The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-07-24
CHAPTER X-Continued

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?'
Il swear it, upon my word of honor. -
Then, with a 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.
M. Verduret rapidly assembled the
ladder without even shaking it till his
head was on level with the window.
Prosper had seen but too we'll. There
was Madeleine at this hour of the
night alone with Raoul de Layers.
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
indignant scorn. Raoul was seated on
a chair by the fire, stirring up the
Goals with pair of tongs. Every now
and then he would shrug his shoulders,
like man resigned to everything he
heard and had no answer except, II
cannot help it."
NJ. Verduret would willingly have
given the diamond ring he wore on his
finger to be able to hear ten words Of
what was said, but the roaring wind
completely drowned their voices, and
he dared not place his ear too close,
for fear Of being seen.
SIThou ~1,,o 1,o
thought, "but it is not lovers quar-
rel"
Madeleine continued talking, and it
was by closely watching the face of
Layers, clearly revealed by the lamp
on the mantel, that M. Verduret hoped
to discover the meaning of the scene.
At times Layers would start and trem-
BILE in spite Of his apparent indiffer-
ence; then he would strike at the fire
with the tongs, doubtless giving vent
to his rage at some reproach uttered
by Madeleine. Finally Madeleine, clasp
ing her hands, knelt before him. He
turned away his head and refused to
answer save in monosyllables. Sever
al times she turned to leave, but each
time returned, as if asking a favor and
unable to go till she had obtained it.
At last she seemed to have uttered
something decisive, for Raoul suddenly
rose and opened desk near the fire.
place, from which he took bundle of
papers and handed them to her.
"H'm!" thought NJ. Verduret "What
does it mean? Is it "a compromising
correspondence which she wants to re-
claim?''
Madeleine took the papers, but did
not appear satisfied. She again en-
treated him to give her something else.
Raoul refused, and then she threw the
papers on the table. The papers SEEM
ed to puzzle NJ. Verduret.
II certainly am not mistaken. Those
papers-red, green and yellow-are
pawnbrokers' tickets''
Madeleine turned them over, as if
looking for some particular ones. She
took three, which she put in her pock-
ct, pushing the others aside She was
evidently preparing to take her de-
parture, for she said a, few words to
Raoul, who took up the lamp as if to
light the way. There was nothing
more for NJ. Verduret to see. He care
fully descended the ladder muttering to
himself: "Pawnbrokers' tickets! What
Infamous mystery lies at the bottom
of all this?' The first thing he did was
to remove the ladder. Raoul, escort
ing Madeleine, might take it into his
head to look around the garden, and if
he did so the ladder might attract his
attention. NJ. Verduret and Prosper
hastily laid it On the ground then
concealed themselves among the trees.
whence they could watch at once the
front door and the outer gate
At the same time Madeleine and
Raoul appeared in the doorway. >Raoul
set the lamp on the bottom step and
offered his hand to the girl, but she
refused it with naughty contempt.
This did not seem to move or surprise
Raoul. He simply answered by an
lronical gesture which implied, Gas
you please" He followed her to the
gate, which he opened and closed after
her; then he hurried back to the house.
~" AAAAS AAooC4CA1O CARRIAGE urOVo RAD
idly away.
Nov, MONSIEUR said Prosper, "you
must tell me what you saw. Remem-
Der, you promised me the truth no
matter what it might be. Speak; I can
bear it."
"You will only have joy to bear, nv
friend. Within month you will bit
terly regret your suspicious of tonight.
You will blush to think that you ever
imagined Mile. Madeleine to be init
mate with man like Lagors.''
The drive back was silent and SEEM
ed Unfortunately long. Prosper tried
to draw his strange companion into
conversation, but as he received moth
Ing but monosyllables in reply he held
his peace for the rest of the Journey.
he was again beginning to feel irri-
tated at the absolute empire exercised
over him by this man.
On their arrival at the city Nj. Yer
duret said:
"YOu will see me at vour room ahon+