Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-01-05
CHAPTER ".

object in the room as u dog shifts and
scents about for trail.
"What kind of man was your lodg
err" was the first question.
Moniche replied in tone which
showed that he felt that his tenant had
been accused of something.
ooh, NJ. lo Commissaire, a very
worthy man, | swear it. "
"Thc best man in the world" added
his wife, wipiug her eyes
Il am 70, iuquiring about his moral
qualities, - N. Dc.hricro said. "What
I want to know is, how did he live and
whom did he receiver"
Few people Very few" tho porter
answered. Tho poor man liked soil
tude. IIo lived here eight years lie re-
coived Il few friends; but, repeat,
very small number.
NJ. Revere had rented the apartment
in 1883, He installed himself i'll his
rooms, with his pictures and books. The
porter was much GStuuiShcd at the num-
her of pictures and volumes which tho
Now lodcor brough, It took q long time
to settle, a. VI. Rovcro was very fastid-
ious and personally superintcudcd the
hanging Of his canvascs and the placing
Of his books He thought tha5 he must
have been an artist, although he said
that he was retired merchant. He had
heard him say one day that he had been
consul to Somo foreign country-Spain
or South America.
lie lived quito simply, although they
thought that be- must be rich Was he
miser? Not at all; very generous, on
the contrary, but plainly he stunned
the world He had chosen their apart
mont because it was in a retired spot,
Far from the Partisan houlevards -Four
pr five years before a woman, clothed in
black. had como thcrc-a woman who
seemed still Young. He had not seen
her face, which was covered with Il
heavy black veil. She had visited Nj
Revere quite often. He always accom-
panied her respectfully to the door
when she went away. Once or twice Ii
had gone out with her in a carriage
No, be did not know her namo. NJ. Re-
we're ; life was regulated with military
precision. He usually held himself NJ
right Of late sickness had bowed hin
somewhat. Ho went out whenever n,
was able going as far as the Bots ant
back. Then. after breakfasting, he shut
himself mp i'll his library and read anc
wrote. He passed nearly all of his even
ings at home
HE never made us wait up for him
as he never went to the thcater," said
Moniche.
The malady from which he suffered
md which puzzled the physicians had
seized him on his return from a summer
sojourn at AiX-leS- Bains for his health.
The ncighhors had at once noticed the
effect produced by the cure. When he
went away, he had been somewhat trou-
hlcd with rheumatism, INIT when he re-
turned he was confirmed sufferer
Since the beginning Of September he
had not been out, receiving no visits,
except from his Doctor and spending
whole days in his easy chair or upon his
lounge, while Nine. Moniche read the
daily papers to him,
"Whcn | say that he saw no one, !"
said the porter, Il make mistake
There was te1at gentleman -
And he looked at his wife.
"What gcntleman:"
Nine Monichc shook her head, as if
ne ought not to answer.
"Of whom do you speak," repeated
the commissary, looking at both Of
them.
At this moment Bernardet, standing
on the threshold of the library adjoining
the salon, looked scarchingly about the
room in which NJ. Revere ordinarily
spent his time, and which he had prob
ably left to meet his fate. His ear was
as quick to hear as his eye to see and as
he heard the question he softly APP
preached and listened for the answer.
"What gentleman and what did he
do:" asked the comnissary a little
brusqucly, for he noticed a hesitation to
reply in both Moniche and his wife.
"Woll, and what does this mcan:'
"Oh, well, NJ. lie Commissairc, it is
this-perhaps it means nothing" And
the concierge went on to tell how, one
evening, very fine gentleman, and
very polished, moreover, had come to
the house and asked to see NJ. Revere
He had gone TO his apartment and haU
remained long time. 1t WAS, h.
thought about the middle Of October
and Nine. Moniche, who had gone M
stairs to light the gas, met the man a
he was coming out Of NJ. Revere sroom
and had noticed at the first glance the
troubled air of the Observation-Disclosures
already called the gentleman the "mdi.
vidual" was worry pale and whose
eyes Wcro red.
Then, at some time or other, the i'll.
dividual had made another visit to NJ.
Revere. More than once the FORTRESS
had tried to learn his name. Up TO this
moment she had not succeeded One
day she asked NJ, Revere who it was,
and he very shortly asked her what bust
ness it was of hers. She did not insist,
but she watched the individual with d
vague dc.lbt.
Instinct, monsieur; my instinct told
mo-
Enough, " interrupted Nj. Desbriere.
"If we had only instinct TO guide US,
we should make some famous blunders. -
"Oh, 1t was not only by instinct,
monsieur"
"Ah, ahl Let us hear it,
Bernardet, with his eyes fastened up,
on Mime. Moniche, did not lose a sylla-
bio of her story, which her husband oc-
casionally Interrupted to correct or t.
complete a statement or to add some
detail, The corpse, with mouth oper