The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-07-31
CHAPTER XI-Contiuued

CHAPTER XI-Continued
And he had the good sense to follow
the recommendations Of his mentor.
During NJ. Verduret's absence he re-
NAMED shut up in the Archangel, not
even appearing at the windows
On the ninth day of his voluntary
seclusion Prosper began to feel rest
less and at 10 o'clock at 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. Verdurets
affairs, begged Prosper to remain at
home
What can l risk by taking a walk
at this time in a quiet part of the
city," he asked. II can certainly stroll
as far as the botanical gardens with
out meeting any one"
Unfortunately he did not strictly fol-
low this programme, for, having rea CHI
ed the Orleans railway station, he
went into a cafe near by and called
for glass of beer.
He picked up daily paper, The
Sun, and under the head of Fashion
able Gossip" signed jacques Durand,
read the following: q
1T is announced that the niece of
one of our most prominent bankers, NJ.
Andre Fauvel, will be shortly mar
rled to NJ. lie Marquis Louis de Clame-
ran"
This news, coming upon him so un-
expectedly, proved to Prosper the just
ness Of NJ. Verduret's calculations
Alas! Why did not this certainty in
splre him with absolute faith? Why
did it not give him courage to wait, to
do nothing? Frenzied by distress Of
mind, he already saw Madeleine indis-
solubly united to this villain and,
thinking that M. Verduret would per-
haps arrive too late to prevent it, de-
termlned 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
NJ. Fauvel:
Dear Sir-You consigned your cashier to prison.
You did we'll. since you were convinced of his
dishonesty and faithlessness But even if he stole
$4,000 francs from your safe, does it follow that
he also stole A1me FauvePs diamonds and pawned
them at the Montde-Piete, where they now are?
Warned as you are, in your place, I would not
be the subject of public scandal. l would watch
my wife and would be distrustful of handsome
cousins. Moreover, I would before. signing the
marriage contract of Nile. 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 it would not reach
NJ. Fauvel in time, he walked up to
Cardinal Lemoine street and put it
In the main postoffce, 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 thousand scruples
came to him. Was it not wrong to act
thus hurriedly? Would not this letter
Interfere with M. Verdurets plans?
Upon reaching the hotel his doubts
were changed into bitter regrets. Jo-
seph Dubois was waiting for him. He
had received a dispatch from his pa
tron saying that his business was fin
ished and that he would return the next
evening at 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 very hour NJ. Verduret was
taking the train at Tarascon, meditat-
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. de II
Verberie, the affidavit of an old servant
who had always lived in the Clameran
family and the dispositions of the Vesi
net husband and wife, who attended NJ.
Layers at his country house-deposi-
tons sent him by Dubois (Fanferlot)-
with good deal of information OBJ
tanned from the prefecture of police.
he had worked up a complete case,
AS he had predicted, he had been CON-
PEELED to search into the distant past
for the causes of the crime of which
Prosper had been the victim.