Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-12-17
CHAPTER TX.
OWNING AND DINING.

49,
iDdistiuct characters, figured actively, ex'
perienced the reaction so prone to follow
the indulgence of fattering hope. While
talking to Margaret he felt as If he were
on the point of exposing Barigues as the
scoundrel he believed him to be. But, re.
moved from the magnetism of her pres
ence and obliged to reflect on the subject,
the prospect of his success was the oppo.
site of brilliant. What solid basis had he
for his suspicious He had heard that
men who had played cards with the Count
and lost their money, had charged him
with cheating, and that there were vague
rumors of his being an adventurer Might
not the same stories be circulated concern.
ing himself and with equal reason d? He
had promised to save Margaret; but how
He had in his interview with Margaret,
on which he had built so bravely, really
learned but very little more than he had
known previously. He was pledged to
something he could not, apparently, per-
form, and which there was no visible
chance of his performing
In the eyes of the world, what business
was it of his if foreign Count should wed
an interesting American girl and heiress
She appeared to be willing enough so did
her parents. Should he forbid the bans
on the strength of his unsupported preiu-
dice? Then ne had recourse again to his
instincts. which, although they might be
correct, could not, as he was compelled to
admit, aid him materially in his proposed
discoveries. He felt bsfled and singularly
uneasy. He was more than willing to I'M.
dergo any amount of labor, privation, dan
ger, suffering, In the task he had set him
self. But how was he to begin where
was he to get his clue? 1t was idle to
beat the air and below at the wind. But
he would not be too impatient he could
not expect to do everything at once. A
fellow of Barigues' stamp must have left a
trail. It was Goodwin's duty to find it.
He would spare neither energy nor exertion
in the quest. He would try, according to
the measure of his strength, and leave the
outcome with Fortune.
In this mood he went to Archers office,
during office hours, and expressed some
surprise at finding him.
"Tm here pretty regularly now, Oscar.
Since we had that talk at the club, I've
been investigating myself, and discovered
even more defects than I supposed had.
They are so abundant that they have
smothered my good qualities, if ever
had any. That life is bore, is truism I;
but there are degrees of boredom. Ali of
us, am persuaded, get On less uncomfort-
ably when we try to achieve something.
We don't succeed, of course but the sim
pie effort deludes us, and perfect self-de-
lusion is what we call contentment. 1
intend, if can, to get out of debt, and
waste less time. But tell me the issue
of your last visit to the fair Margaret. !"
81 am sorry to say that it didn't amount
to much, Archer"
"You learned all about what You i'm
agined to be the terrible secret by which
Barigues bestrides the Royden family, like
another Old Man of the Sea-"
"No, I didn't. Miss Royden refrained
from telling me, and could not ascer-
tain elsewhere.
g You did not expect her to expose
her father, did You, Oscar?''
"Of course not. But fancied should
get some knowledge which is still lacking.
Nevertheless 1 have ample room for infer
ence. 1 have every reason to believe, 1
am morally certain, that Miss Royden has
consented to an engagement to Barigues in
order to shield her father from the malice
of that arch seoundrel.
"Well, that's something. But infer
ences, 1 need not tell a lawyer like your
self, are very Enthusiastically.
They are and they are not, Archer.
The value of the differences depends largely
on the mind that draws them, and the cir
cumstances whence they are drawn. If
Barigues is the kind of character we both
think, he must have had long and varied
experience to have attained his present
skill in wrong doing. His school for evil
must have been abroad-so far as known,
he has been but short time in this coun-
try-and abroad his antecedents must be
sought. He is no common scoundrel.
What he has done he has done boldly and
largely. There must be traces Of his past
1 have said again and again to myself,
what is wanted is clue. Once to start
such game is half way to running it down.
1 felt very Respondent a little while ago
but it will be strange if consummate
scoundrel, as 1 am confident Barigues is,
can wholly elude the vigilance and energy
of an honest man anxious to protect limo
canee against his wiles.
"All this is logical, Oscar. I've often
thought your opinions of Barigues retro
actively sentimental but I see that they
are based on reason. begin to have faith
in your mission"
do you really, Archer: You encour-
age me. 1t is all dark now; but light viii
come, am sure"
$50 am I, my dear boy. Don't worry.
The fullest victory is with the calm. But
why should I talk thus to you, Goodwin,
who are generally so tranquil ?"
cit must be because you are in the
habit of considering yourself so much my
senior We're both pretty old-for our
years.
land some of us are very young, Good.
win"
"And who-pardon the syntax-is some
of us, dootor2"
Each must judge for himself, Oscar.
R,, tbe hv vou're poino to dinner this even.