Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-07-22

] room at least or 1OlSOn q VI, ana ny
which il might be possible to effect an
easy entrance. Before going any fur
] Their. however. l glanced around me 10
! see how the land lay and was delighted
/ to find that 1 could not be observed
from the opposite side Of the street, as
the portion of the house l was on was
concealed from view by the gabled roof,
that arose about ten feeJfrOm me, leav-
ing me in a sort Of long balcony. NOW
that / think OF it, this roof must have
been an after thought on the part or
the builders, then l was but too thank
ful TO find that it existed, and had no
time for reflections By turning my
head 1 could see, too, that the high wall
that shut in the mouth of the passage,
was evidently raised as a barrier be-
tween the street and the fOsse which
took bend and ran Immediately below
the wall. After lying perfectly still Tor
a little. I slowly pushed myself forward
until at last / was beneath the skyllght
and then raising myself cautiously peep
ed in. | saw a room of moderate size,
and well, but plainly furnished. In the
center was an 0blOng table covered
with a dark cloth and round about 1t
were set a number of chairs. The sky
light alone admitted light, and from
this to the floor of the room was mat
ter Of twelve feet or so. The chamber
was empty. and / had more than half
mind to risk the descent when the door
was opened and Babette stepped in. l
shrank back as low as possible and OBJ
served that she was making arrange
ments for some one, for she placed Z
couple of decanters with glasses on the
table arranged the chairs. and then af-
ter taking a look round went out once
more made up my mind TO wait, and
settling myself under the skylight, be-
gan to exercise my patience. After an
hour or so had passed, l heard the door
open again. and then the sound OF
voices. Presently, some one called out
1--WE had better shut the skylight," and
then another voice, this time Lafin's,
said. NO. # is no use, and we will want
light to see
Once more raised myself and lean
ed against the edge of the opening, eyes
and ears intent There were three men
in the room-Lafin, De GOmeroA and
another whom / did not know but
within I judged to be an Italian from
his manner of pronOun$hg fOur Ian
guage. They were an three seated
round the table. pOuung over number
Of documents and fcOnversing in low
tones. After tine it appeared to me
that Lain was urging something On'De
G0meron. and.the free lance. who was
short of ter. per. brought his clenched
hand on TIE table in a manner to make
the glssNs ring whilst he said with an
OATH
n win mott have risked too much.
Thave told YOU before that I did not
come into this for the good of my
health. nv prize is my own. Ii has
nothing to do with your affair, of which
am sick.
The other man then cut in:
4 do not see. NJ. de Lain, why we
should drag this matter into our dis
CussiOn. IF NJ. de GOmerOn wants a wife
-well-many q fair dame has had
rOugher wOOing than the lady you
speak of. But II have cause for COM
plant. I come here expecting to meet
the marshal-and I meet you and mon
sieur here. I mean no Offense, but l
must tell YOU plainly, my masters in
structions are that | should hear NJ. de
Biron's promises and take his demand
fro mhis own lips.
And what about EpernOn Bouillon and
TremouilIe. count?' asked de GomerOn.
The dark eyes of the stranger flashed on
him for a moment.
MY master. the duke Of Savoy, knows
their views
Personality
The Italian waved his hand with a
laugh. 90 -ntlemeu, I have given you my
terms-it is for YOU to choose. As for my
part L would say that my master dropped
this business ana trusted the day to his
sword"
"That is not wont to be NJ De Savoy's
way" sneered Lain, and the Italian rose.
VERY well. messieurs. L will then con-
slider the issue as closed.
1T matters not a rush TO me-" exclaimed
De Gomeron; but Lain, who was moodily
picking at his moustache. spoke again, and
The tones of his voice were fun Of chagrin
AS You wish 1 undertake that the
marshal sees YOU
Where and when? Ny time is pre-
cious."
'Here-at ten o'clock tonight"
''AIaledetto, This is not place to come
at that hour"
II is safe. and it would be safer still if
you stayed here till then. The spies Of the
master general-curse him-are every
where. and VI. De Gomeron Will guarantee
you protection here
Il am deeply grateful" The count bow
ed slightly. a faint tone OF irony in his
voice. Then you agr5e?"
Yes"
This being so. perhaps you had better
go over these notes. that you may be in
a position to exactly understand what we
can do; our terms, Of course, are as be-
fore. but We will require money. and that
at once.
"But large advances have already been
made objected the Italian.
'They are gone" said Lain.
How? Nothing has been done and both
Velasco and Savoy are unwilling 10 throw
more money into the business unless some
action is taken. How has the money
gomez"
1T is gone and there is an end of it"
exclaimed LAIN sullenly. As for the ac-
ton you wish taken, you have asked to see
the marshal and he will inform YOU
Very wenl Untn then. monsieur, we
viii not discuss this point further"
The voices dropped again after this and
they began 20 pore over the papers and a
map that the free lance had spread before
him. making an occasional remark. which
1 did not follow But / heard enough to