Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1904-07-22
CHAPTER K.

overcome by disappointment. He was
aroused from his gloomy reverie by hear
# ing the administered man say, in ban
81 tering tone:
$50 these are your friends?'
Yes" said Prosper, with bitterness.
"You heard him offer me half of his
fortune?"
That was very stingy Ola his part:
WHY did he not offer the whole? Offers
cost nothing, although l have no doubt
that this sweet youth would cheerfully
give ten thousand francs to put the ocean
81 between you and him"
For what reason?'
WHO knows? Perhaps for the same
reason that lie has not set foot III his
uncle's house for a month"
But that is the truth, monsieur, am
sure of it."
Naturally" said NJ Verduret, with
provoking smile But" he continued,
with a serious air, I'VE have devoted
enough time to this Adons. Now, be
good enough to change your dress, and
we will go and call on NJ. Fauyel. 1t is
necessary; so come on. You must have
confidence, put on a brave face"
Prosper had hardly passed into his
bedroom when the bell rang again. NJ.
Verduret opened the door. 1t was the
porter who handed him thick letter,
and said
'"This letter was left this morning for
4 NJ. BertOmy. | was SO fiurred when he
came that | forgot to hand it to him. 1t
s. is very odd-looking letter, is it not,
8 master?"
1t was, indeed a most peculiar mis-
q sive The address was not written, but
s. formed of printed letters, carefully cut
from a book, and pasted on the envelope.
81 NJ Eerduret went into the next room and
closed the door behind him.
Here is letter for you," said NJ.
u Verduret
Prosper at once tore open the envelope.
Some bank notes dropped out; he counted
them; there were ten. His face turned
q purple The letter, like the address, was
composed of printed words cut out and
s. pasted on a sheet of paper. 1t was short
but explicit:
My Dear Prosper-A friend, who
4 knows the horror of your situation, sends
this. There is one heart be assured,
that shares your sufferings. Go away;
leave France; you are young; the future
Is before you. Go, and may this money
bring you happiness!'
Everybody wishes me to go away"
cfleu 1rOSpeF1 Cnen tnere muSt De COLI
spiracy against me-"
Now" said NJ. Verduret, 1--WE must
take advantage of this evidence, gained
j by the imprudence of our enemies with
out delay. We will begin with the por-
q ter"
He opened the door and called out
s The porter entered, looking very much
surprised at the authority exercised over
his lodger by this stranger.
who gave you this letterY' said NJ.
8 Yerduret.
"a messenger, who said he was paid
for bringing it. He is the errand runner
who stands at the corner of the Rue Pr
gale"
Go and bring him here"
After the porter had gone NJ. Verduret
read the letter over several times, scan-
ming the sentences and weighing every
word.
Evidently this letter was composed
by a woman" he finally said. Never
would one man doing another a service,
and sending him money, use the word
happiness Now let us see if we can
discover whence the printed words We're
taken to compose this letter"
He approached the window and began
to study the pasted words with all the
scrunulous attention which an antigua
rian would devote to an old palimsest.
Small type" said he, Every slender
and clear; the paper is thin and glossy.
have it!'' he cried; now ] have it.
These words are all cut from prayer
book We will look, at least. and then
we shall be certain"
He moistened one Of the wordg pasted
!. on the paper with his tongue, cad when
1t was sufficiently softened 10 detached
1t with pin. On the other side of this
word was printed q devout Latin word,
q Deus
"Ah. ha''. he said, VITA little laugh
Of satisfaction. 81 knew 1t. But what
has become of the mutilated prayer book
Can it have been burned? No, because
heavy bound book is not easily burned.
1t is thrown in some corner"
N. Nerduret was interrupted by the
porter, who returned with the messen-
ger.
All, here you are," he said, encour-
aginsly. Then he showed the envelope
of the letter aud said:
DO you remember bringing this letter
here this morningF'
Perfectly. monsieur. I took particu-
lar notice of the directions; we don't
often see anything like it."
Who told you to bring it, a gentle
man or a Iady?"
Neither, monsieur; it was a porter.
have never seen him before"
Very WE'LL l will give you ten francs
day If you will walk about the streets
and look for the porter who brought
this letter. Every evening at eight O'clock
come to the Archangel, on the Quay
Saint Michel give me a report of vour
search and receive your pay. Ask for
III. Ferduret. If you find the man will
give you fifty francs. Don't lose a min
ute. Start OFF,
Monsieur" said Prosper, when the
eorter had left thu room, do ro,, still