The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-10-12
THE DOUBLE SYKES OF DE NAN TOS.

A brilliantly lighted room in great house of the Faubourg St. Germain of the Paris of 1701 when Louis XIV. regned over France. The last ''partie' of picquet was over and the Due de St. Ibars was the loser. Now he had lost everything, he was ruined.
 He had played his last card with the careless serenity which distinguished him. Everything had gone; the old chateau and the broad lands of his race in far-off Perigord, the hotel in Paris and his places at court; but nothing could disturb the mask of aristocratic languor which sat so closely on his boy ish features, or render less steady the white hand which toyed with the jew elled snuffboX.
 The older man opposite him who had been his opponent had not shown such self-restraint. The lust of gain had blazed in his weary eyes, the loose, sensual mouth had frightened and grown more actively cruel, and red fever spot of excitement had gleamed on each sallow cheek. Now, as he leaned back in his chair furtively glan- chg at the other, he was fain to pre-
  of his wrist-ruffle to hide the sneering smile which fiickered on his face.
 Yet it was necessary that he should be able to think clearly and speak calmly for the great stroke, for which all that had gone before had been but preparation, had yet to be played. He would gladly have postponed 1t, but subtle instinct warned him that the tide of his success was now at flood, and that to morrow might be too late. The Marquis de Nantes was no coward; he was spurred by the strongest passion bis nature was capable of feeling, but he was afraid of the beggared youngs- ter opposite him.
 ''You do not wish to go on?' he asked, T have nothing to stake M. le Mar quis," was the answer, mot even a chateau in spain.''
 The Marquis de Nantes smiled uneas- fly. 'As you will,' he said, "as you will. I only thought" A spot of wax had fallen on the card table, and he was scoring pattern on it with his finger nail. His throat moved once, twice, thrice, as if he was swallowing some thing with difficulty Then he spoke without looking up.
 You have still something to stake, :" he said: T will play you for Madame la Duchesse-your wife,
 There was a sound like a stifed oath, and the speaker pushed back his chair before he ventured to look up. The duke seemed struggling with some in ward emotion, for he held hand be- fore his face. Then he began to laugh, and in his laughter there was no sound of merriment, but rather contemptu- ous mockery, which would have made most men long to strike him on the mouth. But De Nantes seemed relieved that there was no outbreak of violence and waited quietly for him to speak.
 "A thousand pardons, marquis!" St Ibars said presently, "but your ideas are so droll. Has your confessor en- Joined you to make love to no lady without the consent of her husband Or do you really imagine that such consent would be any recommendation to her favor?"
 "Oh, you altogether mistake me-" was the reply. T wish to make her my wife. am not duke and peer of France; I am new man, the son of a
 
 ble enough to love my wife better than my mistress if I choose. So, on my part, I will stake all I have won from you, and your stake shall be your life. If I win you promise to kill yourself within the next twelve hours. Well?"
 A smile was still on the dukes face as he listened But the conversation was beginning to weary him, a suspicion that the man was mad was gathering force in his mind; moreover, the future had to be faced and he must be alone to face it. So, of set purpose, he contract ed his brows with frowp and spoke with brutal openness which contrast ed. strongly with his usual manner
 T think, marquis, you presume or the fact that I am your host, and that you rightly imagine me to be the last man in France to make myself ridicu lous by fighting about my wife. But supposing me out of the way, how much nearer will you be? She will stil be De Biron, and you al am afraid do not know the house which has the honor of having you as cadet. Dc you?"
 If the Marquis de Nantes felt the in- Eull I1e lldttt uO DIE II.
 You refuse?'' he said coldly. 'Well your life is still worth something te you, suppose Only remember that was ready to take the risk'
 "You rate your powers of fascination highly" was the sneering answer.
 ''Yes," replied De Nantes. q do. Fol I have talisman you know nothing of It is because I love that I am not afraid; it is because you know not love that you cannot understand"
 'eYou spoke of my birth De Nantes went on You are right. If you hat told me I was old and ill-favored you would have been right, too. You think that a woman cares for these things I tell you mo- Make her believe tha you love her, make her believe that she must love you, and she will invest you herself with all these things-or lovt YOU better for the want of them. Men Monster le Due, love women because they are beautiful; women love men be cause the men will them to-
 He stopped and then said slowly "And your answer?''
 St. Ibars was thinking. In the frs place he was surprised at the sudder tone of mastery which De Nantes hat assumed. at the suppressed passior which vibrated in his words, and the ar dent light which shone in his eyes Never had he seen him like this before never had he imagined that he coulc