Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-03-06

6EASD Ecruteu. CluCe tue Idtal uuy
when, upon his denunciation, his CASH
Ter had been arrested the banker had
been a pr to the most gloomy mel
ancholy ai8 absolutely refused to take
any interest in business affairs. He
who had always been SO domestic did
not mingle with his family except at
meals, when he would swallow a few
mouthfuls and hastily leave the room.
Shut up in his study, he would see no
one.
The day Of P%rosper's release. about
3 O'clock. NJ. Fauvel was, as usual.
seated in his study, with his elbows
resting on the table and his face buried
in his hands, when his office boy rush
cd in with 4 frightened look.
Monsieur, the former cashier, NJ.
Bertomy. is here with a friend. He
says he must see you OF business"
The banker started.
"Prosper" he cried in q voice choked
by anger. "How does he dare
Then remembering that he ought to
control himself before his servant. he
waited q few moments and said in a
tone of forced calmness:
"Ask them to walk in"
If NJ. Nerduret had counted upon wit.
Messing a strange and affecting sight,
he was not disappointed. Nothing
could be more terrible than the atti-
tude of these two men as they stood
confronting each other. The bankers
face was almost purple with suppress
ed anger, as If about to be struck by
apoplexy. Prosper was pale and mo-
. tionless. They stood glaring at each
other. NJ. Verduret %curiously watched
them with the Indifference and cool
ness OF q philosopher who in the most
violent outbursts Of human passion
merely sees subjects for study. Final
ly. the silence becoming more and more
threatening, he decided to break it by
speaking to the banker.
II suppose, monsieur. you know that
my young friend has Just been releas-
ed from prison"
YES" replied 81. Fauvel. making an
effort to control himselt-"yes. for
want of sufficient proof"
"Precisely, monsieur, and this want
of proof. az stated in the decision Of
mot proved ruins his prospects and
compels him to leave here at once for
America"
At this information NJ. Fauvels fea-
lures relaxed as II relieved.
"Ah. he is going away" he said.
There was no installing the resent.
ful, almost insulting intonation OF the
words going away"
1T appears to me-" continued III.
verduret. that P~rosper's determine
ton is a wise one. l merely wished
him before leaving Paris to come and
pay his respects to his former chief"
The banker smiled bitterly.
M. Bertomy," he replied. "might
have spared us both this painful meet
ing. | have nothing to say to him, and
Of course lie can have nothing to say
to me-"
This was q formal dismissal, and NJ.
verduret. understanding it thus, bow
ed to II. Fauvel. accompanied by Pros
per, who had not spoken a word.
. When they reached the street, Pros
!, per recovered the use of his tongue.
I, 81 hope you are satisfied, monsieur
, he said in Il gloomy tone. You exact
ed this painful step. and l could onl.
2 hcquicsce. Have I gained anything b.
, adding this humiliation to the others!'
Il have" replied NJ. verduret. Z"
could find no way of gaining access t.
3 NJ. Fauvel save through you, and nov
: l have found out what | wanted +
know. | am convinced that NJ. Fauve
had nothing to do WITH the robbery"
ooh, monsieur objected Prosper
Innocence can be feigned."
: Certainly, but not to this extent
And this is not all. | wished to tin'
: out if NJ. Fauvel would be accessibl
t TO certain suspicious. Now l can sa,
Yes"
Prosper and his companion had STOP
ped to talk more at their ease near tn
- corner of LATTE street, in the middl
a of a large space which had lately bee
t cleared by pulling down an old house
NJ. Ncrdurct seemed to be anxious an
s was constantly looking around as if h
expected some one. He soon uttere
an exclamation Of satisfaction. a
the other end of the vacant space h
q saw Cayaillon, who was running bare
headed and so excited that he did nc
even stop TO shake hands with Prosper
hut said to NJ. Verduret:
o "They have gone, monsieur" H.
GLOW long since?'
n "About a quarter of an hour ago.
o "The deuce they did! Then we hav
@ not Il minute to lose"
}! lie handed Cavaillon the note he ha
written some hours before at Prosper
|. house.
n Here, send him this and then retur
u at once TO your desk. You might b
missed. 1t vas very imprudent in yo
o to come out without your hat"
Little CavaillOn ran of as quickly q
he had come. Prosper was stupehed.
a "What!' said he. "You know CT
vaillonT"
a $50 it seems" answered NJ. Nerdl
y ret, with n smile. But we have 1
time to talk. Make haste
IS NJ. Nerduret suddenly stopped befol
IT a door bearing the number 81. II
led the way up the steps and stoppe
o on the second floor before a door ov'
!, which was a large sign-"Dressma,
q en-" A handsome bellrope hung on II
wall, but NJ. Verduret did not touch
q He tapped with the ends Of his inge
in q peculiar way, and the door !