Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-14


This, Monsieur Kennard, is your letter. -
She held out a letter which Mr.. Kennard
recognized as the one which he had written.
You said Il. To me the hour was little
awkward. Butt am come"
ITO whom have the pleasure Of speak
ing?" asked Mr.. Kennard. after pause.
during which he had looked at his friend,
and his friend had looked at him.
'"ro an Individual"
Stepping forward. Willy Nash advanced
chair. Permit ME to offer mademoiselle
seat" He laid stress upon the mad
emoiselle She did not seem to notice it.
at her ease, her hands at her side cycling
Mr.. Kennard, through the thick folds Of
her veil -
"Mademoiselle"- followed Mr. .Nast's
description Of herself as an Individual is
little vague"
Monsieur understands sufficiently what
that description conveys I am the individ-
ual to whom life has become an insupport-
able burden
ut is impossible"
How impossible?
"It is impossible that to mademoiselle
life can already have become an inSup-
portable burden"
So far the woman's information had been
curiously sweet, with something in it which
suggested the voice of a child. Now 1t
perceptibly changed. 1t became. as it were.
a little caustic.
"W;ll monsieur have the goodness to
confine himself to the matter which is In
hand? I am here at monsieur's particular
request. What is 1t monsieur would wish
that I should do?'
II cannot conceive that mademoiselle is
in earnest
She showed signs Of Impotence. How
shall convince monsieur? Does he desire
from me an oath? am ready If, in ex-
change for a particular amount monsieur
will tell me what is the task he requires
from me. which shall inevitably result in
that I am in earnest at least, so far as
that"
but surely mademoselle must perceive
that she has me at an advantage She
knows me by name, by sight, she would
even know my most private affairs, yet
she will not even suffer me to see her
face
II am but an instrument. What does it
matter what an instrument looks like, so
long as that which it does is done eftici-
ently?'
Suppose, en- the other hand. that SO
soon l have shared with mademoiselle
my condolences she goes from here to the
police?"
The woman hesitated. What is the
amount which monsieur Is prepared to
offer in exchange for the task which he
requires?"
What is the sum which mademoiselle
has in her mind?'
Ten thousand francs"
She drew hers Elf upright, throwing back
ler mead with q uItle QeHdnt gesture, as
If the sum she named had been superb
one. The two men started. They stared at
each other Willy Nash distinctly smiled
Ten thousand francs!' cried Mr. Ken
nard. us it possible that mademoiselle is
willing to give her life in exchange for ten
thousand francs?"
Its not my life give. My life is moth
ing-to me, or any one. l ask ten thousand
frai.cs in exchange for the deed which
you would set me to do. In other words
1 desire that my death may be worth some
thing. though my life is of no account
What is it that monsieur requires?"
Suppose l were to require you to kill
NJ. lie Prcsident?'
For the first time she showed signs of
emotion. She started-so Enthusiastically
that she had to lean for support on the
back of the chair which Willy Nash had
offered her.
Kill NJ. lie President. That-that would
rot be very pleasant" -.
Does mademoiselle suppose that deed
the doing of which would inevitably result
in death would be surrounded, as a matter
of course, with all the elements of pleasant
ness?' MI
Monsieur laughs at me. I desire that
monsieur will not laugh. I am ready. If
pay ten thousand francs in certain quar-
ter, so soon as he loarnS that NJ. lie Presi-
dent is-no more, 1 viii do what he re-
quires." Il
When he spoke again, Mr.. Kennard's
tone was even unwentedly dry
Am to take it that rnademoiselle is in
earrest?"
She hesitated Then with both her hands
she raised her veil.
IF monsieur will look at me he will see
I am in earnest
Continued in Tomorrow's Starr