The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-11
CHAPTER IL

"Eh bien, prophet of evil" said the
duke, coming down the room, with
what tales are you frightening the
duchess! Come, it shall be billiards."
and sauntered off with him.
And the duchess went to her own
apartment where Olympic awaited her:
and hVe minutes afterward, wrapped
from head to foot in a vast cache
misere, she had stolen down a private
passage to the street, with Olympic be-
side her. I'VE must ask the gem
darme, Olympic; we may have to go to
the prefecture; we must learn where
he, LecOnte, is to be found" And learn
she did; and in less than an hour an
angry concierge had been pacified with
handful of gold pieces and had
ushered into the room, where the young
sous-lieutanant sat busy with a letter,
his sister from the country.
The moment that the door closed the
duchess dropped her vast wrap into
Olympe's hands and stood before him
in all her starry beauty, the sheen of
her pale Satins, the sparkle of her in
Vulnerable diamonds, the dazzle of her
white shoulders, just as she had come
from the opera.
For ~ moment he was aghast. But he
had sprung to his feet. ITO what do l
owe the honor he began.
"Oh, monsieur" cried the duchess, 81
come to you a supplicant! An. hour
ago my husband insulted you"
"Bitterly!''
"Oh. monsieur" clasping her beauti-
full uplifted hands and raising to his
the eyes overflowing with tears. "And
it means
'Sapristi! 1t means bloodshed, mad
ame!" he exclaimed.
"Oh, no, no!' she cried. "Not that,
Not that! And for such an idle thing
oh, never that. Oh, monsieur. YOU
are successful, you are powerful, the
emperor is your friend you can afford
ne be magnanimous! l beg, l beg you
to let it pass
Let 1t pass, madame! You know not
what you say Let it pass Ha! ha!"
What good, alas what good will II
do you to take his lfe?"
ut will efface the stain on my honor
the sting of his blow. Behold my
cheek burns with it YETI
"And mine, too, believe me- she cried
lifting again the great innocent eyes
to his. 1T was hot headed-it was
wrong-oh, If there is any reparation-'
''Sacre! There is no reparation," SAID
the officer, like hero of tragedy, "but
death-his death or mine"
"Oh, do not say so! Life Is SC
precious-death is so dreadful-and, oh
monsieur. forgiveness is so beautifulp
forgiveness of such q humiliaton,' =
''Is 1t more of a humiliation than
undergo; /, a woman, who come to yol
In your apartment, and beg my hus
bands life of you? l have asked
have heard--they tell me your bal
never fails"
And Is. it monsieur, your husband
who perhaps sends you here?"
"Ciel! 1t is you who now insult hin
as grievously! Oh, you cannot, 70
that momentary burst of foolish vexa
tion be willing to take from him life
from me my husband, from my littl
sleeping son his father! / implor
you"
Duchess" said the lieutenant, "yo,
are only wasting time. and compromis
ing youdself here in my apartment"
Il conhde in your honor, your 81
1ence,' she cried.
1T is WE'LL" he answered. But n
cnore. You ask too much'
"Oh, have you no mercy?"
"None The insult was given in tn
face of all the world, and in the face o
all the world it must be wiped out"
Monsieur Leconte, you have prove
your valor on the battlefield. 1t Is no
the first rencontre you have had wit
pistols and with swords. Your cour
age Is byword. If you treat this af
fair as beneath notice, as the action o
an exasperated man whom you hav
reason to pity, it will not injure yor
It will give you great friendships, G
which you may be glad in the future