The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-12

he remained the same Ny own hair had
taken a silvery CLEAN; his close-cut beard and
curly locks were still black as ever. A slim
STRIPPING. | had grown portly; he seemed
hardly 10 have gained quarter Of an inch IN
breadth.
Yet as I studied his physiognomy. | per;
ceived ON alteration-of what nature / could
not dehne-but change was there. And the
more and more ! became familiar with nv
former acquaintance the more clearly did |
recognize II. The candid. almost lethargic
expression the amable yieldingness Of early
years had given way TO a certain hardness
and cynicism. also TO a certain reserve that
had been wholly wanting in the Constant
Adolf BaslliO OF ten years before. Excess OF
good fortune had turned my frank, ingenious
companion into voluptuaTy.
The BANQUET had now become more ami
mated: sparkling VINE circulated freely. Amid
the Babel Of voices. II was almost impossible
70 make ones own heard. Yet was conscious
of interchanging lew commonplace with
my neghbor. the able.
All this time my gaze was fascinated TO the
other end of the table | could not help
CHANGING furtivelv 1T this cnigmatic host
The same man yet not the same. known So
we'll during that snow bound imprisonment
at Alarseilles.
As / watched him. without appearing to do
so. an incident trivial IN itself, made my
heart beat quickly. The master Of the house
in rapidly moving his glass had come III con
tact with the sharp edge OF q knife as the ser
want was removing IT, ! think my own eyes
were the only ones 70 observe what followed.
a tiny crimson drop now rose to the surface
Of the fourth finger OF his LETT hand.
demonstration ~ tho revelation, / vet
mastered myself sufficiently TO ask tho old
priest;
Is it long. may I ask, Monsieur rAbbe.
since you have been IN these reHOns-since
you have known our host?'
This Is the fourteenth year Of my minis
tation in Africa he replied. i was the
first to welcome the young heir 10 his new
homc.n
Did be arrive unaccompanied-w without
any relationT I contnved o. get ont.
He was unLappiy-or perhaps happily FOR
himself-alOne N the world" was the answer
That il 10 say. II any one can be 50 called
who inherlts Million
/ was now past reasoning with myself Ut
terly regardless Of The consequences. only
mindful Of the foul plot had just unraveled
OF the unhappy youth whose place was filled
by his murderer rose TO my feet. and 10y .
wild. almost asupcrhumnn effort, commanded
silence.
"Fellow-guesis. " cried. this is no hour
for feast ~ rejoicing Ask him 10 whose board
yUl have been hidden what be has done With
the real Constant Adolf Basilio This is no
Jest" / added. facing the guilty man, but
solemn earnest. The red spot on the fourth
finger Of your LEFT hand. that drop OF blood
lust now surreptitiouslv wiped away has be-
trayed you. 7 knew Your unhappy namesake
well I can prove 20 ono and all here asseiu-
blcd that long before setting on for Africa
the fourth finger ON his left hand had been
replaced by O waxen substitute. What was
his fate, what happened after l bade him
adien at Marseilcs on the 23G Of January. 1862
shall be my business TO learn
True enough. after a long md laborious
trial. now celebrated IN the criminal annals
Of tho French colony the mystery was brought
~ light and the fictitious Baslio % justice.
lie was condemned e. lifelong imprisonment
for having caused the death Of his halt-hrOther
hy drowning of the coast Of Narscilles, Just
after my departure.
They had quilted the hotel with their bag
gage carly IN the day on which the steamer
started Tor AlEers. but on that same morn
iug. II tiansplred that two young West Indian
gentlemen Lad hired "a boat in the harbor for
o row. Only one returned the explanation
being given that the other had alghted AZ a
certain point. prefe.ring 90 walk back. As
the movements If the pair concerned mono
but themselves, tho fact that two had quilted
the hotel and only one embarked passed un-
noticed. The rest of the scheme was easy OF
accomplishment. not soul ~ the African
colony knowing either tho real heir 10 tho
property or his double.