Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1892-11-24
CHAPTER III.


forlorn women, who, 1 can promise you,
will not be ungrateful."
CHAPTER III.
Truly a tempting offer. twenty-five
thousand pounds, the gratitude of two
noble ladies, and the sense of satisfac-
ton that comes of doing good action;
and all had to do for it was the recov-
| which We're well known and would be
impaired to me.
1t seemed almost too good to be pos
sible; but there were several little diff
| culties in the way which the chevalier
had seemingly not taken into account.
''What can do to ob1ige the ladies
and yourself WILL vas my answer;
''but you forget that also am pris-
oner."
You will be exchanged
''When it pleases the directory, and
that may not be for long time. And
though 1 were exchanged / should not
like to abandon a career which prefer
to any other, and in which hope to
gain distinction, even for twenty-five
thousand pounds"
You could get leave"
''No, my ship is in commission, and as
she is one of the smartest frigates in the
service will remain SO as long as the
war lasts. Besides, l should lose my
chance of promotion, to say nothing of
the chance of being arrested and shot
as spy"
''The war will not last
"You think SOP"
ground daily, and have reason to be-
lieve that Gen. Bonaparte will play
the part of monk and bring back the
king"
Gin that case your mother and sister
will come back with him and claim their
own
unfortunately there is nothing for
them to claim. The chateau and estates
were confscated by the national conven-
ton and are now the property of va
rious occupying owners, who would
perish rather than give up possession.
My mothers right to the treasure would
be contested and she would end by get
ting nothing, even though she had the
wherewithal to fight a protracted law
suit. No, it can be recovered only
through stratagem and address, and by
a man of energy and resource like your
SELF
''You are pleased to be compliment
tary; but never mind that" said, after
a moments thought. ITO the point.
Apart from any advantage to myself, 1
should be really glad to help Nine. de
Gex and her daughter to their own;
and promise you that as soon as the
10 tn
should offer, I will make the attempt;
will see these ladies'"
''That is all / ask or can expect" ex-
claimed the chevalier, grasping my
hand. land / thank you with all my
heart. / will draw a little sketch of the
chateau and show you where the treas
ure is concealed. must also give you
a letter to my mother, in which shall
set forth our agreement, SO expressed,
however, that only you and herself will
understand its purport. Perhaps had
better do this to-day; / may not be here
Tomorrow
could not help shuddering. I was
beginning to like the man; he had a
winning way with him, and it
made me feel bad to think that within
twentyfour hours he might have to lay
his head on the block.
81 am sure you will be here to-mor-
row; and / don't believe this shameful
sentence will be carried out. It would
be sheer murder
'My dear sir, the directory don't stop
at murder, and to returned emigrants
they show no mercy. l have abandoned
hope"
You have done very bad thing. I
would not abandon hope though l were
on my way to the scaffold. Why
shouldn't we try to escape?"
Escape! How?"
81 don't know yet. I have not seen
my room. But men have got out of
stronger places than this, and what
others can do we can do"
''It is impossible; the windows are
barred and the prison well guarded
both within and without"
''All the same mean to try. / made
up my mind to escape within five min
utes of my capture; / have been on the
lookout for an opportunity ever since,
and l know that it will come"
Very likely; but fear that it will
not come soon enough to save my life.
We cannot escape by coup de main.
Weneed time, patience, opportunity and
this day may be my last. l can think
of only one possibility which offers a
CLEAN of hope. and that is SO remote as
not to be worth thinking about-the
overthrow of the directory
by Gen. Bonaparte."
'sYou think Gen. Bonaparte would
revoke your sentence?"
81 do. They say he is opposed to the
execution of returned emigrants; and
Mime. Bonaparte must be a royalist
at heart. She comes of a noble family,
and as her first husband, Viscount
was guillotined, she can
not have much love for the revolution"
by Jove, it is conner exclaimed,
excitedly. "How was it did not think |
Of it before?''
''What is Gomez asked De Gex, look |
ing as if he thought l had suddenly
gone mad
ga stroke of luck; . chance of recover |
ing my liberty and saving your life. |
I will see Mime. Bonaparte."
De Gex stared in mute surprise.