Free Time Tunnel by Murray Leinster Page A

could, “but after all it’s not my business!”
    “The arrangements for my journeying,” protested Dubois. “They are most delicate! The business connections I have made—they should be cherished with the greatest circumspection! If the nature of our operations should become known, either here or—or at the other end, the result would be disaster!”
    “More likely disbelief,” said Harrison. “Nobody’s likely to credit the truth even if they hear it. They’ll never guess it!”
    Dubois waved trembling hands.
    “I do not argue, m’sieur . I do not dispute. But I plead with you to help us avoid ruin! M. Carroll must not make this journey!”
    “But it isn’t any of my business!” protested Harrison. “There’s nothing I can do about the plans Carroll makes! I’ve no influence.”
    “But you have, m’sieur! You are not being candid! He has spoken to Madame Carroll about you! He wishes her to treat you with distinction. He has commanded it! M’sieur , you do not realize the enormity M. Carroll has already committed, and who can tell what other enormity he plans?”
    Harrison said nothing. Dubois mopped his forehead.
    “ M’sieur , he has withdrawn from the bank almost a fifth of the accumulated profits of the business! He has withdrawn money from the bank! My sister has now removed the rest and placed it where he cannot lay hands upon it, but m’sieur , it he will do this—” Dubois seemed about to strangle. “You should see my sister! She is pitiable! I almost fear for her reason! Mon Dieu , one is frightened by the violence of her suffering!”
    Harrison rephrased the information in his own fashion. M. Dubois had been led by the nose through all his life by the tantrums of his sister, until he could imagine no more terrible an event than another tantrum. It was understandable that she would not want Carroll to travel where her brother had stolidly ventured. But it was certain that the worst of all possible crimes was the removal of money from where Madame Carroll controlled it, to any place or person where she did not.
    “Still,” said Harrison, “I don’t see what I can do.”
    M. Dubois wept. Literally, he wept. Madame Carroll must have terrified him all the way down to his toes.
    “ M’sieur , use your influence with him! My sister, in her despair, authorizes me to promise that it will be to your advantage. I open myself to you! I fear for my sister’s reason if M. Carroll carries out his insane plan! Therefore. I speak of Ma’mselle Valerie! It has always been my sister’s ardent desire to place her in a situation of security, with a substantial fortune so that she can live happily. M. Carroll has placed that desire in extreme danger! He has taken a fifth of the profits of the shop! He has, in effect, robbed Ma’mselle Valerie of a fifth of the fortune she should inherit from my sister! Do you comprehend my meaning?”
    “No,” said Harrison.
    “ Ma’mselle Valerie is the most charming of girls,” said Dubois imploringly. “She is virtuous, she is intelligent, she is affectionate. She will be my sister’s heiress. And my sister is convinced that with tact and gentle persuasion she could be induced to consent to a marriage which—”
    Harrison started.
    “Which would have the most favorable of financial prospects,” said Dubois desperately. “All that is required is that you persuade M. Carroll to abandon his mad project, return the money he has taken, and let things go on exactly as they were before! Nothing more than that, m’sieur! And you will be established for life!”
    Harrison counted ten. He didn’t even bother to think of the fact that Dubois simply proposed that if he obeyed Madame Carroll implicitly in this and all other matters for the rest of his life, she might—might!—leave him some money and in addition would promote an arrangement that he and Valerie had already concluded on their own. It was almost humorous, but not quite.
    “I will have to consider