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

IT promised you that this confidence
should be complete. he whispered. speak
ing close at my ear, with his eyes look
ing watchfuny at the door. Whatever
comes OF II. you shall not reproach me
with having hidden anything from you
which n was necessary to your interests
10 know. 1 have said that the Brother
hood Identifies its members by a mark
that lasts for life. See the place. and the
mark on II. for yourself"
He raised his bare arm, and showed me-
high on the upper part OF II and on the
inner side. a brand deeply burned In the
flesh, and stained OF a bright-red color
L abstain from describing the device
which the brand represented IL will be
euntcient to say that IL was circular in
form and so small that II would have
been completely covered by a shilling
"A man who has this mark branded In
this place." he said. covering his arm
again, s a member OF the Brotherhood.
man who has been false TO the Broth
erhood is discovered sooner or later. by
tho Chiefs who know him--presidents or
secretaries, the case may be. And a
man discovered by the Chiefs Is dead.
No human laws can protect him. Re-
member what you have seen and heard !;
you please. But In the name OF God
whatever you discover. whatever you do
tell me nothng Let me remain free
from a responsibility which IL horrfies
me to think of-which know. In my con-
science, Is not my responsibility now
For the last time, I say it-on my honor
as gentleman, on my oath as Chris
tian. IL the man you pointed out at the
opera knows me, he Is so altered, or so
disguised, that | do not know him. / am
Ignorant OF his proceedings or his pur-
poses In England never saw him,
never heard the name he goes by. to my
knowledge, before tonight I say no
more. Leave me a little. Walter; ! am
overpowered by what has happened:
am shaken by what ] have said Let
me try 10 be like myself again. when we
meet next"
He dropped into chair: and turning
away from me. hid his face i'm his hands.
gently opened the door. so az not 10 dis
tfrb him-and spoke my few parting
words In low tones, which he might hear
or not as he pleased.
II will keep the memory OF tonight In
my heart OF hearts, i said You shall
never repent the trust you have reposed
in me. May ! come TO you tomorrow?
May I come as early as nine oclock?"
Yes, Walter" he replied. looking up
at me kindly, and speaking in English
".
was to get back 10 our former relations
toward each other. Come TO my little
BIT OF breakfast, before | go my ways
among the pupils that l teach"
Good night Pesca."
Good night. my friend"
vi.
My first conviction as soon as I found
myself outside the house. was that no
alternative was left me but 10 act at
once on the informa ton I had received
10 make sure OF the Count. that night.
ar TO risk the loss. II / only delayed till
the morning. OF Laura's last chance. |
looked at my watch: Il was ten o'clock.
Not the shadow Of a doubt crossed my
mind of the purpose for which the Count
us that evening was beyond all ques-
tion. the preliminary only 10 his escape
from London. The mark of the Brother
hood was on his arm-T felt as certain
OF II as II he had shown me the brand
and the betrayal OF the Brotherhood was
on his conscience--I had seen It in his
recognition OF Pesca.
1t was easy TO understand why that
recognition had not been mutual. A
man OF the Counts character would
never risk the terrible consequences OF
turning spy without looking 10 his gold
en- reward The shaven face which had
pointed out at the Opera might have
been covered with beard in Pesca's
time: his dark brown hair might be n
wig his name was evidently false one.
The accident of time might have helped
I'm as well-hls immense corpulence
might have come with his later years.
There was every reason why Pesca
ehouid not have known him again-every
reason. also, why he should have known
Pesca- whose singular personal appear
ance made a marked man OF him. go
where he might
7 have said that felt certain OF the
purpose I'm the Counts mind when he es-
capped US at the theater. How could I
doubt IL. when 7 saw. with my own eyes.
that he believed himself. in spite OF the