The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-07-03


t9zsseg) st. Michel. A person who
paid her fortnight's board in advance
was treated with consideration. at this
hotel. Nine. Alexandra, who had been
a pretty woman, was now stout, tight
~ laced, always overdressed and fond
of wearing a number of fashy gold
chains, falling in cascades over her fat
bosom. She had bright eyes and white
teeth, but, alas, red nose. Of all her
weaknesses heaven knows she
had INDUCED in every variety-only
one remained; she loved a good dinner,
with plenty Of wine. She loved her
husband, and about the time M. Patri-
gent was leaving the hospital she be-
gan to be worried that her little man"
had not returned to dinner. She was
about to sit down without him when
the hotel boy cried out:
Here is monsieur!'
"Why, how late you are, my little
man!' she cried as she dropped her
knife and fork and rushed forward to
embrace him.
But he received her caresses with an
air Of abstraction.
"I'm tired" he said. IT have been
the whole day playing billiards with
Evariste, NJ. Fauvel's valet, and al
lowed him to win as often as he wish
ed. 1 became acquainted with him
yesterday, and now l am his best
friend. If wish to enter NJ. FauvePs
service as messenger, can rely upon
M. Evariste's good word.''
'What you be an Office messenger?
YouY'
"Of course 1 would. How else am
to get into M. Fauvel's house for the
purpose of studying my characters?'
"Then the valet gave you no news?"
Nothing that I could make use of,
and yet turned him inside out like a.
glove. This banker is a remarkable
man. Evariste says he has not a sin
gle vice, not even a little defect by
which his valet could gain 10 sous.
He neither smokes, drinks nor plays
in fact, he is a saint. He is worth mil
lions and lives as respectfully and
quietly as a grocer. He is devoted to
his wife, adores his children, is very
hospitable, but seldom goes into soci-
ety.
'Then his wife is young?"
'She must be about fifty"
Nine. Alexandra reflected a moment.
did you inquire about the other
members Of the family?'
certainly. The younger son is an
officer in the army. The elder son,
Lucien, lives with his parents and is
as proper as a young lady,"
"And this niece Of whom you have
spoken?"
"Evariste could tell me nothing
about her."
Nine. Alexandra shrugged her Shout
Gers.
IF you have discovered nothing, it
is because there is nothing to be dis
covered. Still do you know what I
would do if were in your placer"
"What?"
II would consult NJ. Lecoq."
At the mention Of this name Fanfer-
lot jumped up as if he had been shot.
"That's pretty advice! Do you want
me to lose my place? M. Lecoq does
not suspect that have anything to do
with the case except to obey his or
ders."
"Who told you to let him know you
were investigating it on your own &C.
count? You can consult him with an
air of Indifference, as if you were not
at all interested, and after you have
got his opinion you can take advantage
of it,
The detective weighed his wife's
words
perhaps you are right" he said.
Yet NJ. Lecoq is so devilishly shrewd
that he might see through it ALL"
"Shrewd!' echoed Nine. Alexandra
"Shrewd! All of you at the police Of
tee say that so often that you have
made his reputation"
"Well. l will think the matter over.
But in the meantime what does the lit
tie one say?'
The little one" was Nine. Nina Gip-
sy.
In taking up her abode at the Arch
angel the poor girl thought she was
following good advice, and, as Fanfer-
lot had not shown himself, she was
still under the impression that she had
obeyed a friend of Prosper. When
she received her summons from M.
Patr1gent, she admired the wonderful
skill Of the police in discovering her
hiding place, for she had established
herself at the hotel under a false or.
rather, her true name, Palmyre Choca-
reille. Artfully questioned by her in
quisitive landlady, she had without
any mistrust confded her history to
her. Thus Fanferlot was able to pose
before the Judge as skillful detective
when he pretended to have discovered
all this information from a variety of
sources.
''The little one is still up stairs" an
swered Nine. Alexandra. "she sus-
poets nothing. But to keep her in her
present ignorance becomes daily more
difficult. don't know what the Judge
told her, but she came home very an
cry. She wanted to 20 and make