Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-12-18
WATERBURY EVENING DEMOCRAT MONDAY DECEMBER

the house there. and I thought marvel that she did not believe me. thought it a marvel that she did not see through you, when you stood there before her, confounded. tongue-tied, rogue convicted! But understand 1t now. She knew you. By - she knew youl She was in the plot, and you were in the plot; and I, who thought I was opening her eyes, was the only one fooled! But it is my turn now. You have played bold part. and clever one, and congratulate YOU! But" he continued, sinister light in his little eyes, 'tit is at an end now, Monsieur. You took us in fine ly with your tale of monseigneur. and his commission. and your commission, and the rest But I am not to be blinded any longer, or bullied! You have arrested him, have you? You have arrested him, Well, by cd, I shall arrest him, and shall arrest you tool"
 You are mad!" I said, staggered as much by this new view of the mat ter as by his perfect conviction of it's truth. Mad, Lieutenant"
 q wasi" he snarled dryly. But I am sane now. was mad when you imposed upon us; when you persuaded me that you were fooling the woman to get the secret out of them, while all the time you were sheltering them, protecting them. aiding. them, and hiding him-then I was mad! But not now. However, ask your par. don, NJ. de Barthe, or NJ. de Berault, or whatever your name really is. ask your pardon. thought you the cley- crest sneak and the dirtiest hound heaven ever made, or hell refused! find that you were cleverer than thought, and an honest traitor. Your pardon"
 One of the men who stood about the rim of the bowl above us laughed I looked at the lieutenant and could willingly have killed him. Mon Dieu! I said, so furious in my turn that could scarcely speak. Do you say that I am an impostor-that do moi hold the cardinals commission!
 "I do say that" he answered cool ! ly. And shall abide by il"
 And that belong to the rebel par ty?"
 q do,' he replied in the same tone "In fact" with grin. T say that yot are an honest man on the wrong side NJ. de Berault. And you say that yol are a scoundrel on the right. The ad vantage, however, is with me, and shall back my opinion by arrestini 1 you"
 A ripple of coarse laughter ran rouns the hollow. The sergeant who hel' the lanthorn grinned, and a trooper a a distance called out of the darkness "A bon chat bon rati" This brough a fresh burst of laughter. while stoo' speeches., confounded by the stub bornness. the crassness, the fnsolence I of the man. You fool!" cried a last, you fool" And then M. d Cocheforet, who had come out of tn hut. and taken stand at my elbow, in terrupted me.
 Pardon me one moment" he sai airily, looking at the lieutenant. wit i raised eyebrows, and pointing to m with his thumb But I am puzzle between you. This gentleman.s name Is ii de Beraut or de Barthe?"
 q am NJ. de Berault," said, brusau' ly. answering for myself.
 'Of Paris!'
 Yes, Monsieur. of Paris"
 You are not then the gentlema who has been honoring my poor hous with his presenceg
 "oh. yes." the lieutenant struck 1T grinning. "He Is that gentleman, too.
 But thought understood tha that was M de Barthe.
 'T am M. de Barthe, also" l rs torted impatIently. What of tha Monsieur? It was my mothers nam' I took it when came down here"
 "To-er, 10 arrest me. may ask!
 sYes," answered doggedly. TT arrest you. What of that?"
 Nothing" he replied slowly an with a steady look at me. look could not meet. Except that, had known this before. NJ. de Berault, should have thought long before
 surrendered to you
 The lieutenant laughed. and felt m cheek burn. But affected to see noii ing, and tdrned to him again. "Nos Monsieur. {" said sternly. "are you sa isfied?"
 ~No!" he answered point blank.