Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-03-13

nd thought the air would do him
God.
Nine. Alexandra, who seemed to
ave some knowledge of NJ. Verdurets
affairs, begged Prosper to remain at
home.
what can I risk by taking a walk
ut this time in quiet part or the
city," he asked. 81 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 reach
ed the Orleans railway station, he
went into a cafe near by and called
for glass Of beer.
He picked up a daily paper, The
Sun, and under the head of Fashion
able Gossip" signed Jacques Durand.
read the following;
| ut is announced that the niece OF
one of our most prominent bankers, NJ.
Andre Fauvel, will be shortly mar
ried to NJ. lie Marquis Louis de Clame-
ran"
This news, coming upon him so I'M
expectedly, proved to Prosper the just
ness of NJ. Verdurets calculations.
Alas! why did not this certainty in
spire 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 inds-
solubly united to this villain and,
thinking that NJ. Verduret would per-
haps arrive too late to prevent it, 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
NJ. Fauvel:
Dear sir-You consigned your cashier to prison
You did WE'LL since you convinced Of hi.
dishonesty and laithlessness. But IL he stole
100000 francs from your safe, does it follow that
he also stole Nine Fauvel's diamonds and pawncc
them at the Mont de-Piete, where they now are
Warned as you arc, in your place ! would moi
be the subject OF public scandal. l would watcf
my wife and would be distrustful Of handsome
cousins. Moreover, / would before signing tn,
marriage contract OF Nile Madeleine. request tn,
prefecture OF police TO give me some information
FRIEND.
Prosper FASTENED off to post his let
ter. Fearing that it would not reacl
NJ. Fauvel in time. he walked up tC
Cardinal Lemoine street and put i
III the main postofiice, 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 heart
, it fall into the box a thousand scruplc
came to him. Was it not wrong to ac
thus hurri Oily: Would not this letter
interfere with NJ. Nerdurct's plans
Upon reaching the hotel his doubt!
were changed into bitter regrets. 10
n seph Dubois was waiting FOR him. IL
, had received a dispatch from his pa
; iron saying that his business WAS fin
ished and that he would return the mex
, evening at . o'clock by the Lyon
route. Prosper was in despair. III
would have given the world to recovc
, the anonymous letter. And he ha,
cause for regret
At that very hour NJ. Verduret wa
!, taking the train at Tarascon, meditat
ing upon the most advantageous pla
= to be adopted in pursuance of his dis
:, coveries. for he had discovered ever!
q thing. Adding 10 what he already kne'
the story of an old nurse of Mile. de !
Nerbcrie the affidavit of an old soryaI
= who had always lived in the Clamcra
- family and the dispositions of the Yes
net husband and wife, who attended n
Layers Mt his country house-depOs
=, tons sent him by Dubois Uanfcrot
. with good deal of information Of
;, tanned from the prefecture Of polio,
=, he had worked up n complete cast
as he had predicted. he had been COZ
PEELED to search into the distant pas
= for the causes of the crime of whic
Prosper lid la"0 thp victim.
J. CrO BE CONTINUED)