The Iola register., 1902-05-16
CASE lis
... BY.
Emile GAboriAu

too long"
Perhaps, my pretty boy, perhaps,
but my arm is still longer"
De Clameran FASTENED to end the
matter.
"It is impossible for one to seek an
explanation from a man who conceals
his identity under the guise OF a fool"
"You are at liberty, my lord doge. to
ask the master of the house who | am
If you dare"
you are" cried Clameran-"you
are''-
A warning look from Raoul checked
the forgemaster from using an cpl
thet which would have led to an affray
or at least a scandalous scene.
The clown stood with a sardonic
smile and after a moments silence
stared M. de Clameran steadily in the
face and said coolly:
II was the best friend, monsieur, of
your brother CASTOR. | was his ad-
wiser and the confdant of his last
uvishes."
These few words fell like clap of
thunder upon De Clameran. He turn
ed deadly pale and recoiled with his
hands stretched out before him, as If
shrinking from a specter. He tried to
answer, to protest. but the words froze
on his lips.
Come let us CO." said Lagors. who
retained his equanimity.
And he dragged Clameran away, sup
porting him. for he staggered like a
drunken man and clung 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 a bloodhound.
"What can this meanP he muttered.
"Why was he so frightened? What
terrible memory have | awakened?
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 chlmeras.
He is called chance"
His mind had wandered far from the
present scene when some one touched
him on the shoulder, recalling him. 1t
was the man in the Venetian cloak.
Are you satisfied, M. Verduret?" he
inquired.
Nd
no. because l have not completely
achieved the object | had in view
when asked you to be admitted here
tonight; yes. because these two rascals
behaved in Il manner which dispels all
doubt"
And yet you complain
81 do not complain, monsieur the
count. on the contrary, | bless chance
or. rather. Providence, which has just
revealed to me the existence of a Sc,
cret that | did not before even sus.
pect."
Five or six guests approached the
count. interrupting the speakers. lie
went off with them after giving the
clown q friendly nod. The latter in,
stantly threw aside his banner and
started through the crowd in pursuit
of Nine. Fauvel. She had left the gal
lery. He found her sitting on n sofi
in the large salon, engaged in an ami
mated conversation with Madeleine.
'Of course" muttered the clown
'4they are talking over the scene. Blu
what has become of Lagors and d,
Clameran"
He soon saw them -Tandering among
the groups scattered about the room
and eagerly asking questions.
"These honorable gentlemen are try
ing to find out who am. Keep it up
my friends. Ask everybody"
They soon gave 1t up. but were 81
preoccupied ana anxious to be alone IL
order to reflect and deliberate that
without waiting for supper they tool
leave of Nine. Fauvel and her niece
saying they were going. The clowl
saw them go up to the dressing room
take their cloaks, descend the CRANE
staircase and depart.
81 have nothing more to do here" h,
said.
And, completely covering his dres
with a domino, he started for home
He lit cigar and, walking up st. La
zare street, crossed the Notre Dame d.
Loretto and made for the Faubouri
Montmartre. Suddenly as he entered
olivier street man emerged from
place of concealment and rushed upol
him with raised arm. Fortunately tn
clown had catlike instinct, which Ell
abled him to protect himself agains
immediate danger and keep a sharl
watch about him. He had seen, or
rather, OWNED, the man crouching il
the dark shadow of a house and ha,
put himself on guard, spreading on
his arms. This movement certainl,
saved his life. Anger more than pail
made him cry out:
"Ah, you villainW