The Princeton union., 1905-03-16
TIE PRINCETON UNION: THURSDAY, MARCH 1e. 1908

He puffed steadily at his pipe anG
glanced quickly at De Chauxvllt
through the smoke.
NO" answered the Frenchman quite
grayely. Frenchmen, by the way, dt
not admit that one may be too middle
aged OF too stout for love. "But she is
on good terms with the prince"
Which prince?"
''Pavlo.'
The Frenchman snapped out the
word, watching the others benevolent
countenance. Steinmetz continued te
smoke placidly and contentedly.
My MASTER" he said at length. 81
suppose that some day he will marry
De Chauxville shrugged his shoul
ders. He touched the button Of the
electric bell and when the servant ap
peared ordered coffee. The servant
brought the coffee, which he drank
thoughtfully.
"And why not Mrs. Sydney Bambor
ought" asked Steinmetz suddenly.
'" AJ Aol, 1uueeu! Icplleu TX
Chauxville. 1T is no affair of mine
A wise man reduces his affairs to q
minimum and his interest in the af
fairs OF his neighbor to less. But
thought it would interest you.''
''Thanks.''
The tone Of the big man in the arm
chair was not dry. Karl Steinmet2
knew better than to indulge in that
pastime. Dryness is apt to parch the
fount of expansiveness.
"Who was Sydney scarborough, al
any rate?" De Chauxville asked.
80 far as l remember answered
Steinmetz, 'he was something in the
diplomatic service"
Yes, but WHAT"
My dear friend, you had better ask
his widow when next you sit beside hel
at dinner"
How do you know that l sat beside
her at dinner?"
I did not know it, replied Stein
metz, with quiet smile which left Dc
ChauXville in doubt as to whether he
was very stupid or exceedingly clever
"She seems to be very we'll off, "
said the Frenchman.
Il am glad, as she is going to marry
my MASTER
De Chauxville laughed almost awk
Wardly, and for fraction of a second
he changed countenance under Stein
metz's quiet eyes,
man intends to marry" he said care
lessly, ''even if they can themselves
which l doubt. But I do not under
stand how it is that she is so mucl
better, or appears to be, since the
death Of her husband"
"Ah, she is much better off, or appears
to be, since the death of her husband
said the stout man in his slow Ger
manic way.
EYES,"
De ChauXville rose, stretched himself
and yawned. Men are not always, be
it understood, on their best behavior
at their club.
"Good night,'' he said shortly.
Good night, my very dear friend"
After the Frenchman had left, Kari
Steinmetz remained quite motionless
and eXpressionless in his chair until
such time as he concluded that De
Chauxville was tired Of watching him
through the glass door, Then he slow.
ly sat forward in his chair and looked
back over his shoulder.
"Our friend,'' he muttered, sis afraid
that Paul is going to marry this wo
man. Now, wonder why?'
These two had met before in a past
which has little or nothing to do with
the present narrative. They had dis
liked each other with a completeness
partly bred of racial hatred, partly the
outcome of diverse interests. But OF
late years they had drifted apart
There was no reason why the friend.
ship, such as it was, should not have
lapsed into mere bowling acquaint-
ance.
Steinmetz knew that the Frenchman
had recognized him before entering the
room. It was to be presumed that he
had deliberately chosen to cross the
threshold, knowing that recognition
was inevitable. Karl Steinmetz went
farther He suspected that De Chaux-
vile had come to the Talleyrand club
having heard that he was in England
with the purpose in view of seeking
him out and warning him against Mrs.
Sydney scarborough.
1T would appear" murmured the
stout philosopher. chat we are about
to work together for the first time.
But if there is one thing that dislike
more than the enmity of Claude de
Chauxville it is his friendship"
CHAPTER VII.