The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-07-22
THE EBONY BEDROOM.
CHAPTER /.
AFTER THE BALL.


the Grand Hotel when he met police
man who informed him that there was
something up in the Rue Canmartin.
However much he merited repose, M.
Lecoq qrickened his steps. But he had
been anticipated by the Ward Commits
saire of Police. A crowd was at the
carriage gateway of No. IS. counterbal-
ancing the cold with the heat of dis
cussion. The detective fingered a mo-
ment to scrutinize the little mob, but it
was composed entirely Of neighbors,
shop clerks, and innocent chance
passengers. So he went into the princely
mansion, which he knew to belong to
the Count Of Montfort Ste. Croix.
The first room on the first floor had
been barricaded by heavy piece of
furniture which it had taken two power
full men to move back. The castors had
been removed to prevent it being rolled
away. Not thing in the dining room
had been disordered. The doors were
open OF a recept1on-room, where ball
dress was spread out on three chairs. In
the sleeping apartment were the police
men, servants and Police Commissary.
The latter glanced around and recog-
nized Lecoq with some relief in his eyes,
but the newcomer did not return the
salutation., He could not. Accustomed
though ho &gas to scenes of bloodshed
and crime, the present scene shocked
him into silence and immobility.
The room was very large and lofty,
nung with maroon and paneled in ebony
and gold. In the very center was
stretched the lifeless remains of beau
ri 1o1,
partly covered by tablecloth, which she
had clutched and dragged over her in
her fall. The corner Of the lips was still
curled in q smile, as If to mock at the
idea of the fate which had abruptly over
taken youth and beauty. The superb
and somber decoration, in the very latest
taste of that day, was most appropriate
to the picture. The boudoir was in the
other extreme luxurious It's door was
open and everything was topsy-turvy
there. The graceful body had stiffened
In O dishabille which had cost the Brus-
sells nuns some years of spider-ike toll.
Her long. ar tresses formed golden
pillow under her head and half yelled
small sword wound on the bosom-the
egress of the blade, for she had been run
through from behind The carpet was
crimson and hardly betrayed the blood,
but white fox rug was horribly dab
bled. A wax candle stood on the floor,
nearly burnt out with having solidarity
watched over the victim. A very long,
thin rapler. WITH chiseled bowl, whose
place was vacant in a trophy Of arms on
the wall, lay on the rug. It was the
Counts ancestral sword. The bed bore
no trace Of a struggle there. Suddenly
a little rosy froth effervesced on the
lady's lips, which parted, and the eyes,
if possible, stared a trife wider. The
cold air brought in by Lecoq had me-
chemically affected the corpse. But the
servants started in terror.
81 have had no time to do anything. -
said the Commissary after the detective
explained how he came there. IT have
sent for a magistrate. Nobody is under
arrest" t.."t.a .gF .lrE
It was an appeal for him to begin the
inquiry. The affair had stnpefed the
The first thing manifest was that the
murderer or murderers had not left the
house in an ordinary course. The por-
came home from the ball. The next to
arrive were the coachman and the lady's
maid, who had been to the opera ball
also, but not together, and had not
known one another to be there. On
their going up stairs, they had heard
footsteps in their mistress room. The
barricaded door had baffled them. The
porter had helped the goodman to re-
move the block, and then all three had
discovered the dead woman. but not a
glimpse of her assassin.
At Lecoqs suggestion, they were put
under arrest and guarded, separated.
"In fifteen years." said Lecoq, grow
ing more and more serious as he found
jewels and cash untouched, II have met
no crime so obscure" ~ss .5..a
They examined the servants individu-
ally. But their statements tailed. The
Countess was naughty, but not to her
domestics. She could hardly have made
an enemy in the house. She had given
leave for the coachman Gas her cavalier
came for her in his carriage) and maid
to spend the night out. The Count had
mining property in the Alps, and was at
Geneva engaging an engineer. L.
"He should be telegraphed to al
once, advised Lecoq. Betsy, as they
call you," he proceeded to the firing.
woman. "Did you see your mistress al
the ball?" .@"
"She did not go to the opera ball
sir" was the answer, to my knowl.
edge. But to the masquerade at the
Spanish bankers, Hermanoz." .
"Who was the gentleman who called
for her ?" Fl '-0 sj7'sf 2a' R'.1-t
She did not know. But the porter
knew. The Marquis des Medranc's car.
rage had come and had brought her
back. She had gone up the staircase
alone-quite alone beyond a doubt.
"The Marquis has the next house,
observed the Commissary. tCan we ask
him to assist the inquiry ?" Lecoq con.
sidered. 90
The magistrates order would do it.
But let us risk it. Let Gerold request
his presence. 800 ~, +. -... 49, ~.
Meanwhile they resumed the search
for articles from the apartments othe,
than that visible. -. - .. ...
The Marquis de Medranc was prompt
in responding to the summons. He was
In evening dress. He was good looking
and had been a Top among the Cade
rousse Grammont set few years back
He was Dale He had heard the news