Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-10-11

III rUaG4
said these words. Of course: me'c,
" In Jest; but rroisssrt started, - u
my voice had reused him from . revere.
His strange sgitstion returned he grew
psler than before. gazed ct me win =
most singular expression ana seemea
about to speak but, as beiore' a'.er .
moments hesitation, he remained silent.
AZ the same time he glanced at the an
Gent timepiece which stood over the
fireplace, as IL suddenly reminded Of
something he had forgotten.
Paul. he said, hurriedly, " must
leave you for q short time. | shall
probably be back in . few minutes; but
II / am detained you will not mind
amusing yourself with q book, know.
am exceedingly sorry to leave you
even for q minute, but you will excuse
me. am sure" And murmuring
| apologies for leaving me alone, he hur-
ried out Of the room.
was so much surprised at the
strangeness and excitement OF his man
ner that for a moment l did nothing.
Then I sprang from my seat and fol-
lowed him. A sudden impulse re-
solved me to urge him to grant at once
the confidence he had promised me, and
not to endapger his health further with
agitations which he was evidently in no
! condition to bear. My Intervention, OF
course, might not be necessary. So
much the better If it were not. But 1
chose TO be on the safe side.
/. When I gained the door Froissart
was already at the end of the corridor I;
in moment more lost sight Of him.
Once or twice stopped and listened ;
but could now hear nothing. After
what seemed to me an intermldable
ascent, the stairs came out upon broad
landing on which two or three doors
opened. From one Of these, at the OPP
posite end of the landing to which
stood, a light shone; and now
| could see that Froissart was
there, and in the act Of striking a light
and kindling lamp. was about to
advance when the lamp famed up and
the interior Of the room became visi-
BILE. 1t was Of small dimensions, and
seemed 20 be fitted up as workshop.
| I saw q lathe, Q bench, small forge,
. confusion of wood and iron materials.
and quantity Of tools. But did not
see these only.
To my extreme surprise Frolssart
was not alone. The room was already
tenanted.
In the middle of the chamber was a
small, low, square table, the top of
which was fitted with chessboard.
The pieces, of red and white ivory,
were drawn up as at the commence
ment of game. At this table man
was already sitting, with his side face
turned toward me and his eyes appa-
rently fixed upon the board. His as
pect was singular, not to say start
ling--it was that Of foreigner, Of
an Oriental. His dress consisted Of a
coiled turban, a long, loose, flowing
robe, hanging sleeves, crimson scarf,
and jewelled collar. His complex
ion appeared to be swarthy; he wore
a long gray beard, and he sat before
the table in thoughtful attitude,
his elbow resting on the arm of his
chair.
l have said that | was surprised
startled so much it was natural that l
should be. The unusual dress and ma
tionality of the figure, especially strange
in that place, was sufficient to account
for such sensations. Yet neither word
describes with exactness the nature of
my feelings. My heart trembled in its
seat, my blood was troubled in its cur
rent. 1t vas as if the uneasy feeling
/ had previously experienced had sud-
denly become intensified hundredfold
as my eyes rested on the checkered
table and the figure which sat before it.
Are there mysterious influences, not
human, which make their presence felt
like witchcraft, unintelligible to men?
What was near me?
Froissart, having lighted the lamp,
took his seat at the table opposite the
Oriental. His behavior surprised me
much. Even from the distance at which
stood | could see that he was laboring
under strong excitement. On taking
his seat he looked TREMENDOUSLY toward
the turbaned figure, and hastily moved
a pawn. Then he remained gazing at
his opponent without moving or speak
ing, as if in a sort of fascination.
The feeling Of breathlcss expectancy
which seemed to possess him extended
itself to me. waited silently, even in
trepidation, for what would happen
next.
Five minutes wasted-ten minutes
still Froissart sat thus, his eyes fixed
intently, eagerly, upon the face before
him. My surprise increased; ] could
not conceive why the other did not
move his pawn in answer. The first
moves in a game Of chess are stereo-
typed and require no consideration.
Yet the player continued to gaze fixed
ly at the board, apparently absorbed in
thought; and gave no sign of motion.
A hundred thoughts, surmises, per-
plexities, speculations, fitted through
my brain, each more bewildering than
the rest. How came this strange per-
sonage to be sitting here alone in the
dark tower before Froissart came ?
What was the cause of Froissart's Gu
rious agitation? For what reason had
he left me to play chess with this mys-
ferrous stranger? Wherefore did the
stranger thus refuse to play And
wherefore-above all did | feel my
self so chill, so shaken, as if had be-
held resurrection from the dead?
As was vainly endeavoring to con.
lecture what could be the explanation
of these things-or, rather, not SC
much conjecturipg as lost in bewilder.
ing sense Of their Observation-Disclosures
changed his attitude. He rose, drew q
deep breath, and prepared to extinguisf
the lamp. Had l been capable o.
feeling further surprise | think
should have felt it. Nothing had hap,
pened-nothing which explained the
presence Of the stranger, nothing which
even suggested a motive for Froissart':
visit to the tower-yet he was evidently
coming away. AS he stretched out his
hand to take the lamp | advanced to-
ward the door. lie heard nv stem