St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-08-09

price of their information, fortune falling
into the pockets of an adventurer, that it
might find its way into the strong box of .
banker who had reached the point of being
unable to honor his engagements.
4 formal agreement had been drawn up
between Toronthal and Sarcany, according
to which tire expected profit was to be
shared equally. Sarcany was to have suf-
ficient to enable him and his companion.
Zirone, to live comfortably at Trieste, and
to meet all outgoings and expenses. In ex-
change. and rs guarantee, he had handed
over TO the banker the fac smile of the
message which contained-there could be
no doubt-the secret of the conspiracy.
1t may perhaps be said that SandOrf was
imprudent in acting thus. Under such
circumstances 10 introduce stranger into
the house where such important matters
were in hand. on the very eve of a rising,
of which the signal might be sent at any
moment, might seem an act of strange i'm
prudence. But the count had not acted
thus without being obliged
Il was necessary that his personal affairs
should be put in order now that he was
about to enter on n perilous adventure in
which he risked his life. or at least exile, il
he was obliged TO fly in the event of fail
ure. Besides, the introduction of stranger
into Zathmars house appeared to him cal
culated TO prevent suspicion. He fancied
that for some days-and we know that he
was not mistaken-there had been spies In
the AcquedOtto; spies who were no other
Sarcany and Zirone. Were the police
his friends and him and their
proceedings? SandOrf might well think so
and fear so. If the meeting place of the
cOnspirators. hitherto so obStinately kept
hidden. seemed TO him to be suspected, what
better means of battling suspicion could be
devised than 10 admit within it an account
ant merely busying himself with accounts.
How could the presence of a clerk be dan
gerous TO Zathmar and his guests? In no
way. There was no longer any interchange
of ciphered correspondence between Trieste
and the other towns of Hungary.
Ali the papers relating to the move
ment had been destroyed. There
remained no written trace of the conspir-
aey. The measures had been taken; they
were not intended to be taken. Count
Sandorf had only to give the signal when
the moment arrived. So that the introduce
ton of clerk into the house, which the
government might have under surveillance,
was calculated TO allay all suspicion. That
is to say, the reasoning was Just and the
|
one else than Sarcany, and his introducer
any other than SilaS Toronthal.
Sarcany was a postmaster in duplicity,
and took full advantage of the gifts ne pos
seSSed: his open face, his frank, clear eX-
preston, and his honest, straightforward
look. Count SandOrf and his two compan-
ions could not but be taken with him-and
they were taken with him. In no way did
he show or learn that he was in the pres
ence of the chiefs Of a conspiracy to raise
the Hungarian race in revolt against the
Germans. Matthias Sandorf, Stephen Bath
DRY and LadiSlaS Zathmar seemed al their
meetings TO be only occupied with discus
sions on art and science. There was no
secret correspondence; there were no myS-
FERROUS eomings and goings about the house.
But Sarcany knew what he wanted. The
chance he wanted was sure to come in turn,
and he waited for it.
In entering Zathmar's house, Sarcany
had but one object in view-to possess him.
self of the grating that would enable him
TO decipher the cryptOgram; and as no
ciphered dispatch arrived at Trieste he be-
gan to ask himself if, for prudential reasons,
the grating had been destroyed? This would
be rather annoying for him, as all the scat
folding of his scheme was based on his
being able to read the letter brought by the
pigeon.
Thus as he worked at putting in order
the accounts of Matthias Sandorf, he kept
his eyes open; he watched, he spied. Ad-
mission to the room where the meetings
took place between Zathmar and his COM
paniOns was not forbidden him. Very of
ten he worked there all alone; and then his
eyes and his fingers were occupied in quite
other tasks than making calculations OF
casting figures. He ferreted among the pa
perS; ne opened the drawers by means of
skeleton keys made him by Zirone, who
was quite an adept in such matters. And
all the time he kept strict watch on Borik,
with whom he seemed to be quite out of
sympathy.
For five days Sarcany's search was use
less. Each morning he came with the hope
of succeeding; each evening he returned 10
his hotel without having discovered any
thing. He feared he was going to fail after
all in his criminal enterprise. The con-
| spiraey-if there were a conspiracy, and he
could not doubt that there was one-might
come to a head at any moment before il
had been discovered, and consequently be-
fore it had been reported.
but rather than lose the benefit of a
discovery, even without satisfactory proofs,
better inform the police" said Zirone, land
Il
| give them copy of the letter."
'That is what l am going TO do If neceS-
sary," said Sarcany.
OF course Toronthal was kept informed
of all that went on. And twas not without
difficulty that the impatienee of the banker
was duly curbed.
Chance came at last to his assistance.
On the first occasion it brought him the
message, and now it came to him TO show
him how the message. could be deciphered.
1t was the last day of May, about 4 o'clock
in the afternoon. Sarcany, according TO
his custom, was going TO leave Zathmar S
house at 3. He was greatly disappointed
that he had advanced no further than on
the first day, and that the work he had
been doing for Count Sandorf was APP
preaching its end. When the task was
| finished he would evidently be dismissed
with thanks and rewards, and he would
have no chance of again entering the
house.
Zathmar and his two friends were not at
home. There was no one in the house but
Borlk, and he was busy on the ground
floor. Sarcany. finding himself free to do
as he liked. resolved to go into Count Zath-
mars roOm-which he had not vet been
able TO do-and then search everything he
could.
The door was locked. Sarcany with his
skeleton keys soon opened it and en-
| tered.
Between the two windows opening on the
street there was writing desk. whose an
tique form would have delighted cOnnois-
seur in old furniture. The shutdown front
prevented any one inspecting what was in
side.
1t was the first time Sarcany had the
chance of getting near this piece of furni
ture, and he was not the man to waste his
opportunities. To rummage its numerous
drawers. ne had only to force the 'front.'