Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-02-02
CHAPTER x.
THE BEGINNING OF THE END.

CHAPTER K.
THE BEGINNING OF THE END.
Pierre Turrian amply justified the
opinion as to his cleverness which Lola
expressed to Sir Jaffray, for in few
weeks he succeeded in making himself
welcome guest at Walcote manor.
Sir Jaffray, who had at first been led
to think Of him as sort Of musical
crank and had tolerated him as COM
paratively harmless individual who
could sing with exquisite taste and play
brilliantly, discovered one by one his
other qualities, just as the astute
Frenchman thought it judicious to re-
veal them.
He could be an excellent companion,
having a rare capacity Of adapting him
self to his surroundings. He had great
knowledge of men, picked up in the
course of his wanderings over all Eu-
rope. He possessed al endless fund of
anecdotes, with clever knack of in
venting them to suit any occasion and
time and company. and as he speedily
and accurately gauged the baronet's
character he was able to make himself
welcome in half hundred ways.
Gradually the musical fad," as Sir
Jaffray began to call it laughingly, was
allowed to fall more and more out Of
sight until it was rarely mentioned,
and Sir Jaffray came to the conclusion
that, as the Frenchman seemed to have
plenty of money, it had been taken up
as a sort of hobby and was to be dropped
as easily.
"'The professor seems to have de-
veloped under our influence, Lola" he
said one day to his wife. They spoke
of him as "the professor" as term Of
friendship. Wonder what made him
take up that fifth string rot. Glad he's
shed that rubbish.
HE seems man Of impulses" re-
piled Lola, land I wish an impulse
would take him back to Switzerland. {"
She was very restless at the growing
intimacy between the two men and had
striven against it, but the Frenchman
had beaten her.
81 can't say that replied Sir
Jaffray, laughing. II like him. He's
one of the jolliest beggars ever met
one Of the few men I've ever known
who can lose his coin without getting
ragey." The Frenchman had been
shrewd enough to let the baronet al
ways have just the best of matters in
every game and sport in which they
met "When we come back from town,
we must have him here. He'd be the
life and soul of house party. those
deadly plaques of the country"
"We can hardly have him here, then.
can we?'
"Why not? The women'll go mad
after him. I'd give lot to see the lit
tie De Witt setting those wicked little
wits of hers to work to catch him for
her snuggery. And he laughed again
The idea of that sharp little woman
watching the incidents Of the drama
that was being played at the manor was
the reverse of pleasant to Lola, but she
said nothing, lest she should arouse
some sort of suspicion.
The baronet was as good as his word,
and in a flush of good feeling one day
he gave the Frenchman general invi-
tation to stay at the manor as soon as
Lola and himself should return from
London.
When Lola heard of it, she was angry
and took all opportunity of speaking to
NJ. Turrian about it.
"You must not accept that invita-
tion," she said peremptorily.
"No?" And he stopped and looked at
her with his eyebrows raised. They
were walking OH the terrace before din
ner, and he was smoking cigarette.
"No. say no." said Lola ener-
getically.
"And why not?"
because I don't choose to allow it. "
'That is not a tactful reason" he
said, with shrug and laugh.
II care nothing about tact. You must
not do it. If you do. shall stop youl
allowance.
"That is coarse We may be-crim
inals, but at least we should be polite. >
And he bowed with affected courtesy
"Give me your real reasons, he con
tinued, after pause. IF it is only
your pique, l shall not pay the slightes
heed to it. You chose this life, net l.
did not like it at first. have grown
accustomed to it, and l find it pleasan
enough-for time, while my plans de
velop and" bowling again, Il shall
live it in my own way.
"There are people coming here wht
may remember certain notorious gam
bier and cheat who was at one time
known in half the hells in Europe.
"Ah, that is most interesting ant
most enticing. If there is one thing tina
I do not like about this existence, it Il
what you call its humdrum. dead alive
sameness and respectability A maj
rusts in such place. There is no risk
no danger, where peoples wits are 81
stupid as here. Why, even murderes