The Morning herald., 1877-09-07
right, that dissimu1ation is the ino,spens-
able armor of an ambitious man.

e 40 saying one IOauS me Win
. the most dreadful reproaches, and treats
me as though were a monster not fit to
approach her. I'm positive she's going
madw .a
| "1es not to be wondered atp' murmured
the old man. "Poor thing-poor thing!'
Then he added, II hope you've sent for a
DOCTOR"
"Ive just done so, and expect his ar
rival each moment" . ' r..
AS he spoke, he sat down before his
study table, and, commenced putting his
j letters in order, arranging each according
to it's date, and IN separate packets, with
out discovering the missing one appro-
priated by Daddy Tabaret This done,
he placed them in the, secret drawer Of
his desk, and, having carefully locked it,
rose. and began pacing the room, as if by
continual movement he thought to calm
the internal fever that seemed bubbling
in his veins.
eyes, she thought to impose upon me-
to trick me! As if she could succeed with
such proofs as I holdw
"She has probably warned the Count,
and placed him on his guard" said Daddy
Tabaret, still pursuing his detective hob
by 1..as
"Its very likely; but she can't have
succeeded. The Count is away from
home, and won't return till the end Of the
week. -.----~ --- --.
"How do you know thatY"
Because ! wished to see my father-to
speak to him!' @ '
"You2" um.,,
~And why notl Do you think I'm go
ing togive up the fight before it has hardly
commenced9 Do you think that, robbed,
despoiled, and betrayed, will not raise
my voice in protest7 What delicacy of
sentiment should hold me back2 Why
shouldn't I speakY"
"Of course!-of course" assented Old
Corkscrew, trying to soothe him down.
"It's all right--it's only human nature
so you can't be far out. So you called on
the Count, then2" ,-5.,,..
"Yes; after weeks Of iresolution-weeks
OF mental anguish and torture-I decided
upon seeing my father. Oh, how I suf-
fered during that short time! / gave up
work, pretending to my clients that was
ILL., In the day I took walks Of twenty to
thirty miles, hoping in this way to gain
some rest in the long, weary nights; but
in vain! From the time those letters fell
into my hands, have never slept an
hour at a time" ..' s.'
Daddy Tabaret was. getting restless.
From time to time he drew his watch Sc
cretly from his pocket and fdgetted about
in his chair. "Lor'! lori" he thought;
show these young people do talk9 shall
miss the magistrate; he'll be in bed by
the time get away" And he suppressed
a groan of impatience as he prepared to
listen for further particulars on the
part of his excited friend ...
"At last, one morning." continued Noel,
"after night Of deep thought and misery,
made up my mind; I sent for a cab, and
was driven to the Counts house."
The old volunteer detective gave sigh
of satisfaction and relief.
At last he was coming to the point.
"When l arrived" went on Noel, "a foot |
man, in crimson and gold, opened the !
door, who, in answer to my demand, in
formed me thatthe Count Lionel de VAL
court was in the country, but that the
Viscount, his son, was at home. This |
rather. upset the programme I had laid
down for myself; but having gone thus
far, l did not feel inclined to recede. I
insisted, in default of the father, upon
seeing the son. After having been passed
on to several other servants, I was con-
fded to the care Of valet, who begged
me to follow him into the presence Of his
NJ s .Eit
cat last" murmured Old Corkscrew,
with another sigh of relief, and politely l.
contemplated yawn.
II was now conducted" Noel continued,
'nto small and simply furnished room,
whose only adornment consisted in old
armor and arms of every kind and sort.
don't think in all my life I've seen such a
variety. Guns, pistols, swords, daggers,
and foils of all shapes and qualities were
scattered about-in short, I should have
thought myself in the arsenal Of a fencing ,
,,
The arm that had been used by the as,
sassin of the Widow Lerouge flashed
across the memory Of the old detective.
'The Viscount" said Noel, "was half e
seated, or rather half lying, on the sofa. a
He's good-looking fellow, with dignitied
vet easy manners, and carries well the r
name which by right belongs to me. He's
about my height, with brown hair and
eyes like myself, and there's strong re-
,emblance between us-stronger, perhaps, il
f he didn't wear beard and moustache. t
He looks much younger than do, by the t.
way, and that's not to be wondered at. 10
I've worked suffered, and struggled,whilst
ne has had nothing to do but eat, drink,
md Sleep"
"You must have felt horribly nervous
md queer" put in Daddy Tabaret:
''Not the least in the world. felt less
han do now. Ten daYs Of mental an