The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1895-10-03
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few lines, when, TO NV great
aIlonishmont, l heard muillad voice
in tho room, For tho moment did
not realize that 1t was tho prince who
was speaking. When did realize it,
pricked up my cars involuntarily.
What was he babbling about in his
narcotic slumber2 Heavens it was all
about tho one subject that dominated
his mind at tina momOnt-thS treaty.
Some OF tho phrases were confused, in
consequent, tTagmentary, but over aud
over again came from beneath the hand
kerchiet the words "Clause thirteen"
lin French, Of courSo,) and then, in
fashion more or less disconnected, the
actual provisions OF that unlucky clause,
sat there paralyzsd with RsIoniGh.
ment; the pen had fallen from my
hand; i was as one in dream. Here,
then, at last, was the solution OF the
mystery. Nor was the villain lar to
seek, Maubsugs, sitting whsre now
sat, had taken down these unconscious
and involuntary condolences, had
piecsd thCm cunnlugly together, and
then had sold the secret TO La Grand,
How strange, how touching It was,
that tho most experienced diplomatic
IN Europe should thus have sbabblet
like chiid-that the man who OF all
othera was most anxious to keep the
treaty secret should have been tho very
Que to divulRS its most important pro-
visions.
was still sitting lost in wonder when
l heard slight noiso behind me. l
turned sharply round; the door was
open, MaubeuSo was standing on the
threshold. The prince was still innu'
Gently prRttling Of things that meant
tho ruin or salvation OF empires. Mau-
bougs from under his heavy eyebrows
cast dull and yet most anxious glance
first at him, then at me. AH he did so,
noticed that his complexion turned
to load and tho whole fashion Of his
face was altered. No doubt, he had
taken in the situation at glance, and
knew that his villainy had boeu d.
tscted, for without u single word he
turned round aud withdrew, closing
tue door behind him.
l followed him at once. My anger
was keen against him. should have
liked TO tako him by tho throat and
hand him over to tho police. But for
the sake OF nv dear friend, the prince,
| could not do this. lie must never
know what he had done. The knowl-
edge that he had betrayed himself and
the sovereign he loved 90 we'll would
have overwhelmed him. In all proba.
bility no would never have recovered
from the shock. It'ia for this reason
that have waited till his death before
publishing this revelation.
So ! refined in my anger as ! went in
pursuit. OF MAubeugc. followed so
swiftly on his heels that l caught him
in tho corridor.
Monsieur Maubouge," said, ~
must ask you to favor mo with an inter
VIEW"
He did not venture to decline the in.
vitation, but followed mo submiuIiVOly
into another room belonging to tho
princes suite Of apartments.
There came to tho point at once.
"MonIieur MAubeuge," l said, 81
think 1t would DO well for you to retro
at once from the princes service"
lie was lar too clever to bluStor in n
tete.a.teto. Ho know that in my eyes
no was irretrievably degraded, and
there was no one else present whose
opinion he could influence, So no took
my remarks in a simple busines1.like
fashion.
~ must give some excuse" he said.
rs il not tho case" | asked, Guddenly
remembering what Gresham had told
Inc, "that your eyes arc very bad, and
that you have altogetheE lost the sight
Of your left eye?"
lie looked greatly surprised.
at is true" he said, "but ! did not
know that any one know it except my
self"
swell, that is excuse enough. Say
that your eyes arc so bad that You must
at any sacrifice resign your position at
once. At once-you uudorAtand me.
On that condition | will refrain from
communicating with the police. You
will have to sacrifice months wages,
but you will be able to afford that now.
Besides, Monsieur Le Grand may find
you employment | recommend you
not TO remain in this country"
~ shall be pleased to carry out your
wishes, air." said the rascal suavely.
THAT will do thOn," l said. "You
can 20 now. hons that your eve.sight
may improve, and that your hearing
may be dullod little in the interests OF
honesty"
lie disappeared. aud I never saw or
heard OF him again. II lie is still alive.
he passes probably under some assumed
name.
AsIhavo already said, tho prince is
dead, and 10 Grand Is dead. only re.
main oil those who werO mixed up in tho
affair, and l am glad to have this Sp-
portunity OF clearing up ono Of tho
curious episodes in modern history.
iTHI ESDl