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

ton, when and where he pleases. There
are more wrongsI than my own to avenge |"
How hot we are !" he said, insolently.
"What furious Orlando the gals without
husbands have lost 'Taint fair TO 'em
neither, pretty dears, that the married
women should get all the beaux. How
ever, my gallant air, you're on the wrong
tack this time. The compromise come
to offer you has nothing to do with cold
steel. III the Count were twenty years
younger he might oblige yor but being
an old gentleman, he prefers taking out
his revenge in coin or coins value !"
"Ah | understand, at last - exclaim-
ed Cecil bitterly. can unprincipled vii
lain has got me into his power, and means
to make the basest use of il unless | buy
his silencew
"What mn uncivil way you have of put
ting things p sneered the unabashed at
torney. "But supposng, for arguments
sake, you speak the truth-what follows :?
You must accept his terms, o. take the
consequences ~
Cecil's fair forehead flushed scarlet.
care you not afraid to make such .
shameless proposition - he said, in tones
vibrating with anger.
Mr.. Brazenasse glanced rouud the room,
and winked his porkish eyes.
"Not to YOU, my dear sir, " he respond.
ed, coolly. "If you had been able to
provide yourself with witness, might
have been more reticent but i'll taking
care to SEQ you alone 1 assured myself
perfect liberty of speech I"
"To be sure" said Cecil, turning away
with n strangely-awakened expression on
his suddenly-palcd face.
"You see that you must accept the
compromise or the consequences of re-
fusal ?"
eyes rs
"Ah / thought we should understand
each other Mt last, was the triumphant
response, and fat smile circulated over
the lawyers features "Now, my client
is going to be very moderate in his de-
mands- ridiculously generous, 1 say-but
that's his affair. He makes you this Of
fer he will withdraw the petition, ton
der you frank forgiveness, and take the
virtuous lady back to his bosom again, il
you will agree to hand over to me--his
representative small gem you are &C.
customed to carry about on your per-
son"
81 wear several, said Chesterton, stol-
idly. "Can you identify the one you
mean ?"
"To be sure" assented the smiling
lawyer, now sure of victory. ut is rath-
er q rare sort--a Black Pearl. Queer
choice on the part of the Count, but
there's no accounting for tastes"
Cecil sat very still, save for an occa-
sional irrepressible fash in his eyes.
81 cannot give you the Pearl now" he
said, quietly. at is not in the house
eff you accept my clients offer, that
can wait, was the lawyers eager response.
"Shall give you my card?'
perhaps you had better" assented
Cecil, still calmly. 81 cannot long hest
tate between giving up the Pearl and 60
ing into the Divorce Court. But you
shall have my decision within twenty-four
hours"
Brazennsse rose, aud laid his card on
the table at which Chesterton sat.
81 congratulate you on letting caution
get the better of valor," he said, with his
Extensively complacent smile. Next
time you get involved in any little inds-
erection with a lady, engage me to get you
out of the scrape. Shall we shake hands
on it?''
"Thank you y said Cecil, turning from
the proffered hand with cold hauteur.
THAT ceremony may wait till the time
you mention comes. The,e is the door -
"Infernal uppishnes5 - muttersd the
chop-fallcn lawyer, and he was turning
towards the indicated exit, when the
screen fell down with crash, and Mr..
Foliambe, stepping over it, said, Next
time you indulge in SO much freedom of
speech be more careful to ascertain that
your intended victim has not provided
himself with a witness ~
TO he Contlnued,)