Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1899-07-22
/ s.r.:i:r- -,

the ceremony in question:"
$50 you caught the drift of our short |
talk. old fellow, did your Short, but |
Instructive. The man is a mere execu-
tionerl A Belgian. probably. lie is the |
foreigner Antonio referred to few mo-
ments ago. Save for his presence of
mind would have made a break that !
would have alarmed the ladies'"
Come, comei" cried Cantal. "An ex-
ecutioner In $4,000 franc carriage.
who gives diamonds to his dinner neigh
Dor, who sups at the Maison Doree the
day before he devotes himself TO pa
tienti Since your cafe de choiseul, you
see hangmen everywherel Drink some
punch Your NJ. Saturn Is poor jester,
do you know?"
At these words Il seemed to me that
cold reason was on Cantars side. Great
~ annoyed, hastily picked up my hat
and gloves and turned toward the door.
This stupid hoax has lasted far too
long" 1 added, opening the door. IF
I find that funeral mystifer. I swear
that"
Don't sweori" cried q gay, well
known voice from behind the portiere.
"Step back, my dear friend" and our
famous little doctor, Les Eglisottes, en-
tered springily, his great coat sprinkled
with snow.
MY dear DOCTOR" said, II win come
back shortly, but" he took my arm.
''When have told you the history of
the man who was going away I ar
rived, L warrant you that you'll not
care to ask him an account of his sal
lies. Besides, it's too late; his carriage
has carried him half a mile by this
time"
These words were pronounced in so
strange a tone that paused on the
> threshold. "Give us the story, doctor"
1 said, sitting down. but remember,
you'll have to answer for my inactionl"
The prince of science set his gold
headed cane in a corner, pressed his lips
on the finger tips of our three graces,
poured out glass of Madeira, and in
the fantastic silence due 20 the incident
and to his own entrance-commsnce
in these terms;
81 thoroughly understand this even
ing's adventure, as well as if had been
among you. What has happened to
you, without being precisely alarming,
|. might have become sc. The gentleman
|
/, an aristocratic German family; his for
! tune Is in the millions; but"-the doc
= tor looked at us-"his insanity having
q been diagnosed by the medical faculties
of Munich and Berlin presents the most
extraordinary and incurable of mono
manias cited up to to-day"
"a madmanl What are we to under
\ stand, Florian2" asked Cantal, pushing
!. tho slim bolt of the door. At this reve-
lation, the ladies' smiles had changed
/ began to think l was dreaming.
81 thought haG informed you that
n our gentleman was n millionaire hal
l. dozen times over" Florian replied
+ gravely. ''He is more likely TO pu
g others under lock and key than to be 81
l. treated"
st "And what is his mania3" asl5eS
G Susannah. 81 give you warning that
a find him fascinating"
'e Perhaps youu change your views o
r him in moment or two" continued
the doctor, lighting cigarette. Il
g. seems that the taciturn youth EN-
t barl1ed in his teens for the East Indies
s. he travelled for several years in Asia
ic Here begins the dense mystery that con
ceals the origin of his malady. DJrin
at certain revolts IN the far east he wit
IL nessed-attracted, no doubt, at first b.
a mere travellers curiosity-the crus
n fortunes that oriental laws infiict upo
re rebels and criminals. But it seems tina
L soon the instincts of cruelty that goe
Mt beyond belief awoIe in him, trouble
to his brain, poisoned his blood, and finall
made him the singular being that he hs
I'D become.
IS by one of the clauses of his father
viii, the family is forced to avoid III
IT, baron's civil death, unless they wish
al suffer serious pecuniary losses, So h
is at large. He is on the best Of tern
wv with the gentlemen of capital iustic
les The first visit he pays in every town
to them He has often offered the
ID, large sums for the privilege OF opera
to ing In their stead, and between GU
by selves, should not wonder If even
Europe he has bribed one or two. Or
ose can say that his madness is inoffensiv
M since 1t wreaks itself only on persoi
I'D. condemned by the law. So this is Il
es- gentleman with whom you have had Il
honor of spending the night. Let n
Tou add that when out of his dementia
II" is an irreproachable man of the world
the a fascinating, playful eonversatfo
wv alist."
The silence that followed the doctor
sed words was as solemn as If death h
:, slipped his grinning skull between I
.af- tapers-
ave II feel rather indisposed." said C.
the Fair, in a voice broken by nervol
car ness and the chill dawn. Don't lea
me alone"
-sa- "a strange night" said Susannah
for Joseph" said Antonio. take Il
nge ring; the ruby is too dark for me, is
lem 1t, Suzanne? The brilHants look
and though they were weeping around
drop OF blood. Have it sold to-day q
, ~, give whatever IL hrinps IN the beoo-