The times., 1897-04-04
PART II.

And l am to be a rartner?'' said l,
Softly Why"
-'Wait till you hear further. It's this If
Gen. Washington should disappear there are
many in America who think they can con
duct the affair more successfully than he;
individuals willing TO pay somethingto have
this doae, or at least to keep Us from re-
turning our captives.''
And T.
You are to go to America withthc Baron
Won Waduin, who is now an officer in the
American service: man of vast experience,
WHO never has had his deserts. You are to
go by the Marquis de la Fayette's and Dr.
Fran hin's favor"
YoU dome mean that he Marquis de Ia
Fayette is in this plot-this enterprise"
said, mediJatvcly.
'0h. no. 10 the contrary: siTaply that the
marquis is a very impulSive young man
Your case has been presented TO him in
such waythat his ympathies have becom.
enlisted. He believes that wit d this chance
You may retrieve an honorable name: that
is all. pr Franklin has recommended you
You viii secure temporary place in Gen
Washin gton's household. till you receive
Some regular appointment. You will have
your purse well Iined. All you viii have to
do is to assist the others when the time
comes. Thatts the whole story. believe"
! waitedbefore answering; walked TO and
fro in my agitation.
Il admire your ClevernesS.'
"Oh. come in to dinner, De la Renuc," he
retorted swecuy.
When we were seated looked across to
him.
What if l betray this abominable
scheme?"
You are discredited; not soul would be-
Iieve you
True
Besides have the word of a sieur de
la Renne.'
But you haven't an advantage in that
when IL would already become more faith
less by this proceeding"
My friend, " said De yitry, with a certain
masterliness. The individual sometimes
becomes like a nation Everything is ex-
cuSabe when society wars on him. as
everything is eXcusable in the diplomat
Success makes wrong right, doesn't it? 1
knew dishonorable men who if they had
failed, would have died on the gallovs, but
who, as il is, lie in state in church, with
thousand monks prayerful. You take risk,
but you have power behind you. We pay
your debts. We engage 10 look 10 YOUR
future. What more can you wish? But if
you refuse. what happens? You have no
way to turn. Your name is already a by
word in Paris. That is at once rarity
silcnced when it is noised about that you
have friends who have interceded for You,
who have thought you worthy chance
8 hon, In r
this. If nothing should, you still have the
service in AmeriCa--tbe Chance To make
yourself an honorable name Am l not
fair? Pray tell me.
So he reasoned glibly, and / listened
OF his board At last j said but this:
''Give me TIL tomorrow
Most certainly he said, pressing my
hand at putting His chariot was waiting.
AS passed through the daTkened streets,
I asked Why indeed shouldn't I?' ] saw
poor Baptiste opposite l even owed him.
At my lodging a surprise waited, for
on my table was quittance fOm money
lender for a matter of s coo francs, while |
the landlord knocked and entered obSequi-
ously.
Il have a thousand apologies TO make, |
your IcIdship,' he said The settle |
mcnt was more than generous"
You have been paid,'' l said stupid |
~.
By Your lordship's favor" said he, |
bending and smirkng.
l undgessed like one in a daze, and |
l did not sleep at first. l had an illu-
Sion of being in the meshes of net ] /
slept, to dream. 1t seemed the girl /
had seen in the wood at Versailles was
looking at me piiifully. i woke with
a start. and, as in the case in the night.
It was clear De Vitry was entirely right
No one, indeed. would believe in me: not |
B soul Why shouldn't plot against this
plot? 1t was dishon oraOle enough. ana |
Il 1, too, We're diShonorable i'm accepting
he approaches that had been ma de a gainsl
ne. could not secure some degree of honor
by working against these oomhipations
when in America? Could net make nv
own profit lay declaring the sitia ton to
his Gen Washington? The thought caImeti
20 that close on dawn fell asleep. to be
yaked by Baptiste's voice.
Pardon, my lord, but the Count de