The times., 1890-04-11


veisation, and Iaroque talked freely of his
enormous fortune, which he had made by his
inventions. The banker, instructed by Roger
what part to take, had introduced him az the
millionaire partner of an extremely large
house in America.
Luversan was far from suspecting that
this man could be Laroque. Indeed, he had
almost forsotlen his very existence after he
had heard OF Rogers supposed tragic death.
He did not appear to take much interest in
Forneys stories about his fabulous wealth,
yet he thought:
"This man is rich and an imbecile. He
knows nothing Of Paris. He Is like all the
great savants and inventors, no more than a
big baby. He may be of great use to me il
manage him right
Roger read his thought and ray of glad.
ness penetrated his heart.
"At last" said he, "at lastl"
Laroque and Luversan met every day after
this at the exchange. At the end of fort
night they were on friendly terms, and that
which Roger had foreseen took place. Lu-
rersan proposed to Roger a plan of specula-
tion which required a considerable sum of
money. Roger, for FORMS sake, affected to
examine into it, and pretended to hesitate,
but finally consented.
Luversan launched the speculation, which
consisted in the discovery and working OF a
petroleum mine in Guatemala. Placed on
the market in the grandest style, it was
not long before the shares were all bought
up The affair he'd succeeded SO well in its
beginning that Luversan, now having the
means and a certain new consideration In
the exchange, speculated wildly until, in
the very height Of its success, this Guate-
mala petroleum mine was threatened with
o disaster SO great that it would swallow
up all he had in the world and leave him
after so many years a bankrupt man. And
this is how it happened. Roger had been
to the banker and said:
"Sir, on the recommendation Of Tristot you
placed yourself at my disposal have to ask
you to render me service. Will you do it
without question:
After hearing the service desired, the
banker hestated. Laroque continues:
"You shall know all later. have nothing
hidden from Tristot. am trying to pene-
trate a mystery of the gravest Importance, in
which my honor is at stake, and will conse-
crate my whole fortune to it if necessary"
"But if you are mistaken"
~ will then, if have injured him, repair
his credit. Now, then, can you ruin Luvelsan
fnanciallyi Here are funds to use to buy all
you can get of the Guatemala petroleum
stock. Buy it and throw it into the market
suddenly, so as to create panic in that stock,
and sustain it until Luversan is in the most
critical position. In addition to this sum Is
as much more as you may desire. Use the
money without counting"
The banker then said
"You wish Luversan to apply to you for
aid@
"That is it, precisely" answered Roger.
In the meantime, though he saw no more of
the banker for two weeks, he watched Luver-
san closely. He grew restless and nervous
and pale, and at last came to Roger one day,
saying desperately, "We are ruined, or least
am, for you are rich, and this petroleum
affair will not cause you great trouble But
the whole exchange seems to be set against
me. hide nothing from you, for you are
also interested in this. 1t was my duty to
tell YOU"
"What" said Roger, as though astonished.
"Such a fine prospect of dividends so SION to
have failed nowi l don't see through it.
Explain"
Luversan told him OF what we already
know, and then he stopped suddenly in his
walk and sold:
"You hear, it is my ruin, If you do not help
me. must have money"
Naturally" said Roger coolly.
"Can count upon you or not2"
"Well," said Roger, "a burnt cat breads
the fire. am the burnt cat"
Luverse.n bit his lips till they bled.
"But, I tell you, am lost if you do not
help me-"
Roger did not refuse absolutely, but replied:
a. n N.
and requires large sum, according to what
you say. No matter how rich l might he
don't like to lose money. / had confidence
in you and know little Of those matters, and
1 must reflect before / decide to put more
money into what seems to me bottomless
hole"
"But there is no time for reflection. You
must decide quickly"
money, it would take me three OF four days.
How much do you wants"
"Nearly million"
"That is a good DEAL How soon do you
need itf'
ain four days at the latest"
"You con come to my country place, Vile
d'Avray, where / have rented a little house.
! shall make that my home hereafter, and
then we shall see."
"What Is the number or name Of your
cottagein
"The first one you meet will tell you. It Is
In the Rue de Paris, the last house on the
right hand side. live all alone. believe
the last owner was killed there ten or dozen,
maybe twenty years ago, and so the name Of
the victim was by common consent given to
the house. They call it the Maison Larouette. {"
Luversan sat down suddenly and his face
showed that the shot told.
$50, then, Saturday, at what houri
"Whatever hour suits you after In the
evening, as shall be busy during the day."
Luversan took his departure, restless and
uneasy, but this he attributed to the anxiety
about the money.
About this time the excellent old farmer
Dubois and his wife, who had taken Henriette
into their hearts and home, as IL she had been
precious gift from heaven, received letter
from lawyer in Paris which informed them
that they had fallen heir to some property near
Vile d'Avray and requested their presence.
After much consultation with the cure, who
read their letter to them and explained the
nature Of 1t and advised them generally, they
made their preparations for departure, and
a. they did not know how long 1t might take
them to receive their inheritance, they made
their rarranQementSto take Henrietta or Marie