The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-09-04

OF Ine CITY, ! Will nave Jig SeHudIH HIS
even though / should have to pay them ter
francs apiece"
"That would be convenient" said the Wis
count, turning toward him, shut it cannot
be-" ii m 4 M
because ?"
Il am opposed to it"
They looked at each other, and the eyes Of
Benoit disappeared completely under his
frowning eyebrows. "You wish to involve
me in some bad scrape," he said.
+ am myself involved, 7 said the viscount
coldly. "We have no choice Of means. You
affairs are connected with mine, my boy, and
neither the police nor the law must mix
themselves up in them"
"Who can diyulge our former relations p
said Benoit.
cit is done. have, myself, recounted to
sixty persons our meeting, and all that fol.
lowed" q. 5i8 aa9d M s 81 .f6
"How imprudentp y
The yiscount sighed, and said:
at is not the only imprudence which I have
committed tonight"
Il do not fear legal process" said Benoit,
rising suddenly. docs the Indian intend to
call me before the tribunals.
Gle can" replied the viscount Benoit
shrugged his shoulders.
'Slfhe does not, pursued Henri, ''the ma
yor can" '3
Chow can he prove anything?"
Tonight" said the viscount, Gin the
presence Of sixty persons, Igayea full and en-
tire assent to man who said the Frenchman
Edward, and his valet Mohican, were both
thieves and infamous characters"
Benoit looked at him with amazed air.
"Ah," he stammered, ssto-night, you were
then either drunk or insane"
sListen well to me, Benoit," said the Wis
count mildly; the battle is not yet lost But
you can not save yourself except by and
through me. fan explanation is necessary,
here it is /: Tonight, at the Hotel de Bcistru-
dan, was face to face with a man who knows
all our secrets"
"All!'' repeated the proprietor, alarmed.
s;It was then the mayor himselfW
"For moment believed So This man
profted by the mania of my future mother-i in
law, who is always greedy Of adventures and
incidents of travel. He recounted, all the de-
tails, that episode Of our lives which had for
its theatre the camp of the Golden Dagsers
I was showing my golden Daggers and was
narrating some anecdote- perhaps our meal
with the Irshman in the mountains During
has narrative, which lasted an hour (and how
long the hour seemed to me J, the man kept
bis eyes constantly upon me, and I felt that
be had me completely in bis power-but as
he did not expose me openly, the. idea has
occurred to me that he wishes to reserve
his attack. And I testified, without reserve,
to the truth Of al! his Statements" al q
'What imprudence !" said Benoit, asecond
time.
II had no other means of avoiding the
blow which he had it in his power to strike
me- was in the presence of Helene. l
had even to say-circumstances pressed me
SO much-that knew the true names Of the
adventures, and that"
"And that ?" repeated Benoit
"Who concealed it, replied Henri after a
short silence. II have promised the marchio-
ness to reveal all to her" s4s
"The conclusion p interrupted Benoit, with
downcast air. &
''This man knows all, as supposed. The
Aiie'A Aittn NC PoHol W PolAo az AiO Will MP
finger and say: There is a theft; there is one
who has forsaken dying woman and mother;
there is one who has fled before an avengcr !"
SIS it true that you have done this?"
growle3 the proprietor. sneeringy.
The viscount calmly continued:
SFinally, I have bought that man for
hundred and fifty thousand francs cash"
"Good Heavenw sighed Benoit Els it
paid ~
"Not yet He must first show me the
Count Albert de Rosen"
'sAnd after you meet Count Albert de Ro-
sen p asked Benoit.
Henri de Villiers did not answer immedia-
ately. He threw his cigar into the fire, and
crossed his legs.
"Benoit, he said, during our long marches
across the prairie you told me some Of the
particulars Of your youth. I have kept a
faithful recollection of them. Before be-
coming my servant, your were trapper. Be
fore being trapper. you were valet. Be-
fore being valet, you we're"
s'Why recall this :" interrupted the pro-
prietor.
"Permit me! You had an idea of garrison
ing your house. The idea is a good one, and
| stand by you. Only, we will not apply
either to the gendarmes or to the sergeants Of
the city"
Benoit became very pale.
''No, no y said he-for he understood it,
The viscount rose, put on his pelisse, and
buttoned it, as if about to leave
you are going to leave me alone? said
Benoit
s'You are not going to remain here, my good
fellow" answered the viscount ''You have
business to attend to to-day. This evening
| must have four picked men at the gate Of
the ambassador Of Brazil. You take, to pro-
tect you, twelve others, if you choose. I pay
all.o
"ButI have told you"
MY good fellow, you have spoken inconsi-
derately. repeat to you, we have no choice
You are going, whether you are willing or not
to make acquaintance with these gentlemen.
You will, together, share the fifty thousand
crowns which I lave promised to Mr. George
Leslie"
'Who is he?
"The man in the secret
Henri put on his gloves
Benoit said
<'Who else ?"
"Towah, on your account"