The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1902-12-10

less and Mt 10 O'clock ut night set forth
to take a walk. He had a headache
and thought the air would do him
good.
Nine. Alexandra, who seemed to
have some knowledge of NJ. Vcrduret's
affairs, begged Prosper to remain at
homo.
What al l risk by taking n walk
at this time in n quiet part OF the
cityf" lie asked. "Ican certainly stroll
as far as the botanical gardens with.
out meeting any one"
Unfortunately lie did not strictly fol.
low this programme, for, having reach
ed the Orleans railway station, he
went into Il cafe near by and called
for n glass OF beer.
He picked up Il daily paper, The
Sun, and under the head of Fashion.
able Gossip" signed Jacques Durand,
read the following:
at is announced that the niece of
one of Il most prominent bankers, NJ.
Andre Fnuvcl. will lie shortly mar
ried to NJ. lie Marquis Louis de Clumc.
ram"
This news, coming upon him so I'M
expectedly, proved TO Prosper the just
ness of NJ. Nerdurct's calculations.
Alas! Why did not this certainty in
spire him with absolute faith? Why
did 1t no give him courage to wait, to
do nothing? Frcnzicd by distress of
mind, he already saw Madeleine indis.
solubly united to this villain and,
thinking that NJ. Verdurct would per-
haps arrive too late to prevent 1t. de-
termined at all risks to throw an OBJ
stacle in the way of the marriage. He
called for pen and paper, and, forget
ting that no situation can excuse the
mean cowardice of an anonymous let
ter, Disgusting his hand, he wrote to
M. Fauvel:
Dear Sir-You consigned your cashier to prison.
You did well, since you were convinced OF his
dishonesty and faithlcssnesS. But even IL he stole
100000 francs from your safe, does 1t follow that
he also stole Nine. Fauvcl's diamonds and pawncd
them at the Mont.de.P icte, where they now arc?
Warned as you are, in your place, l would not
be the subject Of public scandal. I would watch
my wife and would be distrustful OF handsome
cousins. Moreover, / would before signing the
marriage contract OF Mile. Madeleine, request the
prefecture Of police to give me some information
concerning the noble Marquis de Clameran.
A FRIEND.
Prosper fastened off to post his let
ter. Fearing that 1t would not reach
M. Fauvel in time, be walked up to
Cardinal Lemoine street and put it
in the main postofice, so as to be GER
tain Of its speedy delivery.
Until then he had not doubted the
propriety Of his action. But now he
had dropped the letter, when he heard
1t fall into the box n thousand scruplcs
came to him. Was 1t not wrong to act
thus hurriedly" Would not this letter
Interfere VII . Ncrduret's plans?
Upon reaching lie hotel his doubts
were changed into bitter regrets. Jo-
seph Dubois was waiting for him. He
had received n dispatch from his pa
iron saying that his business was fin
ished and that he would return the next
evening at o o'clock by the Lyons
route. Prosper was in despair. He
would have given the world to recover
the anonymous letter. And he had
cause for regret.
At that cry hour NJ. Verduret was
taking the train at Tarascon, mcditat-
Ing upon the most advantageous plan
to be adopted in pursuance of his dis
%coveries, for he had discovered every
thing. Adding to what he already knew
the story OF an old nurse of Mile. dc In
Verberie, the affidavit of an old servant
who had always lived in the Clameran
family and the dispositions of the Yesi-
net husband and wife, who attended NJ.
Layers at his country housc-deposi-
tons sent him by Dubois Nanferlot)-
with n good deal OF information oh.
tanned from the prefecture of police,
he had worked up n complete case.
AS he had predicted, he had been COM
pelled to search into the distant past
for the causes of the crime Of which
Prosper had been the victim.