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

him better manners"
Prosper was surprised at the look Of
merciess rage on his friends face as
he calmly washed and dressed his arm.
"Now, Prosper, we will talk. Our
enemies are warned, and we must
crush them with the rapidity Of light
ming"
M. verduret expressed himself In a
uuick imperious tone, which Prosper
did not understand.
81 have made a mistake. I have been
on the wrong track. 1t Is an accident
liable to happen to any man. no mat
ter how intelligent he may be. / have
taken the effect for the cause. The
day I was convinced that culpable re-
lations existed between Raoul and
Nine. Tauvel l thought I held the end
bf the thread that must lead us to the
truth. l should have been more doubt
full. 1t was too simple, too natural"
do you suppose Nine. Fauvel to be
lnnocent?"
Certainly not, but her guilt is not
such as I supposed. I imagined that,
infatuated with seductive adventur-
er, Nine. Fauvel had first bestowed
upon him the name of one Of her rela-
tives and then introduced him as her
nephew. This was an adroit strata
gem to gain him admission to her hus
bands house. She began by giving
him all the money she could dispose of,
later her Jewels, which he pawned
Finally, having nothing more to give,
she allowed him to steal the money
from her husbands safe. That is
what thought"
"And in this way everything was ex-
pained?"
mo, this did not explain everything,
rs l well knew at the time. How Is
Clameran's position to be accounted
for under my first theory"
"Clameran is Layers accomplish"
"Ah, there is the mistake! for a
long time believed Layers to be the
principal person when, in fact, he is
nothing. Yesterday in dispute be-
tween them the forgemaster said to
his friend, And, above all things, my
friend, would advise you not to resist
me, for IL you do I will crush you
That explains all. The elegant La
Eors is not the lover of Nine. Fauvel,
but the tool Of Clameran. Besides, did
our first suppositions account for the
resigned obedience OF Madeleine? II
Is Clameran, and not Layers, whom
Madeleine obeys."
Prosper began to demonstrate.
M. Verduret shrugged his shoulders
To convince Prosper he had only tc
utter one word. He had simply to say
that three hours ago Clameran had an
Dounced his coming marriage with
Madeleine. But he did not.
"Clameran," he continued-"Clame
ran alone has Nine. Fauvel in his pow
err Now the question is what terrible
secret is the basis of his mysterious
power? / have positive proof thai
they have not met since their early
youth until fifteen months ago, ant
Nine Fauvel's reputation has always
been above the reach Of SANDER
Therefore we shall not know all til
we know Clamerans past All. to
night when I mentioned his brothe
Gaston's name he turned as white Al
IL he had seen a ghost. And then l re
membered that CASTOR died suddenl.
while his brother Louis was making
him n visit"
do you think he was murdered?"
81 think the men who tried to assas
sinate me would do anything. TIL
robbery. my friend, has now become
secondary detail. 1t is easily explain
ed, and If that We're all to be account
ed for would say to you MY task
finished. Let us go ask the judge o
instruction for warrant of arrest
Prosper started up with swellin
breast and sparkling eyes.
"Oh, you know-is it possibe?"
Eyes, know who gave the key, an
! know who told the secret word"
1.-The key might have been NJ. Far
wells. But the word'-
1.-THE word you gave. You have fol
gotten, suppose. But Gypsy remen
bered. You know that two days b'
fore the robbery you took Layers an
two other friends to sup with Mm'
Gypsy. Nina was sad and saproache
you for not being more devoted
her"
"But do you remember what you r
piled to herT
Prosper thought moment.
mo"
"Well, you said to Nina, you al
unjust in reproaching me with NJ
thinking constantly of you, for at tn
very moment your dear name guarC
spv ch{af'a fot -
The truth suddenly burst upon Pro
per.
Eyes. oh, yes. remember now"
cried.
Then you can easily understand Il
rest. One Of the scoundrels went
Nine. Fauvel and compelled her
give up her husbands key. At We
ture he placed the movable buttons
the name of Gypsy and stole the 80
900 francs. And Nine. Fauyel mt
have yielded to the most territ
threats The day after the robbie
the poor woman was near dying, a
it was she who, at the risk of bel
involved, sent you the 10000 francs
But which was the thief, Raoul
Clameran? What enables them
thus tyrannize over Nine. Fauv'
And how does Madeleine come to
mixed up in the AFFAIR.""