself with equal politeness insisting。 Appearing to
conduct the sham physician into the street gate she pretended that the
wind had blown out of her lamp； and under pretext of relighting it she
put out that of Perrache。 All this racket； accompanied by exclamations
and a bewildering loquacity； was so briskly carried out that the
porter； if summoned before the police…court； would not have hesitated
to swear that the doctor； whose arrival he had witnessed； left the
house between nine and ten o'clock。
When the two accomplices were thus in tranquil possession of the field
of operations Madame Cardinal hung up her rabbit's…hair shawl before
the window to exclude all possible indiscretion on the part of a
neighbor。 In the Luxembourg quarter life quiets down early。 By ten
o'clock all the sounds in the house as well as those out of doors were
stilled； and Cerizet declared that the moment had come to go to work；
by beginning at once they were certain that the sleeper would remain
under the influence of the drug； besides； if the booty were found at
once； Madame Cardinal could； under pretence of a sudden attack on her
patient； which required her to fetch a remedy from the apothecary； get
the porter to open the street gate for her without suspicion。 As all
porters pull the gate…cord from their beds； Cerizet would be able to
get away at the same time without notice。
Powerful in advice； Cerizet was a very incapable hand in action； and；
without the robust assistance of Mere Cardinal he could never have
lifted what might almost be called the corpse of the former drum…
major。 Completely insensible； Toupillier was now an inert mass； a
dead…weight； which could； fortunately； be handled without much
precaution； and the athletic Madame Cardinal； gathering strength from
her cupidity； contrived； notwithstanding Cerizet's insufficient
assistance； to effect the transfer of her uncle from one bed to the
other。
On rummaging the bed from which the body was moved； nothing was found；
and Madame Cardinal； pressed by Cerizet to explain why she had
confidently asserted that her uncle 〃was lying on one hundred thousand
francs in gold；〃 was forced to admit that a talk with Madame Perrache；
and her own fervid imagination were the sole grounds of her certainty。
Cerizet was furious； having for one whole day dallied with the idea
and hope of fortune； having； moreover； entered upon a dangerous and
compromising course of action； only to find himself； at the supreme
moment； face to face withnothing！ The disappointment was so bitter
that if he had not been afraid of the muscular strength of his future
mother…in…law； he would have rushed upon her with some frantic
intention。
His anger； however； spent itself in words。 Harshly abused； Madame
Cardinal contented herself by remarking that all hope was not lost；
and then； with a faith that ought to have moved mountains； she set to
work to empty the straw from the mattress she had already vainly
explored in all directions。 But Cerizet would not allow that extreme
measure； he remarked that after the autopsy of a straw mattress such
detritus would remain upon the floor as must infallibly give rise to
suspicion。 But the Cardinal； who thought this caution ridiculous； was
determined to； at least； take apart the flock bedstead。 The passion of
the search gave extraordinary vigilance to her senses； and as she
raised the wooden side…frame she heard the fall of some tiny object on
the floor。 Seizing the light she began to search in the mound of filth
of all kinds that was under the bed； and finally laid her hand on a
bit of polished steel about half an inch long； the use of which was to
her inexplicable。
〃That's a key！〃 cried Cerizet； who was standing beside her with some
indifference； but whose imagination now set off at a gallop。
〃Ha！ ha！ you see I was right；〃 cried the Cardinal。 〃But what can it
open？〃 she added； on reflection； 〃nothing bigger than a doll's house。〃
〃No；〃 said Cerizet； 〃it is a modern invention； and very strong locks
can be opened with that little instrument。〃
With a rapid glance he took in all the pieces of furniture in the
room； went to the bureau and pulled out the drawers； looked in the
stove； in the table； but nowhere did he find a lock to which the
little key could be adapted。
Suddenly the Cardinal had a flash of illumination。
〃See here！〃 she said。 〃I remarked that the old thief； as he lay on his
bed； never took his eyes off the wall just opposite to him。〃
〃A cupboard hidden in the wall！〃 cried Cerizet； seizing the light
eagerly； 〃it is not impossible！〃
Examining attentively the door of the alcove； which was opposite the
bed's head； he could see nothing there but a vast accumulation of dust
and spiders' webs。 He next employed the sense of touch； and began to
rap and sound the wall in all directions。 At the spot to which
Toupillier's constant gaze was directed he thought he perceived in a
very narrow space a slight sonority； and he presently perceived that
he was rapping on wood。 He then rubbed the spot vigorously with his
handkerchief； and beneath the thick layer of dust and dirt which he
thus removed he found a piece of oak plank carefully inserted in the
wall。 On one side of this plank was a small round hole； it was that of
the lock which the key fitted！
While Cerizet was turning the key； which worked with great difficulty；
Madame Cardinal； holding the light； was pale and breathless； but； oh！
cruel deception！ the cupboard； at last unlocked and open； showed only
an empty space； into which the light in her hand fell uselessly。
Allowing this bacchante to give vent to her despair by saluting her
much…beloved uncle with the harshest epithets； Cerizet quietly
inserted his arm into the cupboard； and after feeling it over at the
back； he cried out； 〃An iron safe！〃 adding； impatiently； 〃Give me more
light； Madame Cardinal。〃
Then； as the light did not penetrate to the depths of the cupboard； he
snatched the candle from the bottle； where； in default of a
candlestick； the Cardinal had stuck it； and； taking it in his hand；
moved it carefully over all parts of the iron safe； the existence of
which was now a certainty。
〃There is no visible lock；〃 he said。 〃There must be a secret opening。〃
〃Isn't he sly； that old villain！〃 exclaimed Madame Cardinal； while
Cerizet's bony fingers felt the side of the safe over minutely。
〃Ha！〃 he exclaimed； after groping for ten minutes； 〃I have it！〃
During this time Madame Cardinal's life seemed actually suspended。
Under the pressure which Cerizet now applied； the iron side rose
quickly into the thickness of the wall above； and in the midst of a
mass of gold thrown pell…mell into a large excavation that was now
exposed to view； lay a case of red morocco； which； from its size and
appearance； gave promise of magnificent booty。
〃I take the diamonds for myself；〃 said Cerizet； when he had opened the
case and seen the splendid jewels it contained； 〃you won't know how to
get rid of them。 I'll leave you the gold for your share。 As for the
house and the money in the Funds； they are not worth the trouble it
would be to get the old fellow to make a will。〃
〃Not so fast； my little man！〃 replied the Cardinal； who thought this
decision rather summary； 〃we will first count the money〃
〃Hush！〃 exclaimed Cerizet； apparently listening to a sound。
〃What is it？〃 asked the Cardinal。
〃Don't you hear some one moving below？〃
〃No； I hear nothing。〃
Cerizet； making her a sign to be silent； listened attentively。
〃I hear a step on the stairs；〃 he said； a moment later。
Then he hastily replaced the morocco case； and made desperate but
unavailing efforts to lower the panel。
〃Yes！〃 cried Madame Cardinal； terrified； 〃some one is really co