Sharp County record., 1879-01-09

more seriously" should you require
help from the police to cut the knot OF
this imbroglio, you have only to seek
me, Jules Garnet, at your service. Inc
address | have penciled, see, on this
card, Seven, Rue Joachim. replace
for the next few nights, the commissary
at that bureau"
And, with a flourish and bow, he
was gone.
Left alone, my reflections were very
bitter. could not doubt the truth or
the timeliness of the warning that had
been conveyed to me, and without loss
Of time set out for the Rue de Loches'
1t was dark, and as | crossed the
bridge a fine chilly rain began to fall,
but / scarcely needed it, but pressed on.
| reached the Rue de Loches, and Just as
| had raised my hand to the bell-handle
of No. 16, noticed that the gate was,
contrary to custom, slightly aJar. In
stinctively pushed it open, passed IN,
and silently reclosed it behind me. No
one observed me as | crossed the grass
grown courtyard, and, unchallenged,
entered the big old house, the windows
of which were now ablaze with light,
while strains of musicreached my ears,
mingling with the clink of glasses and
the murmur of conversatiOn. The well
known staircase, however, was clear,
and | met with no impedimant as |
traversed two small rooms, and, myself
screened by heavy crimson curtain,
commanded view of the great gloomy
saloon and its occupants.
More than 40 persons, as l judged,
were present, and of'this number, be-
sides the Colonel's wife and daughter,
but three were women. One of these,
professional performer, | should say,
was seated at the piano. The other two,
beieweled, painted, and with elaborate
chignons and waving fans, were mere
living decorations, as it appeared to me,
of the scene. As for the male guests,
there was the usual mixture OF gulls
and sharpers-the latter element
predominating-to be found in such
places. Choice viands, varied wines
and liquors were grouped, amid flowers
and silver, on a buffet adjacent, and TWO
lynx-eyed serving-men, with very evil
countenances, and baggy blue liverieS
that might have been supplied by the
costumier of third~rate theater, were
busy in ministering to the creature COM
forts of the company.
Some game, lansquenet or baccarat,
was going on, and in it some l8 or ~
players were, engaged. Near the head
of the table, confronting the dealers, sat
Cecil, his face flushed, his eyes spark
ling, champagne glass in his hand,
and great heap of gold and notes ly-
ing on the velvet cloth before him.
Most of the other faces near him, in
cluding the Baron Duplessis, expressed
annoyance, dismay, or savage ill-hum-
or, and | saw at once that this was an
instance of one of those extraordinary
runs of luck which sometimes enable a
tyro to conquer the wiliest practitioners
at the gaming table JD Again and again
the cards were dealS, and still tickle
Fortune befriended Cecil. The pile OF
gold before him swelled and swelled,
until at last, with muttered oath, the
last stake of the bank was reluctantly
pushed towards nay pupil.
"Broke the bank, by Jove! l said
I'd do it," cried the lad, with boyish
exultation, as he held out his glass to be
replenished.
/ was in the very act of rushing from
my place of concealment to reproact
my pupil with his dupicity, and to fling
his i'll gotten gains broadcast among
the harpies who surrounded him, when
| happened to observe one Of the evil
visged serving-men, in obedience to 8
nod from Colonel the Baron DupleSsi'
add few drops from vial that he car
ried hidden in his sleeve, to the foam
ing contents of the broad glass of cham
payne which he presently placed in
Cecil's outstretched hand. The lad
swallowed the frothing wine at q
draught, and again laughed in foolish
GTluupu, DIS uo p1Noou lilo hnS0lo oiAiouS
the gold coin and ruStling notes. And
then-so rapid, no doubt, was the ac-
ton of the drug-his bright eyes swan
and grew dim, he nodded drowsily, and
sank forward in a sort of stupor, his
head resting on his arm. Instantly
there began to be a movement among
the company, and with many a 7" Bon
soir" and "Au plaisir," the majority o1
the guests took their leave.
Tang! The sharp little hammer OF
the bronze clock on the chimney-piece,
as it struck the hour of one, suggested
to me the necessity of being prompt
and cool, if l would save Cecil Manvers
from worse peril than the mere loss OF
money. By this time only five persons,
excepting my pupil, remained in the
room, for even the Baron's scared wife
and dull-eyed daughter had disap-
peared, and of these five, two
were the serying-men in theatrical