The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-06-05

~.~s-~-u-
had the right to know who bore this
title of Ivrea, which had been won in
hard fought battles.
Moreover. the will provided that the
Duchess should figure prominently in
the Memoirs as the donor OF the let
tiers written to Moreau, and were not
these Memoirs" his own. Alfred Boy
ers, masterpiece? Had he, not devoted
to them two precious years of his
youth; was he not prepared to devote
to them another year, knowing that
thereby his supreme ambition woulS
be satisfied and that his obscure name
would forever be connected with that
of the splendid soldier of the Grand
Army? Could it be possible. however,
that this woman, who was purchasing
with her entire fortune place in this
book. had committed some infamous
deed. which would render her wholly
undeserving of such q high honor?
No, he could not believe it. The Prince
of Augsburg seemed to reverence his
grandfather, and, as he recalled the
conditions in the will-that the Ouch
ess's name should appear in the Me
moirs," that she should be buried In
the family vault at Pere Lachaise and
that the Prince should attend her fun
eTdl III pcISOIl-AlLTcu IcIt InAI,
even though he lost millions thereby,
his employer would never comply with
her wishes in these respects If she was
in any way undeserving of such hon
ors, and that the reason why he did
not destroy the will was because he
thought 1t possible for him to accept
the conditions set forth in 1t.
On the other hand. why was he In
such bad humor? Why did he speak so
bitterly of her" (for he never men,
toned her name)7 Why was he so an
cry at sight of the will and afterward
so silent? over these problems Alfred
pondered. but in vain, and therefore,
impelled by that kind of impatience
which is as painful as physical suffer-
ing, he fastened toward the only OPP
portunity which presented itself of
learning the entire truth.
"
Raymond De Contay was at home
and was preparing to go out. He was
about to call on a friend, which Boyer
was glad to learn, for he was visiting
him at an unusual hour and he did not
want him to think that he expected to
be invited to breakfast. Raymond,
however. greeted him so cordially that
he did not hesitate to ask for permits
sion to accompany him IS far as his
friends house. While ascending the
stairs leading to Contay's apartment
he had racked his brain in an endeav-
or to discover some suitable pretext
for attaining his object, but Raymond
furnished the pretext himself, for, af.
ter he had questioned him about the
work on which he was engaged he
asked him how the Prince and his fam
lily had treated him. in few words
Boyer described the Prince, his five
daughters and the elderly housekeeper.
Then in voice which trembled with
anxiety he continued:
That's all / know of the family
There's younger branch. however,
which is represented at present by the
Duchess dIvrea." Pausing for a mo-
ment, he studied his friends face to
see of his words had made any i'm
preston on him and then asked: WHO
is she?'
THE Duchess d'Ivrea?' replied Ray
mond. Il don't know her."
Yet she belongs to your set" said
Alfred innocently; then, yielding to the
morbid curiosity which had disturbed
him ever since he had read the will,
he went on: You must know some
people who are acquainted with her.
For reason which 1 cannot
divulge l am extremely anxious to
ind out why she is on bad terms with
her relatives. Indeed, my future work
may depend on what can learn about
her. You will, therefore, do
me great, an immense service If YOU
will try to obtain this information for
me-"
He spoke so seriously and there was
such an anxious expression on his face
that Raymond de Contay was much i'm
nFRGCad hna1 crlaf
Alfred's trouble was some dispute
which had arisen among the members
of the Fredet family on account of
the proposed publication of the Mar
shaIs Memoirs" and that he was
afraid it might interfere with the sue
cess of the work
IF that's all you wan, he renlied
II will try to satisfy you. am now
going to breakfast with one of INV
cousins, who is member of the lead
ing club and knows everyone In Paris.
If the Duchess d'Ivrea has ouarrelIed
with his family and the cause is not
a complete mystery my cousin will be
able to tell me the whole sorry on
may therefore, expect to hear from
me this evening. OF course / may be
disappointed. but at any rate give me
your address"
Though it was by no means Ger ain
learn anything about the Duchess
dIvrea. still he might, and the mere
thought OF success sufficed to luIl the
fever into which the events of the
morning had thrown Boyer. Having
to call at several places on business
connected with his book, he attended
CAREFULLY to all these details, and af-
ter spending the afternoon in a most
useful manner he returned at six
o'clock to the furnished rooms in the |
Rue de Bourgogne. He asked II the |
Prince was in. and when ne learned |
that he had not left the house during |
the afternoon the feverish anxiety |
which had troubled him all the morn |
ing took possession of him again |
Raymond had not left any letter for |
him. from which he concluded that his |
friend had not been able to obtain any |
from his cousin and there |
fore. as he climbed .ne stairs. he feat |
sorely disappointed His worst trial.
however did not come until he found |
himself face to face with the Prince
That the unhappy man was at ais
wits ends was clear. Like a wild |
beast he raved to and fro through Ine
two small furnished rooms. The
breakfast which he had ordered Dut
not touched. was still on a table, and
At the first glance Alfred saw that the
envelope which contained the will was
still In the same place; namely. under
book on the marble mant1epiece.
rhe Prince had not the strength even
10 touch IT: still there were tokens
hat he was slowly beginning to yield
% the terrible temptation Alfred
vas convinced of this from what the