Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1902-03-28
(coNT1NUED.1

With wonderful prOmptness and Wig.
or Nj. Verduret laid the ladder on the
ground and ran toward Prosper, fear
ing he was dead or dangerously in
jured.
what did you see? Are you hurtT'
he whispered.
But Prosper had already risen. Al
though he had had a violent fall, he
was unhurt.
II saw" he answered in a hoarse
voice-"I. saw Madeleine-do you un-
derstand, Madeleine?-in that room
alone with Raoul.''
NJ. Verduret was COMPOUNDED. Was
It possible that he, the infallible ex-
pert, had been mistaken in his deduc-
tons?
He we'll knew that M. de Layers Wis.,
itor was a woman, but his own conjec-
lures and the note which Nine. Gypsy
had sent to him at the tavern had fully
assured him that this woman was
Nine. Fauvel.
"You must be mistaken" he said to
Prosper.
mo, monsieur; no. Never could I
mistake &lother for Madeleine. Alb,
you who beard what she said to me
yesterday, answer me. Was I to ex-
pect this Infamous treachery? You said
to me then, She loves you, she loves
your"
M. Verduret did not answer. He had
first been stupeied by his mistake and
was now racking his brain to discover
the cause of it, which was soon dis
cerned by his penetrating mind.
''This is the secret discovered by
Nina" continued Prosper. Madeleine,
this pure and noble Madeleine, whom I
believed to be as immaculate as an
angel, is alone with this thief who has
even stolen the name he bears, and L,
trusting fool that was, made him my
best friend. l confded to him all M
hopes and fears. and he was her lover:
OF course they ridiculed my absurd de
votion and stupid confidence!'
"How do we know" said NJ. Verdu-
ret, that Mile. Madeleine is here on
her own account? Did we not come to
the conclusion that she was sacrificing
herself for the benefit of some one?
That superior will which compelled her
to your dismissal may have brought
about this step tonight
That which comedies with our secret
wishes is always eagerly welcomed.
This supposition, apparently improba-
bic, appealed to Prosper.
'That might be the case" he said.
"Who knowsY'
II would soon know" said NJ Ver-
duret, "if 1 could see them together in
that room."
Prosper thought moment.
"Will you promise me, monsieur, to
tell me the exact truth-all that you
see and hear, no matter how painful it
may be for me?'
II swear it, upon my word of honor"
Then, with strength of which a
few minutes before he would not have
believed himself possessed, Prosper
raised the ladder and placed the last
round on his shoulder.
Mount" he said.
NJ. Verduret rapidly assembled the
ladder without even shaking it till his
head was on level with the window
Prosper had seen but too we'll. There
was Madeleine at this hour of the
night alone with Raoul de Layers
She still wore her wraps. She was
standing in the middle Of the roolA,
talking with great animation. Her at
titude, her look, her gestures, betrayed
Indignant scOrn. RaOul was seated on
a chair by the fire, stirring up the
Goals with a pair of tongs. Every now
and then he would shrug his shoulders,
like man resigned to everything he
heard and had no answer except, Il
cannot help it,
NJ. Verduret would willingly have
given the diamond ring he wore on his
finger to be able to hear ten words of
what was said, but the roaring wind
completely drowned their voices, and
he dared not place his ear too close,
for fear Of being seen.
'They are evidently Quarreling," he
thought, "but it is not lovers quar-
REL"
Madeleine continued talking, and it
was by closely watching the face of
Layers, clearly revealed by the lamp
on the mantel, that NJ. Verduret hoped
to discover the meaning of the scene.
At times Layers would start and trem-
bic in spite of his apparent indiffer.
ence; then he would strike at the fire
with the tongs, doubtless giving vent
to his rage at some reproach uttered
Dy Madeleine. Finally Madeleine, clasp
ing her hands, knelt before him.. He
turned away his head and refused to
answer save in monosyllables. Sever
al times she turned to leave, but each
time returned, as if asking a favor and
unable to go till she had obtained it.
At last she seemed to have uttered
something decisive, for Raoul suddenly
rose and opened desk near the fire.
place, from which he took a bundle of
papers and handed them to her.
"H'mv' thought M. Verduret. "What
does it mean? Is it a compromising
correspondence which she wants to re-
claim?'