The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-03-27
The Lord of Chateau NOir
BY A CONAN DOYLE.
Copyright by A. Conan Doyle)
BY A CONAN DOYLE.
Copyright by A. Conan Doyle.)

tain Baumgarten marched out of Les An
delys with his twenty Poseners and took
the main road to the northwest Hwo miles
out he turned suddenly down a narrow
deeply rutted track and made swiftly for
his man. A thin, cold rain was falling
swishing among the tall poplar trees and
rustling in the fields on either side. The
captain walked first with Moser. a veteran
sergeant, beside him. The sergeant's wrist
was fastened 20 that of the French peas
ant, and it had been whispered in his
ear that in case of an ambush tie first bull
let fired would be through his head. Be
hind them the twenty lnfantrymen plod
ded along through the darkness witt
their faces sunk to the rain. and then
boots squealling in the soft. wet clay.
1t was nearly when they left Les An
delys At 1870 their guide stopped at a
place where two high pillars, crowned
with some heraldric stonework, fianked a
huge iron gate The black chateau lay
in front OF them.
! The moon had shonc out between two
rainclouds, and threw the old house into
silver and shadow 1t was shaped like an
l. with a low arohed door in front. and
lines of small windows like the open ports
I
breaking 1T the corners into little round
overhanging tunets, the whole lying ST.
lent in the moonshine. with a drift of
ragged clouds blackening the heavens be
hind it. A single light cleaned in one
CT the lower windows
! The Captain whispered his orders to his
men, Some were to creep to the front
door, some to the back Some were to
| ~ IL In Flo
and the sergeant stole on tiptoe to the
lighted window.
1t was a small room into which thew
looked, very meanly furnished. An eldely
man in the dress of mental was reading
tattered paper by the light of a gutter
ing candle. He leaned back in his wooden
chair with his feet upon box. while a
bottle OF white wine stood with half
filed lumber upon stool beside him.
The sergeant thrust his needle gun
through the glass; and the man sprang
to his feet with a shrek.
Silence, for your life, The house is
surrounded and you cannot escape. Come
around and oren the door or We will
show you no mercy when he come in
! ''For Gods sake, don't shoot. Twill
open it, | will open it," He rushed from
the room with his paper still crumpled
up in his hand. An instant later. with a
grcaning of old locks and rasping of
bars. the low door swung open. and the
/ Prussians poured into the stone-fagged
! passage.
'Where is Count Eustace dc Chateau
/ Nair?"
my master! He is out. sir
"out at this time of nights Your life
| for a lie.'
"It is true, sir. He is out"
ssWhere?"
ri do not know"
doing what?"
81 cannot tell No. it is no use your
cooking your pistol, sir. You may kill
me, but you cannot make me tell you
! that which I do not know"
"Is he often out at this hour?"
Frequently"
"And when does he come homeB"
before davbreak.'
Captain Baumgarten rasped out Ger
man oath. He had had his journey for
nothing, then. The mans answers were
only too likely to be true. 1t was what
| he might have expected. But at least he
would search tho house and make sure.
| 1t was long, however. before Captain
Baumgarten had satisfied himself upin
| the point. It was a difficult house to
search. Thin stairs which only one man
could ascend at a time connected lines
of tortuous corridors. The walls were so
thick that each room was cut off from
its neighbor Huge fireplace, yawncd in
each, while the windows were six feet
deep in the wall Captain Baumgarten
stamped with his feet and tore down cur
tains, and struck with the pomInel of his
sword If there were secret hiding places
he was not fortunateenough ~ find them.
81 have an idea said he, at last speak
/ ing in German to the sergeant. You
will place a guard over this fellow and
make sure that lie communicates to no
| one
Eyes. Captain
"Ard You will place four men in am
bush at the front and at the back 1t Is
likely enough that about daybreak our
bird NAV return to the nest"
"And the others, Captain
''Let them have their suppers In the
kitchen. This fellow will serve you with
neat and wine. 1t is wild night and
We shall be better here than on the coun-
nv road
And yourself. Captain?'
Il will take my supper up here in the
lining hall. The logs are laid and we
| san light the fire. You will call me II
here is any alarm. What can you give
ne for supper-you?"
ALAS, monsieur there was time when
might have answered, What you wish.
out now it is all that we can do to find
bottle of new claret and Il cold pull
ct
THAT will do very well. Let guard
90 about with him, sergeant, and let hin
feel the end of bayonet if he plays us
any tricks"
Captain Baumgarten was an old cam
oaigner. In the Eastern provinces, and be-
! fore that in Bohemia, he had learned the
art of quartering himself upon the enemy
1o io~- of thA hCusehnld for Wftho02