Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-07-01
1r HENRI NEN1GZ

no reply beyond distrustful glance.
Dick, meantime, had been looking at
his watch, and now held out his hand.
II am afraid" he said, "that must be
going home: I have trespassed too long
upon your kindness, and the doctor
said must be in by sunset"
Zone moment" said Camilla. hoping
to gain an instant's privacy In which
to give him some kind Of warning.
''Stay moment; Col. de Montaut will
order the carriage for you.
1T Is at the door," replied the colonel,
and he bowed Dick out before him, and
followed him downstairs.
Camilla heard the front door close
and the carriage drive away. A long
silence followed. The colonel had evil
IDENTIFY gone to the length Of accom-
panying Dick to his own lodging. The
mischief might be done by this time.
and here she sat powerless to prevent
1t. She fretted under the thought at
first, and her indignation chafed her In
the absence of an object upon which to
spend itself; but at last it seemed to
have worn itself out for time. and she
fell into quieter mood.
All the same she started guiltfly when
the door opened almost without a
sound. There stood the colonel, like
some willy emissary Of evil. following
up his calculated opportunity at the
most deadly moment of weakness.
He appeared to have entirely forgot
ten his late struggle with her. In his
hand was an open letter, which he held
up to her view.
II have just heard" he said. from
Carnac who has received q letter from
st. Helena"
She held out her hand for 1t.
"You are tired" he said: IT will read
1t to you. Be prepared, for 1t Is far
from pleasant hearing;" and he began
at once:
The letter-or. at any rate, his read
ing of tran as follows:
My Dear M. de Montaut: A packet
dispatched from st. Helena at the end
of January contains the following mel
ancholy intelligence in the cipher Of
Gen. Bertrand: The emperor. having
suffered severely In health from want
Of active occupation, on Jan. % re-
sumed his riding exercise, after an in
termision Of two years. The effect Of
this violent change Of habit was I'M
happily the reverse Of beneficial, and he
has been more or less PROSTATE for a
week past"
The colonel looked at Camilla, and
went on more slowly:
"'His majesty has become subject to
fits of profound depression, which are
the despair of his physicians. He Bit
terly declares himself deserted and be-
trayed, and his reproaches are terrible
to hear. He talks openly Of commit
<3-~r h{o Loot yu{ahoo RI nonor
In her agitation at this news Camilla
forgot everything else. "Oh, mol! she
cried, clasping her hands as though to
entreat the cruel fates. 1--WE shall be
in time; we must. we must!'
1--WE must" he echoed gloomily; "they
expect us on the 5th Of May"
"And when do we start?"
Before the beginning Of April; we
| which to gather our forces for this final
attempt"
She was silent. and seemed unwilling
to venture further into the region Of
detail. =.
..The vessel is all but ready" con-
tinued the colonel; "a mixed crew, can
be collected in day or two at Deal or
Ramsgate." f. -
He paused, as If expecting question
from her; but she was still silent, and
he went on again.
For the money am relying on you"
She nodded.
'.As to the rest" he said, cycling her
cautiously, "our friends have failed us.
as you know
She looked straight at him, and her
face took passive expression. as II in
expectation of blow.
| This is our last chance" he said:
'thc emperor's supreme and only hope.
| No consideration must weigh with us
against his life and liberty"
She drew her breath quickly: he saw
that he must give her more time yet"
This man Johnstone," he said, will,
I hope, consent to work the submarine
boat for US. will search him out to-
morrow, and make terms with him my
self II possible"
| She was relieved to find that SO far
this was all. and assented reluctantly.
hoping against hope to find her further
suspicious unfounded.
But the colonel went on relentlessly.
There remains only between us and
success. between the emperor and safe
ty, this one difficulty Of discovering a
suitable captain for our ship"
"You have time to go to France for
that yourself, she said in desperation.
Everything must be dared. as you said
only just now
| He shook his head.
Daring Of that kind is useless here"
he said. mo Frenchman can serve our
purpose"
She feigned establishment at this.
mo-" he continued. II have consid.
cred this part Of the question long and
thoroughly, for 1t is that upon which
all the rest depends. These are the two
necessary qualifications for our cap.
tain. First. he must not only be good
ally, in the sense Of being bold and
competent seaman, but he must be
bound to us by tie stronger than that
Of mere pecuniary interest" Ella
"Yes." she interrupted, quickly. che
must act from patriotism, too; and
therefore. he can be no other than q
Frenchman."
He shook his head again. with the
same gentle regretfulness.
Where will you find such a self-ini-
violating patriotism at q moments no
tice. and among those to whom our
ideas are stranger" he asked. do you