The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-06
MUNYON

and had a son, Lady Clyde would not be
the next heir TO the property. I'll tell
you what he is. He's a maudlin. twad-
ding, selfish fool. and bores everybody
who comes near him about the state of
hfs heath''
Men of that sort. Percival, I've long.
and marry malevolently when you least
expect IT, ! don't give you much. my
friend for your change of three thousand
a year. Is there nothing mo.'e that comes
TO you from your wlfe?"
Nothing"
Absolutely nothing?'
Absolutely nothing-except In case of
her death"
"Ahal I'm the case of her death"
There was another pause. The count
moved from the veranda TO the gravel
walk outside. | knew that he had moved
by his voice THE rain has come at last"
| heard him say. 1t had come. The state
of my cloak showed that II had been
falling thickly for some little time.
The count went back under the We
randa--I heard the chair creak beneath
his weight as he sat down in IL again.
"Well, Percival," he said; "and in case
of Lady Glyde's death. what do you get
then?"
III she leaves no children
(Which she is likely To dor
which she is not in the least likely
to do"
"Yes?"
why, then I get her twenty thousand
pounds"
paid DOWN."
Paid down.
They were silent once more. As their
voices ceased. Nine Foscos shadow dark
ened the blind again. Instead OF passing
this time. IL remained. for a moment,
quite still. i saw her fingers steal round
the corner OF the blind, and draw IT
on one side. The dim white outline OF
her face looking out straight over
me. appeared behind the window.
kept stil. shrouded from head to foot
I'm my black cloak. The rain. which was
fast wetting me. dripped over the glass.
blurred II. and prevented her from see
ing anything. More rain." / heard her
say 10 herself. She dropped the blind
and ! breathed again freely.
The talk went on below me, the Count
resuming II this time
"Percivaldo you care about your wife?"
"Fosco, that's rather a downright ques-
ton"
II am a downright man. and l repeat
it"
why the devil do you look at me in
that way?'
You won't answer me? Well, then.
let us say your wife dies before the sum-
mer is out"
Drop IT, Fosco.'
Let us say your wife dies"
Drop Il, l tell you
I'm that case. you would gain twenty
thousand pounds. and you would lose
II should lose the chance OF three thou
sand a year"
THE remote chance. Percival--the re-
mote chance only. And you want money
at once. In your position the gain II
certain-the loss doubtful"
Speak for yourself as well as for me-
Some of the money | want has been bor-
rowed for you. And II you come to gain.
my wife's death would be ten thousand
pounds In your wife's pocket. Sharp as
you are. YOU seem TO have conveniently
forgotten Madame Fosco's legacy. Don't
look al me In that way | won't have IL!
What with your looks and your questions,
upon my soul. YOU make my flesh creep."
"Your flesh? Does flesh mean con-
science in English? I speak of your
wife's death as | speak Of possibility.
Why not? The respectable lawyers who
scrihble- scrabble your deeds and your
wills look at the deaths Of living people
in the face. DO lawyers make your flesh
creep? Why should II II Is my business
tonight 10 clear up your position beyond
the possibility OF mistake-and I have now
done it. Here is your position. II your
wife lives. you pay those bills with her
signature 60 the parchment IL your wife
dies. you pay them with her death"
As he spoke. the light IN Nine. Fosco's
room was extnguished and the whole
second floor of the house was now sunk
I'm darkness.
Talk talk" grumbled Sir Percival
zone would think. TO hear YOU. that my
wifes signature to the deed was got al
ready"
You have left the matter In my hands. q"
retorted the Count, "and have more than
two months before me to turn round in
Say no moro about it. u YOU please. for
the present. When the bills are due
YOU viii see for yourself " my talk, talk"
Is worth something. or N Il Is not. And
now. Percivai having done with the
money matters FOR tonight. I can place my
attention nj your disposal II YOU wish
90 consult me ON that second difnculty
which has mixed itself up with our little
embarrassment. and which has so altered
YOU for the worse that I hardly know
you again. Speak. my friend d-and pardon
me ~ shock your fiery national tastes
by mixing myself a second glass Of sugar
and water
(To BE Continued.)