The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-02-21

WAS III Tile leuCluS TOOluS VI hOuSltuI
Angelo and in the salon-de-boxe of Mon
sieur jackson, and in the club of Brooks,
and in the lobby of the Chamber of Dep
rties, but nowhere did l heard any news.
Still, it was possible that Milford Halves
bury had received it himself just as We
had. He lived in Harley street, and
there it was that the treaty was to be
| finally signed that night at s, l entreated
Monsieur Otto to drink two glasses OF
| Burgundy before he went, for l feared
| lest his haggard face and trembling
| hands should rouse suspicion in the Eng.
| lish Minister.
well, we went round together in one
| of the Embassy's carriages, about 7:30
! Monsieur Otto went in alone; but pres
emily, on excuse of getting his port
| folia, he came out again, with his cheeks
| flushed with joy, to tell me that all was
| we'll
He knows nothing he whispered
| 'Ah, if the next half hour were overt
"'Give me a sign when it is settled,
said /.
For what reason?'
" Because until then no messenger shall
interrupt you. I give you my PROMISE
Alphonse Lacour.'
He clasped my hand in both of his
Il shall make an excuse to move ere
os the candles on to the table in the win
dow said he, and hurried into the house,
while 1 was left waiting beside the car
riage.
We'll, if we could but secure ourselves
from interruption for a single half-hour
the day would be our own. 1 had hardi. =
begun to form my plans when 1 saw the
lights of carriage coming swiftly from
the direction of Oxford street. All, if it
should be the messenger! What could
do? l was prepared to kill him-yes, even
to kill him, rather than at this last me-
ment allow our work to be undone. Thou
sands die to make a glorious war. Why
should not one die to make a glorious
peace? What though they hurried me to
the scaffold? I should have sacrificed my
self for my country. had little curved
Turkish knife strapped to my waist. My
hand was on the hilt of it when the car.
riage which had alarmed me ratified safe
Nv past me.
but another might come. l must be
prepared. Above all, l must not compro-
mise thee Embassy. / ordered our car
riage to move on, and I engaged what
you call a hacking coach. Then / spoke
to the driver, and gave him guinea.
He understood that it was special ser
vice.
You shall have another guinea If
you do what you are told, said T.
" All right, master, said he, turning
his slow eyes upon me without trace of
excitement or curiosity.
:" If i. enter your coach with another
tra1 tlayOa will ri m
Harley street and take no orders from
will carry the other gentleman to Wa
tiers Club in Burton street.
"'All right MASTER said he again.
so 1 stood outside Milford Hawkes.
bury's house, and you can think how
often my eyes went up to that window in
the hope of seeing the candle twinkle III
it. Five minutes passed, and another
five. oh, how slowly they crept along!
paced up and down, slapping my hands
to Keep them warm, and still straining
my ears. And then suddenly out of the
1ull hum of the traffic down in Oxford
street l heard sound detach itself, and
grow louder and louder, and clearer and
elearer with every instant, until two yell
low lights came flashing through the fog,
door Of the Foreign Minister. 1t had
lot stopped before young fellow sprang
,ut of it and hurried to the steps, while
he driver turned mis- horse and ratified
off into the fog once more.
"Ah, it is in the moment of action that
am best, monsieur You, who only
see me when I am drinking my wine in
he Cafe de Provence, cannot conceive the
,o;r~ - - ,s,1 fhot
nent, when knew that the fruits of a
en-years' war were at stake, I was mag
1ificent It was the last French cam
oaign, and I the general and army in
One.
"'Sir,' said l touching him upon the
arm, are you the messenger from Lord
esbury?"
Yes said he.
''T have been waiting for you half an
hour said l. You are to follow me at
once. He is with the French Ambassa-
lor.'
Il spoke with such assurance that he
never hesitated an instant. When he en-
tered the hackney coach and l followed
him in my heart gave such a thrill OF
joy that I could hardly keep from shout
ing aloud. He was a poor little creature,
the Foreign Office messenger, not much
bigger than Monsieur Otto, and /, mon
sieur can see my hands now and imagine
what they were like when I was seven
and twenty years of age.
" This is pressing business said he
I have dispatch which must deliver
instantly
Our coach had ratified down Harley
street, but now, in accordance with my
instructions, it turned and began to go
up again.
81 'Hello.' he cried. What's this?'
What them asked
We are driving back. Where is Lord
Hawkesbury?'
1--WE shall see him presently
g IT ~ mo oft , he sbon+od sGThare,s