Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-11
CHAPTER XIV.
bhc Counts Trump Card.

The ire of the Maharajah of Jodhport
had been aptiy likened i'll his own coun-
| try to the ravening rage of that fearfullest
of beasts, the Bengal tiger. Once reused,
nothing less then the destruction of the
offending object appeased it, And it was
very easily reused. The least hint of adj
verse dealing was enough.
Such hint had been furnished in the
failure of the plot to procure the Black
Pearl. With the aptitude of cunning
people to suspect treachery in others,
| Sastri coniectured that there had been
some collision between the Italians to alb.
stract the gem, with the view of obtain.
ing more money for 1t by.and-by and
partly to divert his masters anger from
himself, partly to indulge his spite to-
wards Piero, Mybrea fostered the suspi-
cion.
at was impossible" he said, "for him
to watch every movement of the Italians
in the darkness of that miserable place in
which be dwelt but he had noticed that
the Sahib Count spoke to him once Sc
cretly while they stood together.
Suspicious are like serpents eggs-they
hatch deadly brood.
1t was with dark scowl on his dark
brow that Prince Sastri, sitting swathed
in costly furs before an enormous fire,
heard one of the hotel servants announce
Count Silvestrelli"
| 1t was the afternoon OF the day follow
ing the Park outrage, and some foul
hours had elapsed since, npprized by his
creature Rosette of the arrival of his
wife's visitor, the attachc had posted
himself as spy of thcirinterview.
| He hoard ayprytbipu tbnuOl1 II y5+ng r
part of his cynical falsity to allow Lucip
to suppose he had only overheard her last
remark. He permitted her rather vague
explanation OF it to pass unchollenged
and pressed kiss on her shrinking lips 1
few minutes before he went out in searcl
of evidence to iucriminate her-in the
eyes of the world, at least he knew sh,
was innocent
"a hearty greeting to you, my prluct
of adventures - he said, ms he advanced
into Sastri's room and extended his hand
"You suffer no harm from that night y
English mildew, trust? Sacrc we hat
an execrable .faSco ;"
81 agree we had," responded Sastri
with the malevolcnt sneer which is the
Eastern substitute for the naughty cold
ness by winch the West mauifcsts its Of
The Counts keen eye took in the situa
ton at aglarce.
calais my friend, why do you wrong
me So? he demonstrated in his siikles
tones. my plan was good, and its exc
cutiOn was admirable 1t il cruel t,
blame me Tor the Englese's cunning
Yourself are witness how hard ! WORKED
for the Success of your hopes, Did no
g. l.. ~,
beautiful dnim0? Did you not see hin
your own eyes How could ! tell tina
the malevolent fellow would change it
place in less than twenty-four hours !
But it was easier to arouse SGstri's sus
picions than to lull them to sleep. .
"The great god, Rama, from whom
am 5descended will revenge himself %
, the people who iuiure his son" he III
swcred, snlleniJ.
Silyestrelii recognized the IMPLIED
threat, aud acknowledged it with an i'll
audible imprecation.
There was short silence. Then Tia
Count leaned forward. and said III wits
per, My friend, if [ shonld tell yol
t that have this morning seen the Blnc
Pearl, what would you say?'
Sastli's face lighted up for an instant
but quickly clouded again.
> "'lhis, he replied, doggedly. "Whcn
have also seen il, ! will believe"
t "Ah, admirable e. exclaimed the Count
5 with his emile yelling sueer. "Whe
all princes become astute like you, W
shall hear no more OF rebel subjects. A
for me, congratulate myself on bein
, able to fulfil your condition. Ii You viii
you can see the Pearl this afternoon
Prince; aud it shall be proved to you be
} You'd dispute that the miscarriage OF on
| plot last night arose from no neglect {
8 mine.
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