Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1886-04-22


was the matter with my cOatF'
"Monsieur has, then, forgotten" said th,
servant; ''the sleeve was torn from the wris
right up to the shoulder!'
At this moment had my back turned t,
Raouls bed, being engaged at the wash stant
in dropping water into tn hrk bottle. A sud
den cry of alarm from F1exESstartled me:
! "Quick, Monsieur, qltckt-he has tainted
Ny God, he is deadr'
l few to the bedside. Raoul's face had be
come of deathly pallor; his eyes were closed
his lower jaw dropped down; his right arm
hung fiaccid over the bed.
''Gracious heaven," l cried in alarm: ''wha
is wrong with him! Quick Pierre, dip thi
| cloth in cold water-then run for brandy
! run your fastest! Here is-oh, my God, hav,
! not sOu!'
''Say not word more, Monsieuri I vii
hasten-l will fly-I will bring the brandy
Let Monsieur be at ease-there is no need O.
the mOney"-and here this paragon of ser
wants had rushed off and down the stairs be
| fore L could say a word. l had passed IN,
arm under Raoul's head, and was bathing hi
brow with the wet cloth. Before Pierre cam,
back he had revived, to my intense relief
He opened his eyes, and looked Inc wildly il
the face. Il had forgotten thatI' he said, in {
voice quite unlike his own, and with a shuddel
l could feel
Forgotten what, my dear Raoulr' bu
again his eyes had closed, and his heaC
dropped back on my shoulder.
Pierre returned after short absence will
the brandy. We made Raoul drink some
presently he came out of the second fainting
fit, and looked at us curiously.
''What is wrong!n he said.
"Monsieur has tainted, said Pierre; "Mon
sleur feels better now, is it not so."
''The good news has been too much for you
dear Raoul," l said ''you are certainly un
well. Shall bring doctor to see you!'
'On no account. am better now-quits
better" The tone in which he said this wa.
very decided. Gas you say, it is no doubt the
sudden joy that has overwhelmed me- shall
sleep now and tomorrow shall be quite re-
covered"
He seemed disinclined to talk further.
sat beside him, watching, till he fell asleep
There was something in his manner and ap.
pearance that puzzled me and made me
anxious, for L had never seen Raoul like this
before. L began to fear lest this might be
the beginning of serious illness, and yet, on
the evening before, at the cafe of La Source,
he had seemed to be in his usual health.
There was nothing that knew of weighing
ON his mind; he had had no quarrel with
Gabrielle; the comedy had been accepted. 1t
must, [ thought, be the sudden coming of
good news, acting on temperament naturally
high-strung. Raoul had splendid physique.
His figure was 1.-the and slim, like all
o+l,1o+,,c, ;,,l
the gymnasium in the Rue de Ia Sorbonne
But irregular dining will try the best con-
stitution; and Raoul, like many writing men,
was a creature of nerves. In this way sitting
by his bedside, / explained to myself his
fainting fit and random words Soon l saw
him slumbering peacefully. This reassured
me, and retired to rest.
CHAPTER III
The next forenoon saw me on my way to
the house of Levi Jacob, the usurer, with the
Odeon letter safe in my pocket. Raoul had
passed somewhat restless night, but in the
morning professed himself quite well. There
could be no breakfast for either him or me
until money was got, and hence L lost no
time in paying my visit to the little jew
pulled the cora; after some minuteS' de-
lay the window was cautiously opened, and
the little usurers wrinkled, bearded face, with
its curved nose and glittering eyes, appeared
over the sill. He recognized me at once.
''Ah, it is Monsieurl 1 have the honor to
salute Monsieur! VIII Monsieur give himself
the trouble Of coming upstairs." This was
said in snrill, cracked voice, and the words
had no sooner been uttered than the head was
withdrawn and the window shut.
1 lost no time in running upstairs, and was
at once admitted. l need not enter into the
details of my somewhat lengthy negotiation
with Levi Jacob. 1t ended by my putting
my name to piece of stamped paper and re-
ceiving, in exchange, ten notes of twenty
francs each.
II hope that Monsieur is satisfied" said
Levi Jacob. Il am always charmed to oblige
Monsieur; there is none of my clients whom
esteem so highly. 1t is cold to-day, and the
snow under foot is very disagreeable. All,
yes, it is severe winter; one has to spend a
fortune on firewoodl Monsieur has perhaps
not seen the journals this morning?'
''NO, have not seen them. Is there any
news?'
''Ah, that is a dreadful murder which has
been committed-Joseph MeisSner, of the Pas
sage de Mazarin, one Of my co-religionists. ]
have met him at the Bourse, this Joseph
Meissner; he was a very rich man; indeed
al the world spoke of his riches. Doubtless
A terrible 'cf cfrfmflggr fmflgrdered him for his money
'It's warning to you, v,,, ,,.,,
play you the same trick some fine III 10y = WI
go on lending money on such terms as
have given mer'
''Ha, ha ~ laughed the Jew; Monsieur tests
That is excellent! No, no; they will not mur
der the old Jacob, the benevolent Jacob, n.
is not rich enough for that; all the world dos
not speak of him as it did of Meissner. And
besides, if Monsieur will but look as the locl
of that door, and consider that 1 admit ns
one who has not first pulled the cord and beer
examined from the window, Monsieur vii
xaaIcaiua that L amt tolara hlxz Cafo