The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-06
you must convince me of that" said

tines"
"Secrets!" exclaimed the lieutenant
'why-what secrets can there be in
case like this?'
IF | We're sure we were alone | might
be tempted to tell you. But look, how
dark it grows Upon my word, / must
not stay longer, monsieur-another
time you shall learn ALL"
Sartines eagerness was now beyond
control
Indeed" said he, "I beg you will
do me the favor to remain, If it is only
for ten minutes. Are you not safe with
me?"
Il should be-but. you know. it is
lonely here-and hush! is there not
some one coming?"
The both listened moment, but
the murmur of the fountains and the
echo of distant music We're the only
sounds in the darkness of the grove.
"Wel.' resumed Sartines, you see
that we are alone-and now, | beg
you"
The girl sighed with a sigh of re-
gret and doubling.
1T is very wrong of me-" she said,
"and Corinne will never forgive me.
"Corinne" calculated the lieutenant;
do you refer to Mile. de Moutesson?'
"Certainly.'
And what of herr"
The girl appeared to hesitate. and
it was only after a long pause that she
said: "Oh. she has been very unkind
to you. She made a wager with the
king that she would find an actress
from the Opera Comique and pass her
off on you as Cog le Roi himself. And
she has won, you know
WHAT roared Sartines
"It is as l say. The man you thought
you saw in her house last night was
not man at all. 1t was Mile. Guerin,
from the Opera Comique.'
Thousand devils!" exclaimed the
lieutenant, rising from his seat; Il
never thought of that
"Of course you did not. You forget
that your robber has the face of a
young girl. Corinne. you know, re-
membered that, and so she tricked you.
She has always been the friend of Coo
le Roi. He saved her life at Gras BoiS
two years ago. She sent for Jacques
Benoit to bring him out of the Rue
ST. Sauveur two days ago and lent him
the disguise in which he escaped from
Paris. He told her himself what coach
es he was going to rob- and where Her
old physician helped her with his non
sense and his gown. And now she has
| set all Paris laughing at you"
Sartnes groaned like a wounded man.
What, then, in heavens name, means
! this farce about stealing my ring" he
| cried, more to himself than to the pref
| ty creature at his side.
| My dear NJ SartineS, where are your
wits? Don't you see that she wishes
| to get the kings pardon for her friend ?
| And the king makes this ridiculous
! condition, meaning that the man shall
not be pardoned. Oh, it is all as plain
as the Trianon there"
"Of course it is, of course it isl
snarled the lieutenant, whose hands
We're trembling with rage and shame.
| Il could tell you many more things,
monsieur" continued the girl, IF the
sun Were not in such a hurry to set
| but see how dark it grows. Meanwhile
! here is a letter which you may keel
| and read when you return to Paris to-
night-it will tell you much"
| She took a letter from the breast OF
| her habit and pressed it into the hand
| of the lieutenant. allowing her fingers
| to rest for some moments in his Sar-
| tines, tormented by thousand re-
| proaches, did not even notice the pres
.ure.
| DO you know" he asked. abstracted-
ly, lin what disguise Coo le Roi left
| Paris?'
| Indeed, do, monsieur; it was in the
| disguise of woman of fashion-in fact
| he wore a green velvet riding habit
| which Corinne gave to him"
| "A green velvet riding habit" re-
| peated Sartines, thinking of anything
but the green velvet habit at his side.
| Nothing elSe-a green velvet ridins
| habit, and a little three-cornered hat
| oh, they cheated you well-but rea,
that letter, and it will save you bein.
fooled a third time"
"A third time!" exclaimed the lieu
tenant, looking round quickly, Will
the clasp OF the girls pretty finger
was strong upon his left hand, int
which she was forcing the letter.
LAS l say-a third time" she eX
planned boisterously. "Corinne ha
cheated you once in making you believ
that woman is man. / have cheate
you a second time in making you be
lieVe that man is a woman"
Her words came in a torrent: an
even while they We're upon her lips Sh
raised the gloVed hand, which was free
leaving the other hand still in that c
the man: and, very deterOusly an
suddenly, she cast the contents of
tiny bottle she had concealed in he
palm into the eyes of M. de Sartines
t At the same moment she grasped hi
fingers with a strange twist. and $
, sprang to her feet. But the lieutenan
: whose eyes seemed on fire, and VIII
believed himself to be blind, roared lik
a stricken bull.
t who in heavens name are you?
he cried.
II am jacques Cabot, otherwise Co
le ROi, otherwise the Little Red Man
= very much at your service. Bon Sol
? Nj. de Sartnes. You will see very we
in ten minutes. | have you damon
ring upon my left hand
| The lieutenant uttered a terrible CT
$ and staggered across the path in a val
/ endeavor to grapple with the robbie
When the guard at last answered h
= cries he was quite alone, and the s
4 lence of the night reigned in the grov