The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-01
Copyright. 1897. by Max ?emberton.l
PART 1.

Cog lie Roi. the highwayman, started
Notre Dame struck twelve. Silently,
and with waking mans curiosity, he
counted the strokes, nodding his head
at each one, and thinking TO himself
that 10 would be five OF six of the morn
ing and time for him to be about But
when the clock went on to tell the hour
of midnight, an exclamation burst from
his lips.
"Saphisti," said he to himself. II
have not slept an hour. might know
shat by the music below. Saint PAUL.
what threats they have!"
No man cares to be deceived with
the tricks of sleep; nor was Cog lc Roi.
otherwise the Little Red Man, other
wise Jacques Cabot, the notorious
,soouHge of the highways about Paris,
and one of the most successful robbers
that ever set spurs to horse, an ex-
ceptiou to the rule He concluded that
lho had personal grievance against the
night for thus cheating him. He began
to tell himself that he was thirsty, and
would do well TO draw on his boots and
venture oot to q cabaret for q cup of
wine. Then he remembered that he
was not In the habit of losing his sleep
because . few cutthroats bawled be-
meath the windows of his garrett Some
strange sound, some unusual omen of
the night, must have troubled his ears
while he slept he sid. And, for the
Ifirst dino for many day, he began to
remember that the guards Of the new
llieutennnt Of police were then hunting
Ifor 0im out In the woods beyond Eon-
tenay.
"Eangla,leu," he cried, springing sud-
denly from his bed. and going 10 the
window of his garrett that no might
look down thence to the narrow street
below, "am / q woman. that should
etart at shadows on the wall? What a
thing to tell-at the house Of the Red
Cock, tool"
He put his had out of the window,
and the moving panorama OF the slum
below treasured him. There, in the
heart of the thieves quarter of tho
Paris of 1859, he might well think him
self safe even from the early energies Of
M. do Sartines who had just come to be
lieutenant of police. Though the day
had begun with driving sleet and Bit
ter wind, few Of the beggars In that
Rue st. Sauveur thought Of sleep. or
indeed of anything but their pleasures.
Regularly. when night fall, these
rogues, whom Cog le Roi now looked
down rpon with satisfaction, hastened
TO quit the church doors and tho gates
OF the hotels and hurried TO the laby-
lrinth Of the filthy lanes and tottering
houses, which had marked thedr king
dom behind the Rue Mauconseil, almost
since Paris had risen about the islands
Of tho marshes. A motley group they
were; blind men counting their sous;
jepers washing on their sham sores:.
:ame men carrying their crutches; ven
dors OF oranges with their cry: "Portu-
gal. Portugal" rogues whom the glib
bet long had claimed in vain. Weary
with the labRs Of the understanding
day. eager for the shelter of the cabaret,
ripe for quarrel or drink or play, they
row rioted in the security of the alleys |
lbehind the markets, and so hid from the |
might Of the greater Paris the canker-
6ng soce which was her reproach by |
day.
! Cog Ls Roi permitted the bitter wind |
TO blow upon his face for some min |
ntes; then he drew back his head, for |
he remembered his intention to drink a |
cup Of wine at the nearest cabaret, and |
he found the idea q very good one.
'Bah," said he 70 himself, as he |
rugged at his hong boots and looked at
his pistols, which lay ready for prim-
ing. upon the table by his ragged bed,
rAwhat have TO do with woman's tat
f1s here? Guards in the Rue ST. |
Sauveur! Nom du diable, what a day
that would be. should like 20 see it."
The notion amused him, and he /
chuckled 70 himself pleasantly; but, Of
= sudden, the laugh died down upon his
hips, and he sat upon the bed like one
petrifcd. He had become aware in
that instant of the presence of another
in the room--a gaunt figure dressed
from heed 70 foot in black. and masked
20 closely that even the eyes were not
visible. Noiselessly. with no drawing
Of bolt or creak OF foot. the apparition
lad come to his bedside. The robber
feared nothing human--but now he
rrembled SO that the whole bed shook,
ond the sweat fell in icy cold drops
from his brow down upon his naked
chest.
God have pity. who are you?" he
asked. not daring so much as TO raise
his hand to the pistol beside him.
The stranger laughed merrily. and,
crossing before the robber. he sat him.
sclf rpon rough oak bench. which was
-rr onlv seat. other than the bed in the
miserable attic. Coo le Roi could sec
by the little lig1t which fell through
The lattice that his visitor wore good
clothes. and that the hilt OF his sword
was n-glifter with diamonds.
Ton soir. NJ. Jacqucs Cabot" said
Che man. leaning bacs. against tho
wall. and crossing his legs for comfort.
''bcn soir. or. perhaps. ! should say
ri1hfly. bon jour. The clock has Just