Omaha daily bee., 1897-11-21

Ylens.' lads t. NJ.
AS live he sprang to his feet with a cry
of alarm His hind darted to his breast,
where he had slowed his pocketbook; he tore
1T out and examined the fastening with furi-
GUS haste and anxiety. l sat struck still with
wonder, the man seemed mad He looked at
mo now and his glance was full of deepest
suspicion. He opened his mouth to speak,
but words seemed to fail him; he held out
the leathern case toward me. Strange as
was the question that his gesture put, l could
not doubt it.
81 haven't touched the book" said l. I'm
deed, sir, only your visible agitation can gain
you pardon for the suggestion"
Then how-how?" he muttered
you pass my understanding SIR" said 1,
in petulant amusement. 81 say in Jest, 4
come. thou comest, he comes and the words
act on you like abrlcadabra and the b!ackest
of magic. You don't, | presume, carry a
hornbook Of French in your case, and If you
do haven't robbed you of it,
He was turning the little case over and
over in his hands, again examining the
clasps of it. His next freak was to snatch
his Iistol and look to the priming. / burst
out laughing, for his antics seemed absurd.
My laughter cooled him, and he made a
great effort to regain his composure. But
began to rally him.
"Maynt man know how to say in French
He comes without stealing the knowledge
wrong if you think SO much is known to
nobody in England
He glared at me like a man who hears a
Jest, but cannot tell whether it conceals earn
est or not.
open the case, SIR" continued in mock
cry. make sure all is there. Come, you
owe me that much"
To my amazement he obeyed me. He
opened the case and searched through GER
ain Nyhi toi, nod
he sighed, as though in relief, yet his sus-
picious air did not leave him.
"Now, perhaps, sir" said l, squaring my
elbows, you'll explain the comedy"
That he could not do The very impossI.
bility of any explanation showed that had
in the most unexpected fashion, stumbled
on some secret with him, even as | had be-
fore with Darrell. Was his secret Darrells
or his own, the same or another? What
1t was ! could mot tell, but for certain there
1t was. He had no resource but to carry the
matter with a high hand, and to this he
betook himself with readiness of his ma
tion.
"You ask an explanation sir?" he cried
''There is nothing to explain, and if there
were, l give explanations when | please, and
mot TO every fellow who chooses to ask them
of me-"
Il come, thou comest, he comes-tis a
very mysterious phrase" said l. II can't
tell Wnat IL means. Anu II you WOn tell
me, sir, must ask4Others."
you'll he wi5erito ask nobody" he said
| meracingly. ii =
"Nay. | shallbe no wiser If / ask nobody, y
/ retorted with,a smile,
"Yet you'll Iell9 nobody OF what has
passed." said he advancing toward me with
] the plain intention, OF imposing his will on
| me by fear, since persuasion failed. | rose
to my feet and answered mimicking his in
| solent words
'T give promlsesi sir, when ! please, and
not to every fellow who chooses to ask then
of me-"
you shall give me your promise before
you leave this room" he cried.
His voice had been rising in passion ant
was now loud and fierce Whether the sounC
| OF 1t had reached the room above or whethe
J the duke and CaFf9rd had grown weary O
one another do uOt know, but as the Frencl
gentleman uttered this last threat Carfort
! opened the door stood aside to let his grac
enter and followed himself. AS they cam
in we were in a most hostile attitude, TO
the Frenchman's plstol was in his hand AM
my hand had flown to the hilt of my sword
The duke looked at us in astonlshment
why. what's this, gentlemen" he asked
"Mr. Dale. are you at variance with thi
gentleman?" But before / had time Il
answer him he had stepped forward and seei
! the Frenehman's face. why, here is NJ d.
Fontelesl" he cried in surprise. II am yer,
| pleased to see you, sir, again In England
| Carlord here is NJ. de Fonteles. You wer
acarainted With him when he was in tn
suite OF the French ambassador, You carr.
message. slr?"
| / listened keenly to all that the duke
words told me. NJ. de Fontelles bowed low
but his coafusion was in no way aDated, an
he made no answer TO his graees question
The duke turned to me, saying with som
haughtness;
This gentleman is friend Of mine. Mr.