The Morning herald., 1877-09-28
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CHAPTER XXI.
Mn coREsCRRW At MADAME GERoY's

Although, in military language, Old
Corkscrsw had been "repulsed with loss''
h. the magistrate, and terribly harassed
BY the enemy, yet he wouldn't own him
self beaten.
ave only lost the SCENT" he repeated,
shifting the air in the way peculiar to him.
.rve got my duty to do. Is this the time
for me to give way, when the life Of a
man hangs upon a thread9 If I don't
stir myself, who Wilt pushed this
Young man into the abyss, and I'll pull
him out Of it. Alone. too, I'll do it-that
il, if no one will help me-"
The poor old boy was nearly fainting
with fatigue. The fresh air was q sort Of
tonic to him, and he remembered that
since the night before he hadn't eaten
porsel. He dashed into the first restau-
rant that he came to, and ordered din
ner, consisting of soup, chop to follow,
with fried potatoes, pancake, and pint
Of claret.
Our friend the Daddy left the restau-
rant very different man from when he
had entered it. The clouds were dssi-
pated. Hadn't he time before him-a
whole month"; What can't a man in ear
nest do in month2 His only regret was
that he couldn't warn Albert that he had
friend working for him, who was moral
" sure Of his innocence.
The first thing he did on returning home
was to mount to the fourth story, and ask
after poor Madame Gerdy, the woman he
had once intended to make his wife!
Noel opened the door.
This rather disconnected the Daddy. He
only meant "knd inquiries" and now
he was obliged to enter, if only for five
minutes.
The fact was, he distrusted himself, and
would have paid down a tive-pound note
rather than have been dragged into a con-
versation about the Widow Lerouge. Be-
sides, he was nervously afraid that Noel
the future Viscount de. Valcourt-might
discover that he was connected with the
detective police.
On the other hand. he was eager to
learn what had passed between the young
barrister and the old Count.
Noel beckoned his friend to follow him
into Madame Gerdy's room.
"What does the doctor sayY" asked
Monsieur Tabaret, in that whispering
voice which we instinctively use in sick
chamber.
ale has just Left" answered Noel, "and
gives no hope" ..,
The old man, walking on tip-toe, ad-
yanced to the bedside, and looked at tho
dying woman with eyes that were dim
with tears.
"Poor thing! poor thing" he murmured.
SGod has been very good in taking her
away before she knows all! She has suf-
isrsd much; but what would her suffer-
lngs have been could she have known
that her son-her real son-was in prison
under the awful charge of murder!'
That's what I'm always saying" said
Noel, ITO console myself as I sit watching
aef by that bed. For I love her still, old
Trend. l can't forget that have ever
considered her as mother. know that
vas on the point Of cursing her once.
eulyOu stopped me. I thought 1 hated
neT; but now-now, when am to lose her
-ilorget the wrong she has done me,
iua only remember her tenderness and
asVotion! Yes, death will be blessed re-
- .sase ss Tor her; and yet why7 for I believe
mat her son is innocentw |
.,,y mot guilty, shi And you, too, think
Dsddy Tabaret put so much warmth, so |
Much N vivacity into this exclamation, that |
N Noel looked at him with stupefaction. |
rhe ihe ola man felt that he was blushing
"Ss ..s girl, and hastened to explain him
VI said, You think so, tooY' What I |
Ssa nsah1 oy that was, that conceded in
s;a ;;a opnlon. l, too, am convinced that
coas cos innocent It's so improbable that
sSHa.iE sSoa9E, man, brought up as he has been,
y Iua hnu: nave contemplated such coward
BUSINESS I've talked with lot of peo-
=. .' ABOUT DO it, and everybody agrees with
~, s.. ine public is in his favor; and that's
great sstt point gained"
-. No,, said Noel-"no, Monsieur Taba-
st sst Albert hasn't the public with him as
70 M On AZ as you @ know very well, the French
Ens1.s oil an entirely different principle to the
rsstad sMI". :. Here, when a poor devil is ar
mmt.Isnnocent. perhaps of the crime
stopas a.'u u 70 hlm--we are all eager to throw
tbe "es c'';sa AZ him. We reserve our pity for
hmsso,s'y su,.'y one, who, probably, will betray
Inn ti''1 W. somewhere in his cross-examina-
Sith whist Justice is in doubt, we are
rost, "tr, h'. heart and soul, against her scape-
bor%,,ut put the moment that it has been
hndossnly proved that man is an out
him w ~ scoundrel, We sympathize with
bnh;l neart and soul. Now that's what
in ~; o;plhlon means in France. Albert
Count ff.d'so3; ds y but as told my father, the
easa. Ie Vaicourt. I will undertake his
kn's baln WIZ defend him; and, with Heav-
~ Th hnelp, will save him"
lrmS ,o"u v,a man felt inclined to clasp his
BY st,u oand his young friends neck, but
Fili ti1ng ten effort he restrained himself.
hinps a III, MN all about it by-and-by, if j
prison s nuke !" a wrong turn for the poor boy {
barr;,tssoen tsontented ' t himself by shaking the
au;a ;or Dy the hand. AZ he rose +o ieo,,o