The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-02-08
CHAPTER III.
IMMUNITY.

~ Whb IL CLOCK III nlRnC ana Dr. la
kouss was alone in the common room of the
first section of the Asiatic's phalanstery.
Expelled from the palace of the Lanins,
Dakouss had gone back to the community
to which he had been admitted a few days
before, to serve as %ianitor.
s. On this night the was deserted.
The printer and his clerk, the little snub-
nosed woman and the two students, after
having taken several cups of tea, had gone
to sleep in their respective chambers. Da-
kouss, though he had been there three
hours, had not uttered a word. He had
drunk, in rapid succession, three cups OF
tea poured out by the little brunette, and
had witnessed without a word the arrival
and departure of his roommates.
Taciturnity WAS not forbidden by any
rules in force at the p%halanstery; to be sure
no one had asked him the reason for his
evident bad nunor.
The residents of the having re-
tired to their rooms Dakouss was left alone.
Buried i'll his reflections he did not notice
the gradual disappearance of all who were
at the table when he appeared. Suddenly
his attention was reused by the creakinp OF
the door as it turned on its hinges. He
raised his head and beheld Darine, followed
by Poleno and Bello.
"Well." cried Dakouss, fastening to meet
the procurator, lis it done?"
His voice trembled, for he was tremend.
ously excited.
"Yes,'' replied Darine.
"Ah. then, l am revenged on that woman.
who treated me like Il lackey, on that man.
who turned me out, and on that young girl,
too-revenged for all these tortures, humil-
nAr~- N, 49, n ----
subjected during the month. They are ar
rested, are they not?'
'Yes.' '
"You will prosecute them, you will de-
mand for him and for her II terrible punish
m~ent-Siberia. the mines? 1t is a crime
against the common law-poisoning. It is
the basest of crimes!v'
Darine replied drily:
II know it,"
lyon know you duty as a magistrate?,
Yes"
Darine's replies were m~onosyllabic.
But you hove not thanked me, Darine.
or rather you have forgotten to tell mo
that you were satisfied that l had managed
this affair 80 we'll. l did not myself expect
that it would turn out thus. feared
should have to administer the potion; the
presence of this girl helped nue. prodigious-
ly. for the wounded man is dead, he surely
ISL"
Yes"
WAS it she who gave him the poisona"
"Who do you mean by she?'
Alexandra"
mo; it was Mile: de schelmberg."
"Ah! but then"
The count is under arrest"
These laconic responses were more and
more disconcerting to tho doctor, who
asked i'll a somewhat trembling voice:
"Darine, you behave strangely, for Won
seem to answer reluctantly, aud yet when |
met you III the street and informed you of
expulsion you did not conceal your 10Y
from me. obeyed your orders. The poi
son was ready"
Dakouss arose and asked with anxious
curiosity:
Gould you have failed? Are there any
unexpected complications which already IN
.terfere with you plaus?'
mo, but nothing is as vet finished and
your part has hardly begun"
"Oh! What else do you require of me?
! have obeyed you. l have avenged my
81 still need you"
Dakouss trembled.
"What do you wan1 me to do?"
Darine stepped up To the lamp burning
the common table and lighted u lantern
he held in his hand.
Come with me-" he said, II will tell
Where are you going with me?"
Into the secret chamber"
''Darine," faltered Dakouss, "what are
going to do? Explain yourself? / am al
fearfully compromised; that girl saw
me- prepare the potion"
What does it matter2 Follow me; We
must act quickly"
But" tailored Dakouss,
"Oh! do not forget that you owe me obe-
Hence! DO You perhaps wish me to refresh
our memory"
NO.. no." said Dakouss in terror, ~ will
'ollow your"
Darine. accompanied by Bello and Pole
40 and followed by Dakouss, went I'D the
stairs, traversed the great hall,
opened the indowie recess, to which We
nave already introduced our readers, light
ID ono of the candelabra, sat down i'll the
,hair occupied the evening before by the
East Indian nnbob, and gave a sign; Bello.
Poleno and Dakouss each took a chair.
Count Lanin il under arrest" said the
>rocurator, ION the charge of having at
'emptsd to poison the prince; but it will be
lard for US to prove that q general, IN inn