The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-22
XII.

IhereSe HumperL, Qne oI tAo
greatest women Of the century,
Who united the commanding per-
sonality of a Catherine the Great with
the genius for intrigue Of Catherine
de Medicis, has been formally tried and
condemned, and is now secluded from
the public eye. The journals Of the
boulevards pretend to be satisfied; and
their credulous readers are taught TO
believe that this remarkable affair was
a vulgar swindle, and that the famous
millions had no existence except IN the
mind of the arch-intriguer.
It is under these circumstances that
7 find myself at length free to mako an
announcement which l foresee must
provoke a storm OF denial and oenun-
citation.
T know what has become of the Hum
bert millions. .,
/ do not make this declaration with
out having weighed the consequences.
If nv part in this affair could be
brought home to me by. legal proofs, it
is possible that I should find myself in
danger Of penalty such as has been
meted out to Nine. Humbert herself.
I believe, however, that | have sui
fciently secured myself against such
contingency. For many months past L
have been engaged in duel Of a singu-
lar character with the famous head of
the French police, NJ. Rattache: duel
kept on the mask Of friendship, while
exchanging thrusts and parties with an
assumption of perfect Inconsistencies.
+ + !.
In no step of her marvellous career,
perhaps, did Therese Humbert, show
more sagacity than in establishing re-
lations with myself Accustomed as l
am to act almost exclusively for crown.
ed heads, or ministers Of state, was
the agent least likely to be suspected
of any connection with what wore the
appearance of an ordinary police affair.
With the same prudence which mark
ed nearly all her actions, Nine. Hum
bert refrained from coming to my Of
fee to engage my services, and from
asking me to visit her. Instead, I re-
I ceived what appeared to be a casual
invitation to dine with a banker, whom
will call Baron Y.
Baron Y was man whom knew
but slightly, but his house enjoyed a
good reputation, and he moved in the
best society of the financial world. He
was noted for his entertainments, and
therefore was surprised on this occa-
sion to find only three other persons
present, besides the members of the
family.
The three other guests were M: Bas-
Riviere, an ex-member Of the Waldeck-
Rousseau ministry, the Marquis DIES
Saintes Roches, distinguished legiti-
mist, that is to say, member Of the
party which aims at the restoration Of
IS the ,Bourbons, and-Therese Humbert.
+ At this time the voice Of rumor was
already busy with Nine. Humbert s
name; but tho assailed, she still main
tanned bold front. and her enemies
! had not yet been able to touch her.
It did not occur to me that her pres
4 ence at the dinner had any significance,
i but I studied her with that interest
I which her reputation naturally excited
Impassive, almost stolid in her de-
A meanor, and speaking but little, Nine
\ Humbert impressed me more than
any woman have ever met, with the
I single exception of the dowager en-
4 press of China. I will not say that
/ felt awed by this extraordinary person
1 age, but I recognized in her one Of
I those commanding personalities which
Il override all who are brought into touch
u with them.
II After dinner Baron Y led US thru
some Of the rooms in his superb man
4 sion, to view the pictures and curiosi
ties which his wealth had enabled hin
n to gather together.
II Somehow or other Nine. Humber
contrived to fall gradually behind tn
EE I0SG OIL LILO party sAStp4uS 'luo Ny liz
h side. I did not realize that this was
n deliberate maneuver, until, just as tn
n others were passing out Of small Turk
XII ish smooking-room, my companlo
Il abruptly laid her hand on my arm, an
III whispered in my ear
II "Let US remain here moment, l
{ you please, Monsieur v. I hav
Even then it did not at first 'daw
on me that the whole entertainment ha
been arranged for the single purpose. o
Grabbing Nine. Humbert to interview
me without attracting the notice Of tn
n police, who were already beginning t
Il take an interest in her movements.
"Let us sit down. the custodia
Of the mysterious millions said with a,
n shortly. "What have to say to yo
II will take some time.''
Observe, she did not admit the POI
n sibility Of my objecting to receive he
III condolences. She had made up her min
II that I was the agent necessary for he
n purpose, and it was only left to me
a obey.
I took a seat beside her witho,
speaking. Magnetized by her strane
II power, It did not occur to me to Ia
II down any conditions in advance.
\ K !.
1T am going to ask you to unde
4&tss. take d service OI dill UNUSUAL hluu. IC
& will run some risks, and shall
81 obliged to trust you Implicitly
MADAME, ~ began to protest. 81
81 silenced me with a superb gesture.
Gas f'I have not asked you for assurance
4. monsieur. If I have chosen you
preference to any of my friends, eve
5f men Of the highest honor, like NJ. d
81 Saintes Roches, depend upon it kno
I what I am about. Do not interrupt m
# but listen. In my safe at this nome
IA I have notes and securities to the val
E of two hundred millions of franes.'
Two hundred millions! That is
say, in English money, 9s,0O0,00O!
lE stared at her in amazement-alm
disbelief. She went on speaking wi
III the most perfect composure, as If not
EI ing out of the ordinary were being d
cussed. It was this self-command, tt
air of the commonplace with which S
hi invested the most fantastic Statement
E which constituted the secret of b
power.
"This sum, which originally amour
ed to only one hundred and twenty m
lions, does not belong to me. It is
sacred deposit, intrusted to me ma
years ago, since which time the int
est has steadily accumulated. :"
"But, then, whose-9' I tried to q
5 in But Nine. Humbert would not o.
i NIT me to speak.
1T is useless to question me, me-
HsE rieur Think what Won like concerni