Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-01
CHAPTER VII.
HOW IF YOU THINK INTENTLY OF A
MYSTERY YOU MAY ARRIVE NEAR ITS
SOLUTION


HOW IF YOU THINK INTENTLY OF A
MYSTERY YOU MAY ARRIVE NEAR ITS
SOLUTION.
II the people at BiarritZ | knew had
twittel me on my disappearance. which they
had heard from the Parislan Herald and
GalIgnani's they had no American papers
issued since-no information Of that which
had happened in New York. To see the last
New York papers, to reassure my sister in
ireland and to cable my solicitor, where
part of the reasons leading me to hasten to
Paris, while another part was my earnest
wish to get some light on the mystery. |
had not told, as | say, the truth TO soul
in Biarritz, where formerly | had spent
much time, lest they Should consider | still
was under the alteration leading me to dis
appear in New York. But in Paris ! should
make inquiries. had one certain clew in
the arms carved on the wood work of the
cabin, while | surmsed the lady might be
known from my own observation in the box
at the Criterion theater the previous year.
/ reached the Care D'Orleans about that
afternoon, and the porter was loading a box
containing some things | had borrowed OF
Howell when suddenly saw man, whose
face was familiar, step into a cab, appar-
emily without observing me. If | were not
mistaken this was the fellow who had en-
ticei me into the adventure Giving my
man francs | told him to keep the ether
knew not to what end. We turned from
street to street. l not noticing the Partisan
panorama to which | was returning. Be
yond the Arc de Triumphe the pursuit led,
until finally the cab, evidently not knowing
Ii was followed, drew up before a hotel on
the Avenue du Bois d Boulogne. The fel-
low left the cab. Its door closed. / told
my man to draw to the curb. After some
hesitation / decided to go in. thinking of
this singular chance throwing in my way
cew to the mystery which / was resolved
not to neglect. Leaving the cab, | walked
TO the door, where was plate bearing:
Mgr. ReuX."
I rang: asked for Mgr. Reux" on ven
ture.
Yes monsieur. whom shall l. say?"
"M Gerald, on an important natter
The servant scrutinzed me, deciding to
let me enter. | had rsked seeing Mgr
Reux. | wondered what would come OF IT,
The servant returning, said that his master
would see me, and he showed me !Hto n
simple room, barred Of decorations, showing
the owners taste of simplicity.
After some moments there entered by a
side door a pale, dark little man in a c!er-
ical coat. His smooth-shaven face, the
slight figure, emphasized his youthful ap-
pearance which, nevertheless, seemed to
| hold great cleverpess. He knew the world,
men, their foibles, intrigue. He looked me
over, his gray eyes questioning.
ITO what do | owe the pleasure. mon
sieur?"
Because, Monseigneur, I wish to place
| the identity of the person who entered the
house before me-"
"Massimo! What is he to you?"
| But | saw the question had startled Mgr
Reux.
He He is just from America"
~, too, have arrived from America
| against my will. Possibly monseigneur may
| eXplain?"
| Tho priest looked me over narrowly.
II can't explain what | don't know, mon.
| sleur; am only poor mortal"
| For the first time l hesitated at my fool
| hardness in venturing into the power OF
an unknown person, who might be one, al
| least in purpose, with those who had alb
| Quoted me.
Mgr. Reux, don't know you"
81 am a Dalmatan, monsieur" said he
| "a humble servant OF Rome"
| And then suddenly recollected the name
| Mgr. ReuS, the scholar, the dlplomatist
the great Mgr Reux, and this youthful
! priest was so different from my expectation
OF what this parsonage should be.
"You are not the Gerald-the American
| Gerald" he said at last, returning my
recognition OF his identity by this apparent
knowledge OF my name.
"Yes. Mgr. Reux," said l. remembering
again the potentiality my father had made
the sheer force Of money; and, after all,
could buy men, | remembered, My sense OF
utter powerlessness left me. even before
that cunning-yet mobile Reux's face always
| was | now noticed a certain aspect In
monseigneur's manner. The late Partisan
afternoon lit his face. showing lines o.
thought that made him older.
And what can you know OF Massimo?"
What should know-what shouldn't I?'
"Humph--everything nothing-that he Is
an agent of"
"Of" | began.
"a Dalmatian agent OF the czar," sale
monseigneurs as II defying me- But come
monsieur, this person has agitated you
Nothing Is accomplished for either OF u