“Monsieur speaks the truth,” interposed Rosalie. The Cure recalled the death-bed of Louis Trudel, and the dying man’s strange agitation. He also recalled old Margot’s death, and her wish to confess some one else’s wrong-doing. He was convinced that Charley was speaking the truth.
“It is true,” added Charley slowly; “but you may think none the worse of him when you know all. He took the cross for temporary use, and before he could replace it he died.”
“How do you know what he meant, or did not mean?” said the Seigneur in perplexity. “Did he take you into his confidence?”
“The very closest,” answered Charley grimly.
“Yet he looked upon you as an infidel, and said hard things of you on his death-bed,” urged the Cure anxiously. He could not see the end of the tale, and he was troubled for both the dead man and the living.
“That was why he took me into his confidence. I will explain. I have not the honour to have the fulness of your Christian faith, Monsieur le Cure. I had asked him to show me a sign from heaven, and he showed it by the little iron cross.”
“I can’t make anything of that,” said the Seigneur peevishly.
Rosalie sprang to her feet. “He will not tell the whole truth, Messieurs, but I will. With that little cross Louis Trudel would have killed Monsieur, had it not been for me.”
A gasp of excitement went out from those who stood by.
“But for me. I saw Louis Trudel raise an iron against Monsieur that day in the shop. It made me nervous--I thought he was mad. So I watched. That night I saw a light in the tailor-shop late. I thought it strange. I went over and peeped through the cracks of the shutters. I saw old Louis at the fire with the little cross, red-hot. I knew he meant trouble. I ran into the house. Old Margot was beside herself with fear--she had seen also. I ran through the hall and saw old Louis upstairs with the burning cross. I followed. He went into Monsieur’s room. When I got to the door”--she paused, trembling, for she saw Charley’s reproving eyes upon her--“I saw him with the cross--with the cross raised over Monsieur.”
“He meant to threaten me,” interposed Charley quickly.
“We will have the truth!” said the Seigneur, in a husky voice.
“The cross came down on Monsieur’s bare breast.” The grocer laughed vindictively.