Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-04-05
CHAPTER XIII.

CHAPTER XIII.
~ tUCH are the facts that. with
IS an almost Incredible talent
ISTEN5 for investigation. had been
(S9 collected and prepared by the
fat man with the jovial face who had
taken Prosper under his protection, NJ.
Verduret.
Reaching Paris at 9 o'clock in the
evening. not by the Lyons route. as he
had said, but by the Orleans train. NJ.
Verduret hurried to the Archangel.
where he found Prosper impatiently
expecting him.
"You are about to hear some rich de-
velopments. he said to Prosper. land
see how far back into the past one has
to seek for the primary cause Of a
crime. All things are linked together
in this world of ours. If CASTOR de
Clameran had not taken cup Of cof-
fee in little cafe at Tarascon twenty
years ago. your money safe would not
have been robbed three weeks ago.
valentine de la Verberie Is punished
In 1866 for the murder committed for
love Of her in 1910. Nothing is neg
lected or forgotten. Listen"
And he related all that he had dis
covered. referring to a voluminous
manuscript which be had prepared,
with many notes and authenticated
proofs attached.
81 wonder how you discovered all
these infamies." said Prosper when be
had finished.
The fat man smiled. when under
take a task" he said, 81 devote my
whole attention to 1t. Now make
note Of this: When man Of ordinary
intelligence concentrates his thoughts
and energies upon the attainment Of
an object. he Is certain to attain that
object. Besides that. have my own
method of working up case. To be
sure. one needs some light to guide one
In q dark affair like this. but the fire
In Clameran's eye when l pronounced
the name Of CASTOR ignited rny lantern.
From that moment | walked straight
to the solution Of the mystery as to
beacon light"
Prosper's look showed that he would
like 10 know the secret of his protect.
or's penetration and ut the same time
be more thoroughly convinced that
what he heard was all true-that his
innocence would he more clearly prov
ed.
Now, confess" cried NJ Verduret.
you would give anything In the world
to find out how ! arrived ut the TRUTH
IL admit It. for it is marvellous"
Nj. verduret enjoyed PrOSper's bewil.
derment. TO be sure. he was neither a
good judge nor distinguished anna.
teur; but admiration is always tatter.
ing, no matter whence it comes.
"Well," he replied. Il will explain my
system. There is nothing marvellous
about it. We worked together to find
the solution of the problem. You know
my reasons for suspectlng Clameran
had hand In the robbery. AS soon as
/ had acquired this certainty my task
was easy. What did do? placed
trustworthy people to watch the par
ties in whom was most interested
Fanferlot as Joseph Dubois took
charge of Clameran. and Nina Gipsy
never lost sight Of Nine. Fauvel and
her niece.
81 understand It all now," said Pros
Pc.
"And what have you been doing dur.
ing my absence. my young friendT'
asked NJ. Verduret after pause.
At this question Prosper blusbed
. "Alas." be stammered. II read In a
newspaper that Clameran was about to
marry Madeleine. and | acted like a
foolr'
What did you do?" inquired Verdu
ret uneasily.
81 wrote an anonymous letter to NJ
Fauvel Informing him that his wife
was In love with Raoul'-
NJ. verduret brought his clinched fist
down upon the table.
"Stupidr' he exclaimed. "You have
ruined everything"
He arose from his seat and strobe up
and down the room. oblivious Of tho
dodgers below, whose windows shook
with every angry stamp of his foot.
Prosper remained silent as long as
he could and then uneasily said:
81 am afraid have embarrassed
you very much. monsieur"
"Yes. you have dreadfully embar
rassed me- What am to do? Shall I
hasten matters or wait? And | am
bound by q sacred promise. We had
better 60 and advise with the judge Of
instruction. He can assist ME. Come
with me"
AS NJ. Verduret had anticipated. Pros
per's letter had q terrible effect. When
NJ. Fauvel opened his mail the morning
after It was posted. the fatal missive
fell into his hands.
Something about the writing struck
him as peculiar. 1t was evidently q
disguised hand. and. although, owing
to the fact Of his being millionaire.
he was in the habit of receiving anony'
nous communications. this particular
letter filled him with an indefinite pre-
sentiment OF evil.
With trembling hand and absolute
certainty that he was about to learn
-..., bo hroEQ fhp Spol