Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-18

man, though fool, can read its meaning
without key.
Cecil knew instinctively that he had
before him one of those bise creatures
who, born of earths slime are ever crawl.
ing along the vilest ways to reach the
vilest ends. SO low that they can fall nc
lower, they are the ever-ready agents Of
scoundrels of higher social degree, who
pay them good wages for doing work that
is too soiling for their own fingers.
| Happy to see you. young sir, was
the greeting that accompanied Brazen-
asses familiar nod. Cali alone, ell
Wanted to make sure Of that before
came up, you know. When ] was gay
blade like you it wasn't always convenient
to be taken unawares. -ah-you un'
derstand !"
con the contrary, do not understood,
was the stern, Disguised answer 81 de
sire to hear, in the fewest words, the
meaning Of your presence here?'
Very prettily put, my gilt-spurred
cock" said the attorney, with an insolent
smile on his coarse lips "but as stand.
ing don't agree with my constitution, I'll
take chair before obiiging you" And
he pumped down on the cushioned fau.
teuil which Mr.. Foliambe had just vaca.
ted. "Now, by way of taking short
cut to your good opinion, he went on
with chuckle in his thick, cultural
tones, "I'll introduce myself MS the solic-
itor of Count Silvestrelh"
HE is happy in his legal representa-
tive" said Chesterton, with bitter em-
phasis.
"Well, on the whole, 1 think he is, v
assented Brazenasse, with an impudent
smile. II get good many of these del
icate jobs in the way of professional bust
ness, and | generally manage to carry
them through to my own credit and my
clients satisfaction. With regard to the
present affair, having mentioned the
principals name, I may as well come
straight to the point, and tell you that he
means to make you pay pretty smartly
for your NdiSOn with his wife.
A dark frown gathered on Cecil's fair
open brow.
| "Please mention the form which Count
Silvestrelli's accusation takes y he said
his clear, cultured voice ringing out
sharp and distinct after the thick, guttu
raj utterance of the other.
Brazenosse looked ut him with an odiou'
leer
"She's nice little plump white pigeon
isn't She" he said, with chuckle $50
dainty and fine dem when 1 was gal
liant like you, I'd have come down witt
something pretty handsome for half YOU
share in the sweet Lucia's favors. Ant
her husband, as proprietor of the free
hold"
Cecil sprang up, with his eyes flashing
fire and the strength of fury III his arm.
| - tft1
word of that lady," he said fiercely, "ano
| will fling you-dastard as you are-tc
the bottom of the stairs y
By way of answer, the attorney pro
duced greasy notebook from his pocket
and proceeded with lcisurely slowness tC
write something in it.
When he had finished and replaced the
diary in tho breast of his coat, he turned
to Cecil, and said, insolently, "Ive made
an entry of your threat, my dear sir. ST
you can proceed now to carry it into effect
as soon as you please. A charge of as
sault will make quite an effective back
ground for the other case to work on.
At this stage of our story it is hardly
necessary to say that Cecil Chestertor
was not the slave of his passionate i'm
pulses. He saw he would weaken the
cause of right by wreaking righteous
wrath on the reptile before him and
though the angry blood tingled to his fin
ger-tips, he rsfraincd.
| Base minds must necessarily be at fault
when they set themselves to measure the
motives of honest ones.
Brazenasse thought he had frightened
him. But he saw the effort 1t cost the
young man to keep his clenched fist down
and being as tender of his porpoise per
son as all towards are, he resolved to keel
his foul tongue rather more under re
straint in future, for fear of accidents
He was acute enough to know that witt
such weapons ms banter, effrontery, ant
inuendo at his command, he could still
make himself sufficiently odious to high
minded gentleman.
"Now, my dear sir, he began, after {
pause of defiance, rubbing his fat hand
in evident enjoyment of the situation, 81
your chivalrous ardor has sufficient,
cooled down, we will return to the deli
cate subject under discussion. | wa
about to remark when you interrupted
me, that my client, with that disgusting
egotism which is SO objectionable in ell
derby husbands, resents any poaching OIL
his preserves and having the law on hi
side, means to prevent it or make tn
poacher pay. In other words, he ha
taken so much umbrage at the evidenc
of your great respect for Countess Silves
trelli-respect is not the name it goes b.
in our profession, but spare your feel
ings-and of Countess Silvestrelli's col
dial reciprocation Of tho sentiment
Cecil had to hold himself in his chair
avoid rushing at the scoundrel and throt
Ting HIM -'that he is about to file pc
tition i'll the Divorce Court against yo
and the rigidly virtuous lady who share
his name"
In the Divorce Court ~
The words scorched Cecil's conscious
ness like tongues of flame. In the ID
vorce Court He who had held his hea
so erect in conscious integrity he VIII
had walked blameless all the days of hi
youth ; he whose family boast it was ths
no stain of dishonor ever furnished thel
name And she - But he dared NJ
pursue that line for an instant.
2 you have no case = he said at last, !
the strained voice Of utmost endurance
3 for pride forbade any sign of what h
' was feeling from making itself NANTES
: to the coarse gaze of this creature of III
Counts.
His calmness disappointed the attorne,
., who hoped to brighten him more than i
z had ostensibly done.
4 Don't deceive yourself on that head
= he said, brutally. "We've got evidenC
n enough forhalf dozen cases. The lady
letter, and the surgeon. witness of whe
@ he found it, would almost do the jobnlon
q Bnt besides that, we can prove that y,
/, were alone together twice, and the Count
8 witnesses will swear---"
''lf they swear TO anything that cas-
v the least slur on Countess Sllvesirell
Il purity, on .ou my reverence fpI IT, III,