Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1902-04-11
IcoNT1NUED.l

lcoFT1NuHD.] :F4l
This news was so unexpected, SO
startling, that for a moment the clown
was discounted. But it was only for a
second, and, bowling with Difference,
he said, with covert irony: s'
Permit me to offer my congratula-
lions. monsieur. Besides being queen
Of the ball tonight, Mile. Madeleine
will have dowry of half million, l
hear"
Raoul de Layers had listened anx-
iously. watching the people near them,
to see If they overheard this converse
ton.
1--WE have had enough of this Cos
sip," he said in a disdainful tone. II
will only say one thing more. Master
Clown, and that is that your tongue is
too long,"
"Perhaps, my pretty boy, perhaps.
but my arm is still longer"
De Clameran fastened to end the
matter.
lit is impossible for one to seek an
e1pla nation from a man who conceals
his identity under the guise of fool"
"You are at liberty, my lord doge, to
ask the master of the house who I am
If you dare"
"You are" cried Clameran-"you
are''-
A warning look from Raoul checked
the forgemaster from using an cpl
tibet which would have led to an ARRAY
or at least scandalous scene.
The clown stood with sardonic
smile and after a moments silence
stared NJ. de >Clameran steadily in the
face and said coolly:
II was the best friend, monsieur, of
your brother CASTOR. l was his adj
wiser and the confidant Of his last
Wishes"
These few words fell like a clap Of
thunder upon De Clameran. He turn
ed deadly pale and recoiled with his
hands stretched out before him, as if
shrinking from specter. He tried to
answer. to protest. but the words froze
on his lips.
"Come, let us CO." said Layers, who
retained his equanimity.
And he dragged Clameran away, sup
porting him, for he staggered like a
drunken man and chung to the walls to
prevent falling.
"Oh. boz exclaimed the clown.
He himself was almost as much as.
tonished as the forgemaster and stood
stock still, watching the latter as he
slowly left the room. 1t was with no
decided object in view. that he had
ventured to use the last mysteriously
threatening words. but he had been in
spired to do so by his wonderful in
stinct. which with him was like the
scent of bloodhound.
what can this mean?" he muttered.
"Why was he so frightened? What
terrible memory have awakened? I
need not boast Of my penetration or
the subtlety of my plans. There is a
great master, who without any effort
in an instant destroys all my chimeras.
He is called chance"
His mind had wandered far from the
present scene when some one touched
him on the shoulder, recalling him. It
was the man in the Venetian cloak.
"Are you satisfied. NJ. Verduret? 2" he
inquired.
Eyes and no, monsieur the count
no, because have not completely
achieved the object l had in view
when asked you to be admitted here
tonight; yes. because these two rascals
behaved in a manner which dispels all
doubt"
"And yet you complaint
II do not complain, monsieur the
count. On the contrary. bless chance,
or. rather. Providence. which has just
revealed to me the existence Of q Sc
cret that did not before even sus-
pect" ~,
Five or six guests approached the
count, interrupting the speakers. He
went OF with them after giving tho
clown friendly nod. The latter in.
stantly threw aside his banner and
started through the crowd in pursuit
Of Nine. Fs9vel. She had LETT the gal
lery. He found her sitting on a sofa
In the large salon, engaged in an ami
mated conversation with Madeleine.
"Of course" muttered the clown,
they are talking over the scene. But
what has become Of Layers and De
ClameranT
He soon saw them wandering among
the groups scattered about the room
and eagerly asking questions.
"These honorable gentlemen are try.
ing to find out who I am. Keep it up
my friends. Ask everybody"
They soon gave it up. but were &C
preoccupiG and anxious to be alone in
order to reflect and deliberate that
without waiting for supper, they tool
leave Of Nine. Fauvel and her niece
saying they were going. The clow1
saw them go up to the dressing room
take their cloaks, descend the granG
staircase and depart. y,
II have nothing more to do here" hi
said.
And, completely covering his dress
with a domino, he started for home