Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1904-07-29
CHAPTER XIII.

Not far from the Palais Royal, i'll the
Rue st. Honore, with the sign of Good
Faith, is little establishment, half
cafe, half fruiterer's shop, much fire.
auented by the clerks of the neighhor-
hood. 1t was in one of the rooms Of this
modest tavern that on the Friday after
his release Prosper was waiting for M.
Verduret, who had promised to meet him
there at o'clock.
AS the clock struck M. Verduret, who
was punctuality itself, appeared. lie
was more ruddy than ever, and appeared
perfectly satisfied with himself. AS soon
as the waiter had left the room he said
TO Prosper:
'sWell, have all our commissions been
executed? Have you seen the costumer!
81 gave him your letter. Everything
that you require will be brought to-mor-
row to the Archangel."
Then everything goes we'll, for have
lost no time, and l bring you plenty of
news. While waiting for two Of our
smissaries whom l have appointed to
meet me-" he said 'let us occupy our
selves a little with NJ. de Layers. Do
you know, my dear friend" continued Nj.
yanduret. from what part of the coun-
Dry this gentleman comes from processes
40 be a friend of yous?"
From the same part as Nine. Eau
vel. from st. Remy," answered Prosper.
"Ah" said NJ. Verduret, that = very
singular" and he whistled softly, which
with him was a sign of infinite satisfac-
4ion. Il wrote to st. Remy and receiv-
Sa answers. All, here is number one"
He then read:
"lLagors Very old family, originally
from Malines, settled at st. Remy about
n century ago. The last of the Layers
bearing without warrant the title Of
count, married in 1929 Mademoiselle Ro-
sale Fontanet, of Tarascon; died Deem
her. 1S4S. leaving no male heir, but left
awo daughters
Snow, what do you think of this in
Fos4nation?' queried the stout man, with
a triumphant smile.
"But why did NJ. Fauvel treat Raoul
as his nephew?" asked Prosper amazed
9y.
"Ah. YOU mean as his wife's nephew
let us examine note number two: Jules
Rene Henri de Layers, last of his name,
died at st. Remy in q state of great pow
erty. He at one time was possessed Of
moderate fortune, but invested it in a
silk worm nursery, and lost it ALL He
Aaa no son. but left two daughters, one
OF whom is teacher at AK, and the
ether married q retail merchant at Or
gan. His widow, at Montagnette, is sup
ported entirely by one of her relatives,
4he wife of a rich banker in Paris. No
person of the name of Layers lives in
fhe district of Aries That is ALL" said
Nj. verduret; don't you think it
enough ~
Really. monsieur, don't know wheth-
err am awake or dreaming. Some peo-
Yfa may assert that the Widow Layers
married and had child born after her
husbands death. This objection is de-
stroyed by the age of your friend. Raoul
m twenty-four, and NJ. de Layers has not
been dead twenty years."
But" said Prosper, thoughtfully,
~-who can Raoul be?'
81 don't know. The fact is, I am
more perplexed to find out who he is than
10 know who he is not. There is one
man who could give us all the informa-
tion we seek, but he will take good care
10 keep his mouth shut"
You mean NJ. de Clameran?"
-Him, and no one else"
II have always felt the most inexplsca-
BE aversion toward him. All, il we
could only get his account in addition
20 what you already havew
Il have been furnished with a few
astes conc the Clameran family