The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-04-18
CASE lis
eel Bly,.
Emile GAboriAu
CHAPTER X-Continued.

CHAPTER X-Continued.
M. Verduret rapidly ascended the
ladder without even shaking it till his
head was on level with the window.
Prosper had seen but too well. 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
indignant scorn. Raoul was seated on
chair by the fire. stirring up the
Goals with pair of tongs. Every now
and then he would shrug his shoulders,
like a man resigned to everything he
heard and had no answer except. ~
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.
"They are evidently quarreling." he
thought, "but it is not lovers quar-
rel"
Madeleine continued talking, and it
was by closely watching the face of
Lagors, clearly revealed by the lamp
on the mantel that NJ. Verduret hoped
to discover the meaning of the scene.
At times Lagors would start and trem-
In of n1i
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 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 Ell,
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.
Il 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 q few words to
Raoul, who took up the lamp as if to
light the way. There was nothing
more for M. 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. M. 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
GQt tho lon hn Oh
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
ironical gesture which implied, "As
you please" He followed her to the
gate, which he opened and closed after
her; then he hurried back to the house,
while Madeleine's carriage drove rap
idly away.
"Now, monsieur" said Prosper. "you
must tell me what you saw. Remem-
Der, you promised me the truth no
matter what it might be. Speak; can
bear it,"
"4ou will only have JOY to bear, my
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 a man like Lagors."
The drive back was silent and SEEM
ed interminably 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 your room about
this time tomorrow night. Perhaps
shall discover what l am seeking at
the Jandidiers' ball."
Prosper was dumb with astonish-
ment. What! WoulE NJ. Verduret
think of appearing at a ball given by
the wealthiest and most fashionable
bankers at the capital? This account
ed for his sending to the costumer.
"Then you are invited?" he asked.
The expressive eyes of NJ. Verduret
danced with amusement.
mot yet" he said, "but shall be-"
Oh, the inconsistency of the human
mind! Prosper was tormented by the
most serious preoccupations. He look
ed sadly around his chamber and as
he thought of NJ. Verduret's projected
Dlaa Surn nt tho hoH oyoloimod,