The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-08-12
THE WOMAN IN WHITE


he was getting anxious for the agents ar
rival. The candles had long since been ex-
tinguished, and the sunlight OF the new
morning poured into the room. IL was
not till five minutes past seven that the
gate-bell rang. and the agent made his
appearance. He was a foreigner, with a
dark beard.
''Mr. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Rubelle." :"
said the count introducing us. lie took
the agent Ga foreign spy. In every line OF
his face. II ever there was one yeD into
a corner OF the room, whispered some di-
rections 10 him, and then left US together
Monsieur Rubele.' as soon as we were
alone, suggested. with great polteness,
that | should favor him with his in
structions. wrote two lines 10 Pesca.
authorizing him to deliver my sealed
letter Ito the bearer" directed the note,
and handed II to Monsieur Rubelle.
The agent waited with me till his en-
ployer returned. equipped in travelling
costume The count examined the ad-
dress OF my letter before he dismissed
the agent "T thought sol" he said turn
ing on me with a dark look, and altering
again In his manner from that moment.
He completed his packing. and then sat
consulting n traveling-map. making en-
tries In his pocket-book, and looking ev-
cry now and then impatiently at his
watch. Not another word. addressed 10
myself, passed his lips. The near ap-
proach or the hour for his departure
and the proof he had seen of the commu-
nication established between Pesca ana
myself, had plainly recalled his whole at
tention TO the measures that were neces-
sary for securing his escape.
A little before eight o'clock Monsieur
Rubelle came back. with an unopened let
ter I'm his hand. The count looked care
fullwy at the superscripton and the seal.
nh ma
i perform my promise" he said: but
here"
The agent had kept at the door the cab
In which he had returned He and the
mald-servant now busted themselves in
removing the luggage
Nine. Fosco came downstairs. thickly
Veiled' with the travelling cage OF the
white mice In her hand. She neither
spoke 10 me nor looked toward me. Her
husband escorted her 10 the cab Fol
low me as far as the passage" he whis-
pered I'm my ear: II may want 10 speak
to you at the last moment"
| went out 10 the door: the agent
standing below me in the front garden.
The count came back alone and drew
me few steps inside the passage
Remember the third condition. he
whispered. You shall hear from he.
Mr. Hartright-I may claim from you
the satisfaction OF a gentleman sooner
than you think for" He caught my
hand before l was aware OF him. and
wrung II hard-then turned TO the door
stopped. and came back TO me again.
"One word more" he said. confidential
ly. When l last saw Miss Halcombe.
she looked very thin and I'll. ] am anx-
ious about that admirable woman. Take
care Of her. sir With my hand on my
heart. l solemnly implore you. take care
OF Miss Halcombe.'
Those were the last words he said
10 me before he squeezed his huge body
into the cab and drove off
The agent and l waited at the door a
few moments. looking after him. While
we were standing together. a second cab
appeared from a turning a little way
down the road. II followed the direction
previously taken by the Counts cab; and
as II passed the house and the open
garden gate, person inside looked at us
out of the window. The stranger at the
opera agsini-the foreigner with the scar
on his left cheek
You wait here with me. sir for half
an hour more7" said Monsieur Rubelle
"I do"
We returned to the sitting room. was
In no humor 10 speak TO the agent. or to
allow him 10 speak TO me. l took out the
papers which the Count had placed in
my hands and read the terrible story Of
the conspiracy told by the man who had
planned and perpetrated II.
(To BE Continued.)