The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-30

that description conveys. am the indivi-
dual to whom life has become an insup-
portab bic burden" "
lit Ia impossible. "
"How impossible?'
cit is impossible that TO Mademoisele
life can already have become an insup-
portable burden -
So far the women's intonation had been
curiously sweet, with something in Ct
which suggested the voice of q child.
NOW IL perceptibly changed. IL became,
as ii were, a little caustic.
~ Ill MONSIEUR have the goodness to
confne himself TO the matter which is
in hand? / am here at Monsieur's partic-
ular request. What is it that Monsieur
would wish that / should do?'
~ cannot conceive that Mademoiselle
is in earnest"
She showed signs OF impatience. "How
shall convince Monsieur. Does he desire
from me an oath? / am ready. IT, IN
exchange for particular amount, Mon
seiur VIII tell me what is the TASK he re-
quires from me, which shall inevita bly,
result IN death, by my actions j viii
quickly prove that / am in earnest, at
least, so far as that. -
"But surely Mademoiselle must perceive
THAT she has me at an advantage. She
knows me by name, by sight, she would
even know my most private affairs, vet
she Will not even suffer me 10 see her
face.
81 am but an instrument. What does
it matter what an instrument looks like,
SO long as that which 1t does is done
efficiently?'
"SuppOse, on the other hand, that so
soon as ! 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
off in han f.,t.t 4 a, oe1- .saL
requires?,'
"what is the sum which Mademoiselle
has in her mind?n
"Ten thousand francs.
She drew herself upright, throwing
back her head with little defiant ges-
ture, as IL the sum she named had been a
superb one. The two men started. They
stared at each other. Willy Nash dis
tinctly smiled.
''Ten thousand francs cried Mr.. Ken
nard. sis it possible that Mademoiselle
is willing to give her life in exchange for
ten thousand froncs9''
sits not my life / give. My life is
nothing-to me, or anyone. / ask ten
thousand francs in exchange for the deed
which you would set me TO do. In other
words, 1 desire that my death may be
worth something, though my life is of
no account. What is 1t that Monsieur
requires?"
"Suppose were to require you to kill
M. lie President?'
For the first time she showed signs OF
emotion. She started-so unmistakably
that she had TO lean for support on the
back of the chair which Willie Nash had
offered her.
"Kill NJ. lie PRESIDENT That would
not be very pleasant"
"Does Mademoisele suppose that
deed, the doing of which would inevita-
bly, result in death, would be surround
ed, as matter of course, with all the
elements of pleasantness?
"Monseiur laughs at me. desire that
Monsieur will not laugh. / am ready. IL
Monsieur will give me his word that he
will pay ten thousand francs in a certain
quarter, so soon as he learns that NJ. lie
President is-no more, i will do what
he requires.
When he spoke again, Mr.. Kennard's
tone was even unwontedly dry. Gam /
to take 1t that Mademoiselie is i'm ear
nest?p She hesitated. Then with both
hands, she raised her veil. "If Monsieur
VIII look at me he will see that ! am in
earnest "
CONTINUED TOMORROW