The herald., 1893-08-27

"Payzac," said he, "h-s-shI You risk
too much at times. You, and you only,
are to know that side Of my life, Sc
cret that must not be noised abroad"
"Of course" said Payzac, 81 know it,
for to whom else than me do you owe
the acquaintance of the fair and beauti-
full WandaY'
"Also the happiness of being loved for
myself alone" assented Silber CRATE
fully. "That poor foreign girl, with her
sensitive soul-positively, Payzac, she
loves melike faithful dog, though I
seek always to treat her like companion
and friend. Nothing so binds women to
us as letting them believe they fully
share in our lives. The baronne, for in
stance, who thinks tell her everything,
because pveIthe air Of deciding nothing
without consulting her. The result? An
occupied mind for her and an affection
for mccain, possibly, but solid and
devoted"
"Who could doubt it," cried Payzac
fervently, diligently blowing smoke
rings above his head. But then, as l
said, baron, everything succeeds with
you. Your Virofay combination is sim
ply masterpiece, which, by the way,
reminds me, Silber, that I've favor to
ask Of you" And the needy parasite,
judging the ground well prepared, came
to the true object of his visit.
A fortnight later the baron and bar
onne were again finishing breakfast in
the little breakfast room where we met
them first and where, now as then, the
baron had just come in from night at
his stables.
Haven't you lost something, KarlY'
demanded the baronne suddenly, at the
same time drawing from her pocket a
railroad pass.
"Parbleu! yes said the baron, "and
hunt l had for it, too, last night.
Where did you find it, love"
Before the baronne could answer, the
door opened and servant entered, bear
ing card on a salver.
"Ah, Guerinv' said Karl. "May he
come in here, dearest? A parsonage so
potent should be treated like family
friend"
And, madame consenting, the world
famed detective was ushered in. Freshly
shaven, sedately dressed, monocle in
eye and portfolio in hand. he looked like
the head clerk of a legal firm and beamed
upon his employers with the satisfied air
of bearer of good news. S
"Well, monsieur" said the baronne,
in fine humor herself. "have you discov-
cred anythingr
Everything, madame" Guerin re-
turned calmly, depositing his portfolio
on the table. ga curious story it is, too,
and with woman in it, of course, as l
thought from the start"
perhaps, then,'' said the baron, with
meaning look at his wife, "you would
desire, monsieur, to be alone with me
awhile?"
But Guerin, priding himself upon his
skill as raconteur and preferring two
auditors to one, made signs that he could
gloss over things when necessary and
plunged into his story.
"The truth is, baron," said he after a
little Thought, ''we never have had a
case that gave us 30 much trouble as
this. Usually we have to trail people
who, suspecting nothing, take no pre-
cautions. Here, on the contrary, all
were under cover. 1t took us nearly a
week to learn that Wilhelm, the book
maker of the Rue Vivienne, had a lady
love, and to find out who she was took
us longer still, as Wilhelm visits her
very irregulafly. Shebis foreigner-a
Polish girl-Who lives d secluded life in
little gem Of a house ,in the vicinity of
La Muette''-
"The vicinity of La Muetter' mechan-
ically repeated the baron, going red and
white by turns. ''La Muette-the little
wretch!"
eyes," said Guerin, though not COM
pretending, "but what will interest you
most Of all is that Wanda-the Polish
girls name, you know-on certain even
ings receives another visitor, and that
he-this visitor1comes from your Viro-
fay stables. You see the mouse in the
cheese, do you not, baron?" and Guerin
smiled significantly.
''The little wretchl'' cried Silber again,
starting up in his chair.
Exactly" said Guerin carelessly,
''but you would see more than one Of
the same kind, baron, were you a week
in my place. Well, it is she-this
Wanda-who sells to Wilhelm-for a
ROUND sum of course-the secrets of
your stable, by which every one profits
but you, baron. Nothing remains to be
done now but to learn the name Of this
man who gives this girl the information
that she in turn imparts to the book
maker''--
''Ah!" said Silber, with sudden vi
vacity, "you do not know his name
them
sAnd nothing is done after all then,
monsieur" chimed in the baronne, with
resentful surprise.
"On the contrary, everything is done,
madame, firmly declared Guerin, pour
ing his demitasse of brandy into his cof-
fee cup, and draining it at gulp, ''ev-
erything, l repeat, because you do not
know my agent, Coutourier. This is the
way it happened, you see"-
ssBut we don't-we don't see, Guerin,
or want to see either" Silber cried reck-
lessly. "We see too much already
more than is necessary"
son the contrary, M. Guerin," Mar
guerite protested sweetly, ''your story is
most interesting; proceed if you please"
"Then, as l said," continued Guerin,