Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-03-22
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| arOunQ len coop. SeehiHS I'LL Su'
trance. Despairingly he came back to
the place In front Of the house whence
he had the best view of the lighted
window.
"If I could only look in" be cried.
'1n there" pointing to the window. "is
the solution of the mystery. and we are
cut off from 1t by thirty or forty feet
Of these two stories. | must see, and l
will seew
Suddenly Prosper seemed to remem.
ber something.
There is ladder here" he cried.
"Why didn't you tell me-? Where Is
fl"
"At the end of the garden. under the
trees"
They ran to the spot, and in few
minutes the ladder was up against the
house. But to their chagrin they found
that there were six good feet between
the top Of the ladder and the lighted
window.
"We cannot reach it." exclaimed
Prosper.
1--WE must reach It" cried NJ. Verdu-
ret.
And he quickly placed himself a yard
off from the house and, seizlng the
ladder. cautiously raised 1t, resting the
bottom round on his shoulders. at the
same time holding the two uprights
| firmly and steadily with his hands
The obstacle was overcome.
Now mount" he said to his compan-
ion.
The situation was distressing for
Prosper, but he did not hesitate. BE
made a sudden spring and. seizing the
lower rounds. quickly climbed up the
ladder. which swayed and trembled
beneath his weight But his head had
scarcely passed above the lighted win.
dow when he uttered cry which was
drowned in the roaring tempest and
dropped like a log down on the wet
grass. crying:
"The villain! The villain?'
With wonderful promptness and Wig
or M. verduret laid the ladder on the
ground and ran toward Prosper, fear
ing he was dead or dangerously in
jured.
what did you see? Are you hurt"
he whispered.
But Prosper had already risen. Al
though he had had violent fall. be
was unhurt.
81 saw" he answered In q hoarse
| VOICE. saw Madeleine-do you un-
1erstand. Madeleine?-in that room
llone with Raoul."
M. verduret was confounded. Was
It possible that he. the infallible ex.
pert, had been mistaken In his deduc-
tions!
He we'll knew that NJ. de Lagors' Wis
| itor was a woman. but his own conJec-
lures and the note which Nine. Gfpsy
had sent to him at the tavern had fully
assured him that this woman was
Mme Fauvel.
"You must be mistaken" he said to
Prosper.
"No, monsieur: no. Never could l
mistake another for Madeleine. All,
you who heard what she said to me
yesterday, answer me. Was l to ex.
pect this infamous treachcry? You said
to ME then. She loves you. she loves
you"
NJ. Nerluret did not answer. He had
first been stupetlcd by his mistake and
was now racking his brain to discover
the cause Of it. which was soon dis
cerned by his penetrating mind.
''This is the secret discovered by
Nina" continued Prosper. Madeleine,
this pure and noble Madeleine, whom
believed to be as immaculate as an
angel. is alone with this thief who has
even stolen the name he bears, and l.
trusting fool that was. made him my
best friend. confided to him all my
hopes and fears. and he was her lover!
OF course they ridiculed my absurd de-
votion and stupid confidence!"
"How do we know" said NJ. Vcrdu-
ret, that Mile. Madeleine Is here on
her own account? Did we not come to
the conclusion that she was sacrificing
herself for the benefit Of some one?
That superior will which compelled her
to your dismissal may have brought
about this step tonight"
That which comedies with our secret
wishes Is always eagerly welcomed.
This supposition. apparently improba.
BILE, appealed to Prosper.
'"That might be the case" he said.
"Who knows"
81 would soon know" said NJ. Yer
duret, "if | could see them together In
that room"
Prosper thought moment.
"Will you promise me. monsieur, to
tell me the exact truth-all that you
see and hear. no matter how painful it
may be for me?'
II swear it. upon my word Of honor
Then, with strength Of which a
few minutes before he would not have
believed himself possessed. Prosper
raised the ladder and placed the last
round on his shoulder.
Mount" he said.
NJ. Verduret rapidly ascended the
ladder without even shaking 1t till his
head was on Il level with the window.
Prosper had seen but too we'll There
was Madeleine at this hour OF the
night alone with Raoul de Lagors.
She still wore her wraps She was
standing in the middle Of the room.
talking with great animation. Her at
titude. her look. her gestures. betrayed