The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1888-05-24
CHAPTER XVIII.

Inc sun had sunk below the horizon. the
sky became darkencd, and the lights of the
'.Namovna" more and more dim. Fairfax
reused himself from his rcveric, gave one
last look at the yacht, with silent prayer
for her safety, and was turning back to
the world and to work, when an iron hand
was land upon his shoulder. and clear
voice, with slightly foreign accent,
uttered the self-answercd question:
s'Mr Fairfax, believer
Naturally somewhat startled, Fairfax
looked at tho face of his intcrlocutor In
the darkness. no could distinguish short,
stout man with strong Napoeonic nose
and jaw. He knew it could be no other
than Louvait. of st. Malo.
"Ah. said he, quickly. "Monsieur Jean
Louvait. I've been expecting you. l am
delighted to see YOU"
Louyait. in his turn, was surprised. How
did this man know him. Where had he
ever seen him: Again. supposing he had
seen him, how was he aware Of the pres
ence in America of the detective, Jean
Louvait. who was supposed In be ut his
post in st. Malo. His respect for the
wonderful clcverness Of this Fairfax in
creased. Recovering himself, he said alb
ruptly.
s.Where is the Princess Natalc:"
Fairfax made no reply. but pointed to the
scarcely visible lights of the .'Namovna'
Iouvait looked and understood. With an
oath he brought down his clencned fist
upon his thigh and quickly turning to Fair
fax. he assumed his most pleasant smile and
held out his hand. saying:
Mr.. Fairfax. YOU arc the most clever
man | ever saw. You have spoiled the
making Of the finest detective in all Eurob,
am beaten. hui, respec; you with respect
give to no other man. How did you accom-
pllsh it,"
A little fiattcred by such praise from a
man himself So able. Fairfax entered into
more pleasant humor. and putting his arm
through Louvait's, said:
..Frend Louvait, you have not dined. You
must be hungry. Come with me and Wen
talk it all over together over bottle of wine
and cigars. Tomorrow morning l leave
We may not meet again.
The two. detective and detected. the one
unsuccessful. the other successful. yet de-
feated. passed lesurely over the meadow
toward Glen Gore cottage.
As they ncared the house n tall. muscu-
lar figure. with long, firm strides, came
swinging down the road that wound Up to
the cottage. Louvait disengaged his arm
from that Of Fairfax. with the remark:
stop. think / see lend coming"
Picking up the dead branch of Il tree he
planted himself in the newcomers path.
shouldered the limb as he would muskct.
and assuming a bombastic attitude. called
out in mocking tones:
All. who art thou that's crossed the sea,
That dark and stormy water:
The bird has flown fair Natalie.
It's all in vain we've sought her.
,Yi,-a ha sn.
sign. or I'll shoot you Oh the spot. Ny very
dear. much respected and clever brother
detective. allow me To inform you that
although have beaten you in every point
here is Il gentleman who has beaten me, and
consequently both of us
Mr.. Fairfax. allow me to present my
greatest rival. Jean Leroi."
"Monsieur Leroi, you must come with us
for bite and glass of wine.' said Fair
fax. shaking hands with the new conner.
Arm in arm the trio. Fairfax in the cen
ter. sauntered down the avenue and en-
tered the cottage, where they were duly
presented to Miss Strong.
There was brilliant. if small party at
Glen Gore that evening.
Louvait and Leroi could assume at will
the ro,e Of a gentleman or peasant with
such clever2ess that the genuine members
Of either class could with difficulty be per-
suaded that they beheld only veneering.
Each man of the company was seeking to
cover up his own individual disappointmcnts.
Each man had riskcd Il great deal i'm this
affair of the abduction. Each recognized in
the others men of unusual ability. Of
extraordinary courage and determination ::
and each was bent upon creating in the
others a favorable opinion as regards HIM
self.
That little dining-room rc-echocd with
such brilliant sailics of wit. such astonish-
ing anecdotes. such maryellously keen
opinions of men aud matters in general. that
Miss Strong listened in pure delight and
wonder She aftcrward declared that. al
though il had been her good fortune to
hear some Of the brightest wits and table
takers Of the day, she had never before
| listened to such a meteorically brilliant dis
play of conversational ability.
After dinner the men fingered over
| their wine and cigars. Fairfax took ad-
vantage OF temporary lull in the CONVEX
| sation to say:
Mr. Louvait, YOU are anxious to hear
| my story. l will tell you with pleasure,
but only on one condition. First, however.
let me inform you that the Princess Natalie
Radziwill is now on her way back to Europe
| under the protection Of the Lady Lydia
| Broadaercs.
I1ouvait and Lcroi both stared at this.
| ''She will prefer no charge whatsoever
| against me. On the contrary. she and lady
| Lydia both desire to keep the matter as
| quiet and secret as possible. l have the
latter's own word for it. Furthermore. no
effort will be made even to discover who
were my conductors in the abduction. They
will endeavor. IN every way, to protect
| from the law the owner of the yacht that
brought us hither- and you. gentlemen, of
course, know all about that--and also to
protect all others directly or indirectly con-
nected with the affair. You see il will be
futile to attempt anything farther.
"Will you, gentlemen, give me your prom