The Cairo bulletin., 1904-10-11
BY ROBERT
LOUIS
STEVENSON

to an abrupt end a second glance
however. showed him a tall house mex
door presenting gable to the gardei
ard in this gable single window. Hi
passed to the front and saw ticket
Offering unfurnshed lodgings by tht
month, and OH inquiry the room which
commanded the dlctators garden
proved to be one of those to let. Fran.
els did not hesitate a moment. lie
took the room paid an advance upon
the rent and returned to his hotel to
seek his baggage.
The old man with the sabcr cut
might or might not be his father; he
might or he might not be upon the true
scent, but he was certainly on the edge
OF an exciting mystery and he prom
ised himself that he would not relax
his observation until he had got to the
bottom of the secret.
From the window Of his new apart
ment Francis Scrymgeour commanded
a complete view into the garden of the
house with the green blinds Immedi-
a5aly below him very comely chestnut
with wide boughs sheltered a pair of
rustic tables where people might dine
In the height of summer. On all sides
save one dense vegetation concealed
the SOIL but there. between the tables
and the house, lac saw patch of gravel
walk leading from the yerandl to the
garden gate. Studying the place from
between the boards of the venetian
shutters. which he burst not open for
fear of attracting attention. Francis
observed but little to indicate the man
ners Of the inhabitants and that little
argued no more than a close reserve
and a taste for solitude. The garden
was conyentual. the house had the air
Of a prison. The green blinds were all
drawn down upon the outside; the door
into the veranda was closed: the gar
den. as far as he could see it, was left
entirely to itself in the evening sun
shine A modest curl of smoke from a
single chimney alone testified to the
presence Of living people.
In order that he might not be entirely
idle and to give certain color to his
way Of life Francis had purchased
Euciid's Geometry in French, which he
set himself to copy and translate OH the
top of his portmantcau and seated on
the floor against the wall, for hc was
equally without a chair or table. From
time 70 time he would rise and cast
glance into the Enclosure of the house
with the green blinds. but the windows
remained obstinately closed and the
garden empty.
Only late ia the evening did anything
occur to reward his continual attention,
Between . and 10 the sharp tnkle of
bell aroused him FROM il tit of doing, |
and he sprang to his observatory in |
time to hear an Important noise OF
locks being opened and bars removed |
and TO see Mr.. Nandelcur. carrying a |
lantern and clothed in flowing robe of |
black velvet with a skullcap TO match |
issue from under the veranda aud pro
coed leisurely toward the garden gate |
The sound of bolts and bars ws.s then |
repeated, and n moment after Francis |
perceived the dictator cscorting into
the house in the mobile light of the Ian
tern an individual of The lowest and
most despicablc appearance.
Half an hour afterward the visitor
was reconducted to the street, AMI Mr..
Nandelcur. setting his light upon one
Of the rustic tables, finished a cigar
with great deliberaton under the foil.
age of the chestnut. Francis. pecring
through n clear space among the
leaves. was able to follow his gestures
as he threw away the ash or enjoyed Il
copious inhalation and beield a cloud
upon the old mans brow and n forcbla
action of the lips, which testified to
come deep and probably painful train
of thought. The cigar was already al
most at an end when the voice of
young girl was heard suddenly crying
the hour from the interior of the house.
''In moment" replied John Vande.
leur.
And with thaf he threw away the
stump and. taking az The slaptcru.
sailed away under the vcranda for tho
night. As soon as fhe door was closed
absolute darkness fell upon the house.
Francis might try his G >esigtt as much
as he pleased. he could not detect 50
much as n single chnk Of light below q
blind. and he concluded. with great;
good sense. that the bedcbambers were
sll upon the other side.
Early the next morning for he was
carly awake after an uncomfortable
night upon the floori he saw cause to
adept a different explanation The
blinds rose. one after another. by means
Of spring in the interior and disclosed
steel shutters such rs we Sc on the
front Of shops These in their turn
were rolled mp by similar contrivancc.
and for the space of about an hour the
Chambers were left open to the morning
air. At the end Of that time Mr. Van
deleur with his own hand once more
closed the shutters and replaced the
blinds from within.
While Francis was still marvcling at
these precautions the door opened and
a young girl came forth to lopk about
her in tho garden. II was not two
minutes before she re-entered the house.
bnt even in that SPORT time he saw
enough 70 convince him that she pos
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