The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-06-08
(continued.)


ITS very well to say speak," replied
Sir Perciyal, in n far more quiet and
more polite tone than he had yet adopt
ed. but it's not so easy to Know how
to begin"
Shall help your" suggested the
count. shall / give this private diff
Guilty of yours a name? What IL call IT
Anne Catherick7"
Look here. Fosco, you and I have
known each other for a long time, and
IL you have helped me out OF one or two
scrapes before this. have done the best
could to help you In return, as far as
money would go. We have made as
many friendly sacrifices on both sides.
as men could. but we have had our Sc
crets from each other. OF course~haven' I
You have had a secret from me. Per-
cival. There is a skeleton in your cup
board here at Blackwater park that has
peseped nsnn out In h.,6 these last few days. at
Well. suppose II has; II II doesn't
about II. need your
do look curious about it?"
Yes, you do
$50. so! my face speaks the truth then?
What an immense foundation OF good
who arrives at my age, and whose face
has not yet lost the habit OF speaking
the truth Come. Clyde! let us be can.
yours has sought me; have not sought
IT.. Let us say / am curious-do you
ssk me. as your old friend. TO respect
your secret, and TO leave II, once for ALL
III your own keepingp"
Yes-thats just what I do ask"
Then my curiosity is at an end. 1t
Sizes In me, from this moment"
do you really mean that?"
what makes you doubt me?''
II have Ind some experience. Fosco. of
your roundabout ways, and am not so
sure that you won't worm II out OF me
The chair below suddenly creaked again
i felt the trellis work pillar under me
had started to p his feet e.o, and had d struck truck
II with his hand. In Indignation.
'"Percival! Percival." he cried passion
atteiy ,tyy "do you know me no better thar, than
you nothing OF my character yet? am
a man OF the antique type! am ca
2sble OF the most exalted acts Of virtue
when l have the chance OF performing
them. 1t has been the misfortune of my
hfe that I have had few chances My
conception OF friendship Is sublime, Is II
my fault that your skeleton has peeped
out at me? Why do confess my Gu
riosity7 You poor. superficial Englshman
II is TO magnify my own selg- control?
1 could draw your secret out of you. II
I liked. as / draw this finger out OF the
palm OF my hand-you know l could,
But you have appealed TO my frienship.
and the duties OF friendship are sacred to
me. See l trample my base curiosity
under my feet. My exalted sentiments
lift me above H. Recognize them, Per-
cival! initiate them. Perctval! Shake hands
II forgive you"
His voice faltered over the last words
faltered as II he was actually shedding
tears.
Sir Percival .confusedly attempted to ex-
cuse himself But the Count was too
magnanimous 10 listen 10 him.
NO" he said. When my friend has
wounded me, can pardon him without
apologies Tell me. in plain words. dc
you want my help7'
Yes. badly enough"
"And you ask for 1t without compro-
missing yourself7"
II can try. at any rate
Try then
"well. this is how It stands told you
to-day that / had done my best to find
Anne Catherick. and failed?"
Yes you did"
"Fosco / am lost man II don't find
her"
"Ha. Is IL so serious as that?''
A little stream OF light travelled out un-
der the veranda, and fell over the gravel
walk The Count had taken the lamp
from the inner part of the room. to see
his friend clearly by the light Of II.
Yes" he said. Your face speaks the
truth this time. Seriuos indeed-as Sc
rious as the money matters themselves.
More serious. AS true as sit here.
more serious." The light disappeared
again. and the talk went on.
II showed you the letter to my wife
that Anne Catherick hid in the sand"
Sir Percival continued There's no
boasting In that letter, Fosco-she does
know the secret"
Say as little as possible. Percival. In
my presence. OF the secret Does che
know 1t from your
mo: from her mother"
Two women In possession OF your
private mind--bad, bad. bad. my friend!
One question here. before We go any
further. The motive OF your shutting
up the daughter In the asylum is now
plain enough 10 me-but the manner Of
her escape Is not 80 clear. Do you sus-
pect the people in charge OF her OF clos
ing their eyes purposely. at the instance
Of some enemy who could afford TO make
II worth their whie?"
mo; she was the best behaved patient
they had-and like fools. they truster
her. She's just mad enough to be shut
up. and just sane enough to ruin me
when she's at large-if you understand
that?"
II do understand IT, Now, Percival
come at once 10 the point: and then
shall know what to do. Where is the
danger of your position at the present
moment?"
Anne Catherick IL In this neighbor-
hood, and IN communication with Lady
Glyde-there's the danger. plain enough.
Who can read the letter she hE IN the
sand. and not see that my wife IL IN
possession OF the secret. deny Il as she
may?"
zone moment. Percivai. II Lady CLYDE
does know the secret she must know,
also that IL Is n compromising secret for
- :