The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-07-22
Tor two years in the proadest hisaiorn

Tor two years In the proudest hisTionr
temple of the Pacific coast
But brief description Of the apart
ments, the cleaning and renoVating Of
which Madame Ronceville was proceed
ING to inspect, will suffice for the pur-
poses of the narrative.
They occupied the first floor OF large
double house, were seven or eight IN
mum be-, and had been SHE ptuously fitted
up in the Oriental style by the imned-
lately preceding tenant, Turkish am-
bassador of magnificent tastes and cor
responding p1odigalify. They had been
little used, and had been hired In this
condition by Boncourt (under the name
OF De Mauleon) of the ambassador g
agent. about q twelve month before. The
chief apartment was superb dining.
room. on one side of the hallway at thu
rear of the suite, and this connected by
folding doors with drawing- oom ot
even greater luxury, which was, in addi.
ton to the furniture naturally pertaining 6
to- it, provided with numerous card
tables and the apr raratus for several games
of chance. A back staircase comnunl-
Gated directly with TIE dining-ro and
this was the only one in use. The rest
of the house was unoccupled, and the
street door had hardly teen once opened
during the De Mauleon occupancy. Ihe
back staircase led into spacious gar
den, from which access was had to O Sc
ouestercd side street or narrow court
When business" was under way in tha
rooms above, usually in the night time,
guard was placed at the gate leading
from the garden to the street, and still
another at the entrance to the lower hall.
way communicat ng with the staircase re-
,ferred to. No one was admitted without
certain pass words, with which antcipa-
ted visitors were duly provided befores
hand. These precautions were taken less
,as safeguard against police irterfer.
,ence than with view Of investing the
entree with that species of ceremonioua
mystery, of the forbidden fruit descr p
,tion, which is never without q fascina-
tion. Of it's own.
The appointments of the interior in
oluded costly carpets, gorgeous fresco-
ings, resplendent chandeliers, statues
and paintings of more or less merit, and
pretty much everything of an ornamental
nature that o luxurious fancy, accGm.
panied by princely expenditure, could
have suggested.
Such we're the rooms that had been
hastily renovated, and which Madame
Roneewille was now inspecting with
secret weariness and unessiness at heart,
and with q feverish longing for the day
and the night to be over and done, that
she might be foreSermore released from
the exciting and adventurous existence
which had SO long fascinated her, but
which the rapid growth of really genu.
inc affection, with a worthy object, had
steadily rendered more and more dis
tasteful, until at last she had come to
scarcely think Of it without misgivings
and loathing.
She had expressed her approval Of ev-
erything that had been done, and was
passing from the drawing room, in
which some expert and silent-footed SER
wants from O neighboring caterers were
already preparing for the coming BAN
quet, when she heard her brothers. foot
step on the stairs without.
A glance at his composed face as he
entered showed her that his plans were
nus far propitious.
Il will follow you into the cabinet,
Adele" said he, and then, as she moved
away, hs turned to Dip. saying: Has
Maurice showed you everything about the
entrance, and explained what will be
your duties tonight"
Yes, sir"
GO to him now, then, and he will take
you out 10 your supper. The maid can
look after our wants till Your return.
You will be p!u:ed on guard at the garden
gate at 10 precisely, when will apprise
you of the passwords.
He then sought Adele in the cabinet.
I know by your air that you have
been successful, said she, looking up.
In a way that has exceeded my highest
expect tions." said he, seating himself at
her side. But no messenger has yet
called?'
1No."
1T may not be quite time yet," said he.
consulting his watch. i have managed
to a charm, Adele. Ah-Ben is by this
time with Noel and his companions. ]
gave him full instructions beforehand,
after making sure that his performances
were to be called into requisition by the
Highcombe merry makers"
Adele sighed.
You think there is no doubt of his
success?" said she.
None whaterer. His discretion
equals bis skill. He may come or send
here at any moment. Twenty guineas is
an incentive which isn't afforded him
often. He will bring the coveted paper;
feel sure that be will.
Il hope SO, from :he bottom of my
heart. II will preclude the necessity OF
lending myself ever again to the decep.
tion Of the nun I adore. But should
be miss the paper, after the juggler's
prospected s1ccess, there is no danger,
trust, of his Cu:picion reaching out to
you:"
impossible. Who is there that knows
Boncouit and De Mauleon as one and the
sane!"
But, under the latter name chow de-
test itD We have become sufficiently no.
torious. May he not suspect you as De
MauleonI"
",No. Bat let him do SO; the unpleas-
ant notoriety you shudder at will be my
protection. Noel and his intimates are
not the kind of flies to be attracted by
our spiders parlor, here, under any cir
cumstalces."
True. And heaven be thanked that it
is so! But tell me all. The authorities
ore not then upon our tra:ks?"
Not bit Of it; nor have they been, thuE
far. in spite of those miserable newspa-
per disclosures. My first move upon quit
ting you was " boldly seek out the supor-
I'M endeut. With whom I had had the
former dealings, and face it ont. Ht
laughed Mt both my impudence and what
he called my scare of two weeks age.
There are worse gambling h. lis thar
yours, De Mauleon, said he. 'Newspa! er
expositions and court indictments are moi
the ,me thing yet, in England, at least.
Go slow, and you'll get wind Of any rep.
rehensiye measures before they are IA rl1
nnon vou., OF course I made him another