The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1877-08-02
Our Mistaken Generosity.


which place he and his friend Hillcoat
were to start on cruise about the Med
iterranean, shooting here, examining
ruins there, Just a. the humor seized
them. Ei,ieoat had had pleurisy in
the summer, and nasty oppression
about the chest still remained. The
doctor had said that he wanted ga
change that modern panacea-and as
he was to be married next year, and de-
sired to be all right before then, he ac-
cepted his friends offer of the present
trip, though he had business which he
did not very much like leaving.
Trelawny closed his portmanteau, over
hauled the guns he meant to take with
him, and examined the machine for
making cartridges; and when all this was
done, he took up a volume of Dante, and
settled himself in low rocking-chair,
with dictionary on the ground within
reach OF his hand.
ITelawny was nominal barrister,
and had chambers in the Temple, simply
because he had wished, on leaving the
university, to retain the company of
some of his best friends and, in truth,
the old college set was brought out in a
sort of secon& edition, revised and cor
rected But he never procured horse
hair wig, or a Blackstone, or intended to
enter court of law, save on compul-
sion. Though, as he had taken a high
degree, and was learned in modern Ian
guages, and practical sciences besides, he
would probably have succeeded had there
been any occasion for eXertion. But he
was rich.
Soon after the lamp was lighted, Hill
coat came in, not with the vivacity of a
man about to start on pleasure cruise,
but silent and pale as a turnip. He put
his hat down on the table, and leaned
against the mantelpiece.
"What is it, old fellow" asked Ire
lawny, rising and coming to him."
Something like ruin, | fear, if not
worse"
"WorseT
Yes-dishonor Demetrius has
bolted"
Hillcoat had been in the army, and
would still have remained in the service
had he not fallen in love with a young
lady whose friends did not consider him
rich enough Now there was a banking
and foreign agency business in the fam
lily, managed by an uncle and cousin,
who had proposed that the young man
should come into the firm long before he
did so; but at that time he was too fond
of his profession to quit it. When he
wanted to marry, however, his ideas
altered, and he gladly availed himself of
the proposition with it was renewed on
the serious illness of his uncle. The
cousin had been paralyzed, and was little
more than sleeping partner for years,
and Hillcoat was rather alarmed by his
responsibilities at starting; buthis uncle
had said that Demetrius would teach
him how to conduct the business; Deme-
trius knew all about it, and was as true
as steel; he could trust Demetrius i'm
plicitly; and in that faith the old man
died.
elias he taken much?" asked Ire
lany
g As far as | can make out, enough to
embarrass me considerably; and no
doubt the deficit is greater than have
discovered, for he has been misappropri-
ating sums of money for some time
But this is not the worst; he has alb
stracted some title deeds deposited as Sc
curity for loan, and also the Rajah of
IS diamonds, valued at $50, 900,
which we had to take care of, pending
negotiations for their sale | am not
sure, that | cannot be held accountable
criminally if | am unable to meet all
claims At any rate, suspicion will at
tach to my name, and my marriage with
Edith is quite out-out-out Of"
"Come, don't be down-hearted, man;
the game is not lost yet. 1t is fortunate
that you had not taken the man into
partnership, as | have head you say was
your intention. Have you any idea of
the motive for his turning rogue?"
Well il seems that every one in the
Office but myself was aware that he was
the victim OF an infatuation. 1t has
been icke with the clerks for some
time; they do not know the object of it;
however, worse luck, for that might af-
ford clue"
know her, thought" exclaimed Ire
lawny. 1t is the Countess de Surzy."
And who and what is the Countess
de Surzy?"
Oh, there | am at fault. Some say
that she is & Russian spy: others hint at
her being a Jesuit agent. | have no
doubt that she was employed by the
French police during the late empire.
At present she is certainly Il dangerous
adventures, whether she is ever en-
ployed in political intrigue or not. As
for the Count de Surzy, opinions are
equally divided as to whether he is dead
or whether he ever existed. One thing
Is certain, the Countess was in London
last spring, and Demetrius somehow gct
introduced TO her, for he was constantly
attached TO her train. saw him in her
box at the opera night after night.
When he took his holiday last Septem-
Der it was to follow her to Paris; | passed
through that gay capital on my way
home from Switzerland, and again saw
him III her company. She is of Greek
extraction, 50 ii did not seem unnatural
that she should be friendly with Greek. /.
Indeed, | assumed that there was
probably some relationship between
them, for she lives i'll Il world to which |
should not have expected your >taid man
OF business 10 have sought access"
DO you mean that this doubtful
countess Is received in good society ~
asked Hilleoat
. Not exactly" replied Trelawnv.
!" In the palmy days of the empire She
was seen in the houses of people who
were not without influence at court; but
now-a-days-why, gentlemen of some po-
sltlon go 10 her parties, but ladies fight I
shy OF her. She lives extravagantly; /
her equipages, her dinners, her wines are /
talked about; but of how she pays for
her establishment, entertainments and |
dress, | have no notion. She is. or was. /
extremely lovely, very clever. and fas-
einating beyond all expression. By all |
accounts, She is as heartless and avari- |
cious as she is beautiful and extravaganza
She has been credited with the ruin of
several of the gilded youth, With more
than one suicide, and with duels num- /
berless"
And : itnot strange that 50 brilliant /
a creature should listen to a man in the +
humble position of Demetrius?''
| don't know; she is losing the I
bloom of youth, and might very likely
be glad to marry Demetrius should he /