Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-07-19

retiring. He babe me wait. Presently he
gave me verbal answer in these words !:
Tell NJ. de Launey that will comply with
his wish. NJ. de Sonteau never violates his
word.' Then l rode back to the inn, where
the landlord was still up, awaiting my mas
ter's ring. NJ. de Launey was then sitting
in an easy chair. gave him NJ: de Son
teau's reply. He merely smiled, babe me
open his dressing case, and place the pack
age which was upon the table beside him
under the pillow of his bed. He also bade
me examine the lock on the door, lead
ing to the passage of the staircase. Then he
said: ''You can 90 to bed. Awake me at 6.
l will start for the chateau at g. left the
room, and that was the last time | saw my
poor master alive"
"You knocked at his door according to
his orders, at in the morning?" question
ed the Prefect.
eyes, Monsieur lie Prefect-ten minutes
before s. / raped twice, and receiving no
answer, / lifted the iron latch Of the door,
and to my surprise found it unlocked. l
pushed the door open, and then saw him
lying as he now is. Scarcely knowing what
l did, / ran down stairs and gave the alarm.
That is all know"
under his pillow?"
"Monsieur, am not positive, but think
it must have contained bank notes.-the
purchase money of the chateau"
"Do you know that this package is mis-
sing, and that your late masters watch and
chain are not to be found?"
lido not, Monsieur. knownOthing since
1 opened the door this morning"
Madam Bernis was questioned. She add
ed nothing new to the Wallets statement
merely corroborated portion of it. But
she still held her gaze upon the Wallets face.
She could not catch glance from him in
return.
NJ. de Sonteau arrived from the chateau.
A morose looking man, with a strange set
expression of cOuntenance, thin lips and
heavy black mustache.
IN. Robert de Launey only needed to
sign the legal papers and pay me the stlpu-
lated sum of 100000 francs to become the
owner of the ancestral home of my family.
His valet brought me a m massage-yes. 1t
was a request that should arrange SO that
the business should be arranged at an ear
lier hour than had been agreed upon. That
was all. 1 sent verbal reply. That was
all, Monsieur Prefect. Am at liberty to
depart" ., \, 10 co.+o., ;,
The landlord, the house servant and the
hostler were examined, but they gave no
clue to the mystery of the awful crime.
The Prefect decided to hold in close sur
veillance the valet the landlord and wife,
and gave the case into the keeping of a
couple Of his sharpest detectives.
The weapon, a knife, with which the MUIR
der was committed, was minutely exam
ined. While it was being inspected the
valet seemed nervous and agitated, and
once or twice, his eyes meeting the glance
of Madam Bernis fastened upon him as II
watching his every motion, he trembled
violently.
The woman was evidently preparing her
self for some fearful emergency. She was
pale, and her features wore rigid, resolute
expression.
IN. lie Prefect, hold the knife nearer to
me, that 1 may see it Closely" she said.
The Prefect obeyed the request. She did
not touch the blood-stained instrument of
death.
"Have you ever seen that knife before ?"
Again the woman inspected it, and still
more closely. Then she Started with a shud-
der as of supreme horror, and exclaimed:
"MOn dieu, mon dieu, it is his knife"
''Whose knife ?"
The valet made movement toward the
door, as if to leave the apartment. An OIL
Ger interrupted him.
"Whose knife?" repeated the Prefect.
'It is the stable knife which / have re-
peatedly seen in the hands of Jacques Cher
in, the lodge-keeper Of the Chateau de Son
teau" she answered, her eyes still fixed up
on the valet.
s'But Cherin has not been here since a
month ago." said the landlord.
''Thatis Cherin's knife, nevertheless. His
initials are cut or scratched upon the ham
dle-scrape the blood off, and you will see
them-J. c."
The Protect did 50. The woman was
right
The valet, now almost livid in the face,
sank upon his knees in ablect terror, at
the Projects feet, crying, "Monsieur, save
me 1 could not help ~
Now the woman's face lighted up. "Ah,
you see husband, / was right when L said
this valet looked enough like Cherin to be
Cherin or his twin brother. Look at him.
1t is Cherin."
eyes, am Cherin. | am not Rudolphe,
the valet. 1 am the lodge-keeper OF the
chateau" -,'- '
A look of profound pity came over the wo-
mans face.
"And this man." she murmured so low
that only the Prefect heard her distinctly,
"Was my lover, and in this Wretch'S embrace
l forgot my duty to so good man as my
husband. God forgive me! What better
am than a murderess ?" Turning to the
Prefect, she said SO all could hear:
"MOnSieur, there is an awful mystery IN
last nights work, and this wretch can ex-
plain it-put him to the rack"
Cherin had fallen to the floor. The Otfi-
cials lifted him into chair. AS he fell to
the floor they saw his hand quickly taken
from his mouth by Il spasmOdic action Ofthe
arm.
"What have you done"'
"Nothing," answered the valet "You
were too quick for me-l-l-haVe mercy
on me. | confess all. | am Cherin. That
is NV knife. 1t was who murdered NJ. de
IIauney. The package of money | found
under his pillow | gave to my master (de
S0nteau) an hour since, before he left here.
But it was not who arrived here with the
banker. That was his valet, Rudolphe."
"Where is this RudOlphe-the real valet ?
Was he yourconiederate ?" sternly demand
ed the Prefect.
81 will tell you all. When the valet ar
rived last night at the chateau, with mes
sage from his master, NJ. SOnteau, my mas
ter, who. was troubled at being obliged to
sell his chateau, and nearly wild over the
poverty to which his gambling had brought
him, called me to him and said with terri
bic look:
"Jacques, would you make any sacrifice
to save me this chateau and make me once
more rich:
"Not knowing what he meant, and blind
w loving him as did, sWOre to him that
| would dare death to serve him. Then he
said:
at is an inspiration. | will kill this mis-
cradle valet who is in the hall, you shall