The Breckenridge news., 1904-03-02
CHAPTER XXI.

DOuN ludl udu ASNtAhtN dtSA
and bitter wounds. He chafed and
fumed when he thought how in all
likelihood the details OF his defeat
could not be suppressed in the clubs
and cafes.
Il played him too freely" he groaned
10 the Count de PrOpriac as the latter
sat cOntemplatively nursing the ivory
handle Of his cane and Offering the
land harOn such poor sOlace as his
company afforded. Il misjudged the
arrack. besides exposing myself too
much III could only meet him again."
II would be the same" retorted the
count brutally. when you lost your
temper. you lost your cause. Your work
was brilliant. but he is one of the best
sworismen l ever saw. Who is he,
anyway"
"All know is, he served in Algiers," ="
said Mauville moOdily.
IAN adventurer. probably! exclaim-
ed the other
I'D give a good deal to know his rec
ord" remarked the PATRON contem-
platively. "You should De pretty well
acquainted with the personnel Of the
armyT
"It includes everybody nowadays"
replied the diplomat. But it seems to
me did know Of a Saint Prosper at
the military college at Saumur; or was
it at the Ecole d'application d'etat-ma-
jor? Demmed scapegrace, If | am not
mistaken; sent to Algiers; must be the
same"
Here the count closed his eyes and
seemed almost on the point of dropping
off, but suddenly Strengthened himself,
drawled perfunctOry farewell and de-
parted i'm a brown study.
The counts company, of which he
had enjoyed a good deal during the
past forty-eight hours, did not improve
Mauvlle's temper and he bore his own
reflections so grudgingly that inaction
became intolerable. Besides, certain
words Of his caller concerning Saint
Prosper had stimulated his curiosity,
and, in casting about for way to con-
firm his suspicious, he had suddenly
determined in what wise to proceed.
Accordingly, the next day he left his
rooms. his first visit being to a spa
cious. substantial residence of stone
and lime with green veranda palings
and windows that opened as doors
with profusion Of gauzy curtains
hanging behind them. This house, the
present home OF the Marquis de Ligne,
stood in the French quarter contrast
ing architecturally with the newer
brick buildings erected for the Ameri-
can population. The land baron was
ushered into a large reception room
sending his card to the marquis by the
neat appearing colored maid who an
swered the door.
Soon the marquis servant, a stolid
sober man of virtuous department
came downstairs to inform the land
baron his master had suffered a re-
lapse and was unable to see any one.
Last night his temperature was very
high" said the valet. "My master is
very i'll. more so than | have known
him to be in twenty years"
"You have served the marquis so
long?' said the visitor, pausing as he
was leaving the room. DO you re-
member the Saint-Prosper family"
"Well. monsieur. General Saint-Pros-
per and my master were distant kins-
men and had adjoining lands"
Surely the marquis did not pass his
time In the country" observed Maui
Vile
"He preferred II to Paris-when my
lady was there" added Francois softly
In spite of his i'll humor the shadow
Of smile CLEANED in the land baron's
gaze. and. encouraged by that ques-
tioning look. the man continued: THE
MARQUIS and General Saint-Prosper
were always together. My lady had
her own friends"
$50 I've heard" commented the lis
tener.
Francois discreet eyes were down
cast. Why did the visitor wish to learn
about the aint-PrOsper family? Why,
instead of going did he linger and eye
the man half obviously? Francois
had sold so many of his masters Sc
crets he scented his opportunities with
a sixth sense.
"The marquis and General Saint
prosper were WdTm IrleuuS dSkeo
the land baron at length.
Eyes, monsieur; the death Of the lat
ter was a severe shock to the Marquis
de Ligne; but, Mon Dieu"-lifting his
eyes-"it was as well he did not live TO
witness the disgrace of his sonr'
"Hls sons disgrace" repeated the
land baron eagerly. "Oh, you mean
running in debt - gaming - some such
fashionable virtueY"
"If betraying his country is a fash
ionable virtue" replied the valet "H'
is a traitor"
Incredulity overspread the land bar
ons features; then, coincident will
the assertion, came remembrance oi
his conversatlo with the marquis.
"He certainly called him that" ru'
minated the visitor. Not only the
words, but the expression Of the old
noblemans face, recurred to him
What did it mean unless it confirmed
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