Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-01-11
"They were paid me Yesterday byn-. Hs

was about to sayl"
II repeat my question, which you seem moi
to have heard. From whence came the
100000 francs."
Roger answered hoarsely: ~ told you:
from the payment Of a debt"
"The name Of that persona"
"That does not concern you. I find your
question a little indiscreet."
II advise you to answer without subter.
fuge."
me, and I refuse. As my cashier has fur.
nished you with all the indications in his
power beg you to notice that it is II o'clock,
and that my time is valuable"
"You do notseem to understand the gravity
Of your situation"
Laroque seemed at first surprised, and then
with his ordinary brusqueness exclaimed:
"Where the devil do you find my situation
grave2 What business Of yours is it anyhow,
ID. Police Commissioner LienardT', q. Z, =,
GIn that there exists strong presumptiva
reasons that you are tho murderer Of Larou-
ette."
"What? hey? how2'
"You heard me-"
Laroque kept silent and seemed to pass iD
mental review the words just addressed to
him, and looked from Ricordot to Lienard
and back. Then all at once the comic side OF
such an occasion struck him and he burst into
g laugh, so hearty, loud and prolonged that
the tears stood in his eyes and his sides ached.
u should never have thought Of that" be
said as soon as he could control his mirth
81 am rot here to inquire your opinion
said Lienard with great dignity, ''but to ask
you certain questions, and to place you ut the
disposal of the court Of Versailles in case they
are not satisfactorily answered"
At this moment Ricordot went out, and in
a few seconds returned with his hands full OF
bank notes, which he began to examine atten-
lively while the conversation continued.
every well, though it hunliliates me to
have to defend myself from so ridiculous IN
accusation. But first wish to know what
are your proofs against me-"
''They are Of various nature, but am here
only to see if there is any suspicious account
Of money in your possession. Do you maintain
your affirmation that though your safe was
empty on the 2Sth, the important SUM found
in your possession to-day comes partly from
your winning at baccarat and the rest from
a apayment? You must prove what you say"
~ played last night from 10 to midnight
with Baron de Cey, Leonce Dubois, and Gas
ton and Adolph Levallois.n
''That is all right so far. But the 100, ,OO0
francs brought in by you on the Goth Of july"
Again Roger turned PALE II have nothing
to add to my former answer. It was an un-
expected payment of loan."
''The name Of the ,debtorr
Roger kept silent.
s'Refect, this name is the proof that you
have told the truth, for it will be easy for US
to verify your statement" Still no answer.
"In the name of your honorable house, your
own honor" Still no word. SIN the name,
then, Of your noble wife and your innocen.
little child, whom you seem to forget, charge
you to speak" 1.
One instant he stood with his ips apart, thea
he sank down, down, bending his great shoul-
ders under the weight of the burden he nc
cepted.
"I cannot, cannot! I am lost, lostr'
n. Lienard made gesture Of impatience.
Then the expert arose and handed him, with
out word, a scrap of paper whereon he had
written few words and six or seven bank
notes of 1000 francs each attached with
PIN: M Lienard turned toward Larocue.
$50 then," he said, '.you refuse to speakg"
81 refuse,n answered he hoarsely.
"Your cashier just now gave US series OF
numbers of notes which were received from
the country, and which were paid to Larou-
cite the 2Sth Of July. After that payment
your cashier says nothing but gold remained
in your safe. How do you account for the
fact that the most of the numbered notes are
found to-day in your safe!"
Impossible" said Roger, astonished.
"Look for yourself These notes were paid
to Larouette He was murder ID and robbed.
The notes you say you paid him were found
again in your hands. Now. according to you,
one Of the persons from whom you won last
night, or the person who paid you yesterday,
must have killed and robbed Larouettc."
''What folly"
"You persists"
II told the truth"
II would gladly believe you, but at least
complete..your story. You see to what danger
you expose yourself in refusing"
II am responsible"
"What reason is so powerful as to cause
you to place your liberty, your very life in
danger?"
"Do not insist" said Roger.
"Let it beso The court Of Versailles will
perhaps be more fortunate than l. But one
other question. When you were playing at the
club were all the players known to your
''The most of them, at least by sight. /
seldom 60 to the club and never play. II I
played last night it was with the hope that
some happy chance might enable me to win,
and so escape bankruptcy, dishonor and per-
haps suicide"
Ricordot gave little attention to this dia-
logue. He new rose, and handed to NJ.
Lenard another package of notes, pointing
to the corners which were all stained with
ink. N. Lienard was an old magistrate, and
nothing surprised him. HIS face did not
change as he opened the door and called: IN.
Guerrier, will you step here moment?'
Jean did so.
"Please tell your employer what you told
us a short time ago regarding the ink spots"
He repeated what we already know and
then he was dismissed.
"You hear that stalement"
Laroque inclined his head He felt his
heart sink with fear, and foreseeing some
new and horrible explanation:
II hear and see," said Laroque, "and I
think with you that that is very extra
ordinary"
"Not so strange. AS to me, explain it
easily. The situation is clear. Your business
was going badly, and you had great difficulty
to get the sum necessary to pay Larouette.
You begged him to wait. He refused. You
saw before you inevitable ruin, and one
means only remained to you, and that was to
take back the money you paid Larouette-
rob him; and in case he resisted kill him."
"What you say is Infamous" said Roger,
brokenly. 81 am almost ashamed to have to
affirm to you that am innocent"
"Those are but phrases; prefer clear
refutation."
Every we'll; then be it so, since 1 must"
He was about to speak, but PAUSED again,
and threw himself into chair, bulying his
face in his hands in silence.
Speak, Laroque," said the magistrate,
gently and perSuaslvely.
CHAPTER V.
II swear to you, by all that hold most
precious-my wife, my child-that 1 have
told you the truth, said Roger, almost stifed
by the violence Of his emotion.
"How can the law believe you, Laroque, if
you take away the only means possible of
proving your innocence9"
"By the grace Of God. Let my destiny be
accomplished" said Roger, in a firm tone,
and rising to his feet. "Arrest me. am