The Morning herald., 1877-09-07
> !"Don't omit the slightest detail. :" he said.

/ O~' oHAAS''AAo cAi6 At0et uOU8AS Ao bslu
tits most important you should put me ir
full possession of the facts"
"fhe Viscount appeared ,awfully an
noyed,' continued Noel. I'm sorry you're
going to be long he objected. asfhe fact
Is, my time is not my own. I'm engaged
to be married to q young lady. Made
moiselle d'Arlange, . fact which believe
has already been nannoun nced, and am ex.
pected to lunch in half an hour from this.
Can't you postpone our interview"
"Hilloh" said Old Corkscrew to himself;
"here's another woman cropping up!
wonder if she's had anything to do with
the mystery7' -
Il answered that the explanation I had
to make would admit of no delay; and az
l saw by the expression Of his face that
he was about to dismiss mo, brought out
my packet of letters, and, drawing one
out of the pack, presented it to him. He
recognized the handwriting of his father
at once, declared himself at my service,
asking me politely to allow him to write a
few lines Of excuse to the lady who ex-
pected him to luncheon. I.', - ,
"He wrote few lines in haste. gave
them to his valet, with orders to deliver
them Immediately to the Duchess d'Ar-
iange, and then, rising, asked me to follow
him into the library" m
"One word," interrupted Old Corkscrew.
"Did he seem much upset on seeing the
lettegsT .., ,&,,- 'G p. = .
"Not the least in the world! He was as
cool as acucumber. After carefully shut
ting the door, he pointed to an armchair.
begging me to be seated, whilst he threw
himself on sofa with the most perfect
ease in the world. ~
"'And now, SIR he began, swiIl you
have the goodness to explain yourselfq'
= ~ had prepared, and, so to speak,
primed myself, for the interview, and had
decided not to beat about the bush, but to
strike decisive blow at once.
"'Sir, said, my mission is most pain
full one. In fact, Of such nature that I
hardly know how or where to Begin
a1ndeedv he said, half laughing and
raising his eyebrows; it takes great deal
to surprise or alarm me; I've capital
nerves, and don't know what palpitation
Of the heart MEANS, o."
"I'm glad to hear it, I answered, very
gravely. 4 won't detain you long; I sim
ply wish you to read these letters And,
as spoke, ] rose and advanced towards
him.. ',.....,t.,,,
"'Sir,' went on,'I am a barrister, and
have the intricacies Of the law at my fin
gers ends .....--~
"T beg you will proceed,' he said, the
smile dying out of his face; 'I'm all i'm
patience to hear the news you have to tell
me- o." =
"'sir,'I continued, sthese letters will
prove to you that you are not the real heir
to the Valcourt estates, and are the ille-
sitimate son Of the Count Lionel de Val
court. The rightful heir. exists, and it is
he who now asserts his claimp ~. =, .
"He bounded to his feet like tiger,
md, for a moment, l thought he was about |
% spring at my throat, but he recovered
limself instantly, and in voice that was
llmost a whisper, asked for the letters. q
"Without moments hesitation hand !
ID them to him.
"Whatw half screamed Old Corkscrew;
you don't mean to say you had the folly,
he imprudence, to hand him the real ones |
the originals mean7" ., % ..n.ul
"Never fear," said the barrister, in low |
,oice, and COMPRISING his lips as he
poke, II was there, and had prepared my
elf for any emergency"
There was such an expression Of con-
entrated frmness and ferocity in Noels
ace, that Daddy Tabaret recoiled instinc-
ively. .- ........ ~.."''
ale would have strangled him." he
bought, "had he attempted any treach-'
ryw
The barrister went on with his recital.
"What I did for you old friend, did for
no Viscount Albert de Valcourt-spared
i'm the tedium Of reading through hum
red and ffty-six letters. l told him to
eruse only those that were marked with
cross in red ink" |,
sand you did quite right, my boy. You
ad placed him on the rack, but kindly /
the torture" "
"He was now seated" continued Noel,
before small q9apier mache table, so ex-
emely delicate in its make, that if he had
aned upon it, they would have gone over
gether, and spoiled the dignity Of our
terview. As for me, remained stand
g, with one arm on the chimneypiece. I
flowed his slightest movement, and r
atched his face with hungry eyes. Never Va
my life, or in my varied experience, q
I've seen face so alter shall never I
rget it, were to live hundred years.
"He took his handkerchief from his poe
1t, and from time to time passed it across
S face and mouth. " es
ale turned so pale that, at one moment,
thought he would have tainted; and his
es were covered with sort of film that
most made him look blind.
"Apart from this, not an exclamation,
It a word, not q sigh. -
"Once he made my heart heave with Il
ty. Ilong to advance, and snatch the
tai letters from his hands to throw them
to the fire, and clasping him in my arms,
cry out, Brother, brother! let us forget