The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-08-07
THE WOMAN IN WHITE
lContinuedl

by the change In the Counts face, 80
astounded at the entirely unexpected
turn which events had taken. that I
knew neither what to say or do next
Pesca reused me by stepping back to his
former place at my side. and speaking
nrst.
How tnat fat man stareev' he ex-
claimed. "Is II at me? Am 4 famous7
How can he know me, when don't know
him."
kept my eye stll on the Count
saw him move for the first time when
Pesca moved, so as not to lose sight OF
the little man. In the lower position In
which he now stood. 1 was curious 10
see what would happen II Pesca's atten-
ton. under these circumstances. was
withdrawn from him: and i accordingly
asked the Professor II he recognized any
OF his pupils that evening among the
ladies in the boxes. Pesca Immediately
raised the large opera glass TO eyes. and
moved II slowly all round the upper part
of the theater, searching for his pupils
with the most conscientious scrutiny.
The moment he showed himself 10 be
thus engaged, the Count turned round
slipped past the persons who occupied
seats on the further side OF him from
where he stood. and disappeared in the
pit. caught Pesca by the arm; and.
TO his inexpressible astonishment. hur-
ried him round with me 10 the back OF
the pit, to intercept the Count before he
could get TO the door. Somewhat TO my
surprise. the slim man FASTENED out be-
fore us. avoiding a stoppage caused by
some people on our side OF the pit leav-
ing their places. by which Pesca and
myself were delayed. when We reach
ed the lobby the Count had sappeared.
and the foreigner with the scar was gone
too.
Pesca. TO your lodgings. l must speak
20 you in private-I must speak directly"
MY soul bless my soull' cried the
Professor. In state OF the EXTREMIST
bew.. -erment What on earth Is the
matter?"
wa...ed on rapidly without answering.
The circumstances under which the
Count had left the theater suggested TO
me that his extra aordinary anxiety TO es-
cape Pesca might carry him TO further
extremities still He might escape me.
too. by leaving London. l doubted the
future, II l allowed him so much as
days freedom TO act as he pleased. And
4 doubted that foreign stranger who had
got the start OF us. and whom suspect
ed OF Intentionally following him out.
With this double distrwst In my mind.
Il was not long in making Pesca under
stand what I wanted. AS soon we
two were alone in his room. increased
his confusion and amazement a hundred
fold by telling him what my purpose
was, as plainly and unreservedly as I
have acknowledged II here.
.! My friend. what can dor cried the
Professor. piteously appealing TO me
with both hands. Deuce what-the-
deuce how can help you, Walter. when
i don't know the MANI"
He knows you-he Is afraid OF you
ne has left the theater to escape you.
Pesca. there must be some reason for
this. Look back into your own life be-
fore you came TO England. You left
Italy. as you have told me yourself, for
political reasons. You have never men
toned those reasons TO me; and / don't
inquire into them now. l only ask you
to consult your own recollections, and TO
cay II they suggest no pass cause for the
terror which the hrst sight OF you pro-
duced In that man"
To my unutterable surprise. these
words harmless as they appeared to me.
produced the same astounding effect on
Pesca which the sight OF Pesca had pro-
duced on the Count. The rosy face OF
my little friend whitened in instant;
and he drew back from me slowly tremo-
ling from head to foot.
walter" he said You don't know
what you ask.
He spoke In a whisper-he looked at
me as II l had suddenly revealed to him
some hidden dangF to both OF us. In
less than one m.nthe OF time. he was so
altered from the easy. lively, quaint lit
tie man OF my past experience, that if
I had met him in the street, changed as
I saw him now, | should most certainly
not have known him again.
Forgive me. IL | have unintenuany
pained and shocked you.' / replied.
.''Remember the cruel wrong my wife
,nt nd
Remember that the wrong can never be
redressed, unless the means are in my
mower OF forcing him 10 do her Justice.
I spoke In her interests. Pesca-1 ask
YOU again 10 forgive mel can say no
more"
I reached the door
Wait" he said. You have shaken me
from head 20 foot You don't know how
I left my country. and why left my
country. Let me compose myself-iet me
think. II can
I returned to my chair. He walked up
and down the room, talking 10 himself in
coherentlv in his own language. After
several turns backward and forward, he
suddenly came up TO me, and laid his 1T
tie hands with strange tenderness ana
solemnity on my breast.
ION your heart and soul. Walter" he t.
said. he said. '1s there no other way 10
through me7"
There is no other way" answered
He left me again; opened the door OF
the room and looked out cautiously into
the passage: closed II once more. and
came back
You won your right over me. Walter"
ne said, ION the day when you saved my
life " was yours from that moment.
when you pleased to take II. Take N
now. Yes. mean what say. MY next
words a. true as the God is above us.
will put my life into your hands"
The trembling earnestness with which
he uttered this extraordinary warning
carried with N 10 my mind the conviction
that he spoke the truth
Mind this" he went on. shaking his
hands At me In the vehemence of his agi-
tation II hold no thread In my own
mind. between that man. Fosco. and the
past time which call back 10 me. for
your sake II you find the thread. keep u
.a4as~- -~g1N ma M