The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-10-15

7
acceptance-and 'twere idle to deny
him the most monstrous assurance. He /
declared himself a noble travelling for
pleasure. He had taken lodgings in
Bath for a season, he said, and called
at once to pay his respects to me. His
tone was so candid-in truth, I am the
simplest of men, very easily gulled-
and his stroke so bold. that I did not
for one moment suspect him; and, to
my poignant regret-though in the
hum bIest spirit have shown myself
eager to atOne-that very evening
had the shame Of presenting him to
yourself
1.-The shame, sir"
Have patience, prav madam. Ay.
the shame! You know what figure he
hath cut in Bath since that evening
All ran merrily with MN until sew
eral days ago Captain Badger de-
nouneed him as an impOster, vowing
that Chateaurien was nothing.
Pardon" interrupted NJ. Beaucalre-
Castle Nowhere would have been
so much better. Why did you not make
! him say it that way, MONSIEUR
Lady Mary started; she was looking
at the Duke, and her face was white.
He continued: Poor Captain Badger
was stabbed that same day
Most betting poor Captain Bad
/ ger" mUttered Molyneux.
/ And hiS adversary had the mar
velOus insolence to declare that he
/ fought in my quarrel! This after
{ noon the WOuIQEQ man sent lot
and impaired a very horrifying intel
! ligence. He had discovered a lackey
whom he had seen waiting upon
/ Beaucaire in attendance at the door
/ of the Chateaurien's lodging. Beau
caire had disappeared the day before
i Chauteaurien'S arrival. Captain Bad
ger looked closely at Chauteaurien at
/ their next meeting, and identified him
with the missing Beaucaire beyond the
/ faintest doubt. Overcome with fndig-
nation, he Immediately proclaimed the
/ imposter. Out of regard for me, he
| did not charge him with being Beau
/ caire; the poor soul was unwilling to
put upon me the humiliation OF hay
ing introduced a barber; but the Sec
ret weighed upon him till he sent for
me and put everything in my hands. I
accepted the Odium; thinking only of
atOnement. I went to Sir John VIM
pledon's fete. I took poor Sir Hugh,
there and these other gentlemen aside,
and told them my news. We narrowly
observed this man, and were shocked
at our simplicity in not having discov-
honor and cool judgment, madam. Mr.
Molyneux had acted for him in the af-.
fair of Captain Badger, and was
strongly prejudiced in his favor; but
Mr.. Molyneux, Sir Hugh, Mr.. BantisOn,
every one Of them, in short. recognized
him. In spite of his smooth face and
his light hair the adyenturer Beau
caire was writ upon him amazingly
dare the inspection. You saw this
Beaucaire well the day of his expul-
sion from the rooms. Is not this hep"
! NJ Beaucaire stepped close to her.
Her pale face twitched.
Look" he said.
"Oh, oh!'' she whispered with a dry
throat, and fell back in the carriage.
us it SOP" cried the Duke.
Il do not know cannot tell"
lone moment more. I begged these
Z tn a me n q
insult I had unhappily offered to Bath
but particularly to you. They agreed
, not to forestall me or to interfere.
left Sir John WimpledOn's early, and
arranged to give the sorry rascal q
iashing under your own eyes, a salts
. faction cue the lady into whose pres
ence he had dared to force himself"
'NOblesse Obige' % said N. Beau
, caire in g tone of gentle inquiry.
And now, madam" said the Duke
. I viii detain you not one second
longer I plead the good purpose o.
my intentions, begging you to believe
that the desire to avenge hateful out
? rage, next TO the wish to serve you
! forms the dearest motive in the hear
! of Winterset."
t "BravoI" cried Beaucaire softly.
Lady Mary leaned toward him,
t thriving terror in her eyes. ct il
Y false?" she faltered.
. Monsieur should not have beei
t born so high. He could have mad
f little book'.'
You mean it is faise?" she crie'
-? "'Od's blood, is she not convinced p
Z / broke out Mr.. Bantison. Fellow
We're you not the ambassadors bar
1T is all false?" she whispered.
s 1.-THE mos fine art, mademoiselle
e How long you think it take NJ. de Win
terset to learn that speech after h
- write it out? It is a mix Of what j
true and the mos chaste art. Non
;, sieur has become a man of letters
e Perhaps he may enjoy that more thai
q the wars. Ha, hal"
/. Mr.. Bantison burst into a roar o
e laughter. do French gentlemen
d fight lackeys? Ho, no, no! A prett
country. We English do as was don
tonight, have our servants bea
/. them"
And attend ourselves" added MI
e. Beaucaire, looking at the Duke "some
don" he Knocked. that remind nae
y Francois, return to Mr.. Bantison an
# these gentlemen their weapons
n viii you answer a question ?" sal
q Molyneux mildly.
oh, with pleasure, monsieur"
d Were you yer a barber2'
Is mo, monsieur" laughed the youn
/ man.
I 'PahH' exclaimed Bantison. lie
Il me question him. Now. fellow, a con
fession may save you from jail. D
t. you deny you are Beaucafre q"
Deny to a such judge?"
l. Hal" said Bantison. what NOR
g. do you want, Molyneux? Fellow. d
you DENY that you came to LOndo
s. in the ambassadors suite ~
mo, I do not deny"
y He admits it! Didn't you come a
q his barber?''
If "Yees, my friend, as his barber
n Lady Mary cried out family, ant
u shuddering, put both hands over ne
g. eyes.
lie I'm sorry said 1folyneux. "Yo
s. fight like a. gentleman
ar you called vol1TasIf T7eancairs %,
le yes raonsie1i1. = ne u5as zv,s,
ar ing to and FRO. his servs 77ts- ran to sS71
IS port him
n- It wish continued Molvneux. he,