Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-02-19


Now 1et us sum up Servants, adopted
beyond suspicion Who is lefts The Rev
erend Samuel Bradstock"
This ingenious exposition of ''the ex-
haustive system of reasoning" failed to pro-
duce any effect on Lady Lydiard 'fYou are
wasting our time" she said sharply. ''You
know as well as l do that you are talking
nonsense"
81 DON'T" said Felix. "Taking the gentle
manly professions all round, know of no
men who are SO eager to get money, and who
have so few scruples about how they get it,
as the parsons. Where is there man in
any other profession who perpetually wor-
ries you for moneys who holds the bag under
your nose for money! who sends his clerk
round from door to door to beg few shil-
lings of you, and calls it an Easter offer
ingp The parson does all this. Bradstock is
a parson Iput it logically. Bowl me over
If you can"
Mr. Troy attempted to "bowl him over"
nevertheless Lady Lydiard wisely inter
posed
SWhen a man persists in talking nom
sense,'' she said, "silence is the best answer;
anything else only encourages him." She
turned to Felix. 81 have question to ask
JOu hl1o Wc11N I'LL w WALL clbuol give ulo
serious reply, or wish me good morning"
With this brief preface, she made her inquiry
as to the wisdom and possibility of engaging
the services of the French police
Felix took exactly the view Of the matter
which had been already expressed by Mr..
Troy. Superior in intelligence" he said,
''but not superior in courage to the English
police. Capable Of performing wonders on
their own ground and among their own peo-
pie. But, my dear aunt, the two most dis
similar nations on the face of the earth are
the English and French. The French police
may speak our language, but they are in
capable of understanding our national char
acter and our national manners. Set them
to work on private inquiry in the city of
Pekin and they would get ON in time with
the Chinese people. Set them to work in the
city of London and the English peo-le would
remain, from first to last the same impene-
trable mystery to them. In my belief, the
London Sunday would be enough of itself to
drive them back to Paris in despair No
balls. no concerts, no theatres, not even a
museum or a picture gallery OPEN every
shop shut up but the gin shop, and nothing
moving but the church bells and the men
who sell the penny ices. Hundreds of French
men come to see me on their first arrival in
IuR1duO- Livery A1ieIA VI CuoA1 PUSHES OdCk
to Paris ON the second Saturday of his visit,
rather than confront the horrors Of second
Sunday in London However, you can try
it, if you like. Send me a written abstract
of the case, and will forward it to one OF
the official people in the Rue Jeru ,alem, who
will do anything he can to oblige me- OF
COURSE" said Felix, turning to Mr.. Troy,
"some of you have got the number of the
lost bank note. If the thief has tried to pas,
it in Paris, my man may be of some use to
you"
''Three of US have got the number of the
note" answered Mr. Troy, "Miss Isabel
Miller, Mr.. Moody and myself"
VERY good" said Felix. 'Send me the
number, with the abstract of the case Is
there anything else I can do towards recover
ing the money!" he asked, turning to his
aunt. "There is one lucky circum stance in
connection with this loss, isn't therel 1t has
fallen on a person who is rich enough to take
it easy. Good heavens! suppose it had been
my loss"
''It has fallen doubly on me-" said Lady
Lydiard; land I am certainly not rich
enough to take that easy. The money was
destined to a charitable purpose, and have
felt it my duty to pay it again.
Felix rose and approached his aunt's chair
with faltering steps, as became suffering
man. He took Lady Lydiard's hand and
kissed it with enthusiastic admiration.
You excellent creature!" he said 'You
may not think it, but you reconcile me to
human nature. How generousl how nobel
think I'll go to bed again, Mr. Troy, if you
really don't want any more of me. Ny head
feels giddy, and my legs tremble under me.
It doesn't matter; shall feel easier when
ifpa.S no. fakar1 mo of INV olCth0R rain
God bless you, my dear auntI ! nsvsr felt
day. Good morning, Mr.. Troy. Don't for
get the abstract of the case, and on'ttroubls
yourself to see me to the door. ] dare say
shan't tumble down stairs and IL do. there's
the porter in the hall to pick me up again.
Enviable porter! as fat as butter, and rs Ids
as a pig! Au revoir! au revoirI' He kissed
his hand and drifted feebly out Of the room.
Sweetsir, one might say. in a state of eclipse;
tut still the serviceable Sweetsir, who was
never consulted in vain by the fortunate
people privileged to call him friend.
sis he really ILL., do you thiuka" Mr.. Troy
asked.
''My nephew has turned fifty" Lady
Lydiard answered, land he persists i'll living
as if he were young man. Every now and
then Nature says to him, Felix, you are
old! And Felix goes to bed, and says it's
his nerves.
Il suppose he is to be trusted to keep his
word about writing to PARISH pursued the
lawyer
''Oh, yes. He may delay doing It, but he
will do it. In spite of his lackadaisical man
ner, he has moments of energy that would
surprise you. Talking of surprises, have
something to tell you about Moody. Within
the last day or two there has been marked
change in him a change for the worse"
You astonish me, Lady Lydiard. In
what way has Moody deterioratedf'
you shall hear. Yesterday was Friday
You took him out with you, on business,
early in the morning" i,