The Press., 1889-08-15
MoNTMoRENCI,s sECRET.

MONTMORENCI,S SECRET.
 "And you are not happy, Hortense ?"s
 Happy !"
 Montmorenci uttered the word cannot be adequately expressed in cold, pulseless type.
 "Happyr' r She moved rapidly across the great draw der the great crystal chandelier with its nyriads of wax lights casting soft glow over the rich furnishings of the apartment. i Happy ]" z , The lovely woman looked like queen: as she stood there in her superb toilet and looked with proud disdain full in her hus- bands eyes.
 "HappyP
 "That's what said.
 ] There was suspicion of you-make-me- tired-ness in Herbert Cecil Montmorenci's tone as he carelessly Tipped the ashes from his cigarette upon the rich Gobelin tapes. try with an air of well. bred ease,
 He was tall, handsome man, was Her. bert Cecil Monfmorenci, and he wore his dress suit with that indescribable grace which is so characteristic of your true aris- tocrat and your English society actor.
 There were no flies on his style and bear ing.
 ] "Have not surrounded you with every luxury which mans ingenuity can sug- gesti and money buy 2'' he asked, with . slight sheer just playing around his we'll bred mouth. "Have I not gratified your slightest whim regardless of cost Is there a better dressed woman in all the circle of your acquaintance Have not built pal ace for you to live in, and filled it with the fichest and most beautiful works of art which the wide world could supply2 Have ! not surrounded you with multitude of servants 10 do your slightest bidding Have begrudged you money ?"
 s'Ah, there 1t is again, said Hortense in a tone of great weariness. "Money, mon- ey, money "Tis the thought of that which so frightens me. Where does it all come from? Why, oh why, won't you tell me, Herbert ? Why conceal longer your busi. ness from your wife ? You cannot but know that your silence upon this subject fills me with dread forebodings. Remember, Her. bert Cecil, have seen Jim, the Penman, and cannot help drawing my own con- clusions about how you acquire your enor- nous wealth so mysteriously and SO rap. idly. Have care l I am a woman, and have all g woman's curiosity. I will moi much longer remain in ignorance of the matter. Herbert Cecil Montmorenci, am not fool" a
 With his face as white as that of one of his own marble statutes which graced the drawing room, he answered
 ''Softly, ,my tigress, softly ! Do not go too far, or l swear to you by the rich blue blood of my ancestors, you will rue the day vx, S1l n Good evening, madam. ........... passing through the double row of liveried riage and was whirled swiftly away.
 .s ..1.-s -.- II. ...--. ,+
 It is in the private office of the great de: tective firm of Simpson, Ferret & Simp. son. A yelled lady is in earnest conyersa. ton with the greatest detective of the age, Theophilns V. Simpson.
 "And can you then discover the nature of his business ?'' she asks In tones of sup. pressed excitement.
 tsMadaan, I myself will shadow him if need be day and night, but I will discover al."
 'sEnongh said. When you have ob~ tained the information I seek come to me and will double this ann, "and with these words the yelled lady slips into the de- tective's hand a large roll of $1 900 bills. <
 uI, .r
 Again we are in the palatial home of Herbert Cecil Montmorenci, the nayste-' ripus billionaire.
 Herbert and Hortense are sitting tete-a-' tete at the table in the breakfast room. It is furnished entirely in light blue and white. The walls are covered with silken. draperies and dainty aquarelles of fishing and hunting scenes, There is an air of re- fnement and subdhed luxury everywhere.
 i"Once more, and for the last time, Her. bert, I ask you to tell me what your busi- ness ii, says Hortense, as she toys with her golden teaspoon and glances across the table at her husband. < 'sAnd once more, and for the last time, I refuse," answers Herbert, with 8 grim smile, as he daintily wipes his mouth with point-lace nspkin. -
 ''You positively refuse ?"
 'I positively refuse"
 'Enough!" \ The lady stretches forward her dainty jewelled hand and touches golden bell. A stately butler enters with noiseless tread.
 Johnson, tell Mir. Simpson will see him here at once." :.
 The butler disappears and in the next moment ushers in Theophilus V. Simpson, the famous detective. He bows politely to Mir. and Mrs. Montmorenci and stands waiting in silence.
 {':You have followed my instructions P inquires Hortense eagerly of the detective.
 "I have, Madam"
 "And you succeeded ?' -- 'I did" ''And his business ?" she asks, rising part way from her golden Louise XV ctlaii in her increasing excitement. There isa a dreadful pause, and a silence so intense that it seemed to fill the room to suffocation and be trying to burst the limits of the walls and escape into the world at large. This lasted fully thirty seconds then the detective leans forward and in voice trembling with the intensity of his emotion, says in a hoarse whisper IF cannot t9lllY