The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1905-04-07
CHAPTER XII.

u amuse themselves. was In q
blaze of electric light and fashion. The
occasion was the Concours HippiQue,
an ultra equine fete. where the lovers
Of the friend of man and such persons
as are fitted by an ungenerous fate
with limbs suitable to horsy clothes
meet and bow.
A crowd of well dressed men jostled
each other good naturally around a
long table, where insolent walters
served tepid coffee and sandwiches.
In the midst of these. as in his ele-
ment, moved the Baron Claude de
Chauxville, smiling his courteous,
ready smile, which his enemies called
q grin. Not far from him stood stout
gentleman of middle age with heavy
fair mustache brushed upward on Ell
ther side. This man had an air OF dis
tinction, which was notable even in
this assembly, for there were many
distinguished people present, and q
Frenchman of note plays his part well.
He stood with his hands behind his
back, looking gravely on at the social
festivity. He bowed and raised his hat
to many, but he entered into conversa-
ton with none.
'This Vassili is q dangerous man."
he heard more than once whispered.
Now, If a very keen observer had
taken the trouble to ignore the throng
and watch two persons only, that OBJ
server might have discovered the fact
that Claude de Chauxville was slowly
and purposely making his way toward
the man called Vassili.
! De Chauxville knew and was known
Of many He had but recently arrived
j from London. He found himself called
upon to shake hands with this one and
that He went from one to the other,
and each change Of position brought
him nearer to the middle aged man
with upturned mustache, upon whom
his movements were by no means lost.
Finally De Chauxville bumped
against the object of his quest. posi-
bly, indeed the object of his presence.
He turned with a ready apology.
"Ah," he exclaimed 'the very man I
was desiring to see."
The individual known as ''this Vas
SILL" a term of mingled contempt and
distrust, bowed very low. He was q
plain commoner, while his interlocutor
| was a baron. The knowledge of this
was sUbtly conveyed in his bow.
"How can I serve NJ lie BaronT he
inquired in we're which was natural
~ loud and strong, but had been re-
duced by careful training to tone in
audible at the distance of few PAGES.
"By following me to the Cafe Tan
tale in ten minutes" answered De
Chauxville, passing on to greet lady
who was bowling to him with the la
bored grace of Parisienne.
Vassili merely bowed and stood up
right again. There was something in
| his attitude of quiet attention, Of I'M
.obtrusive scrutiny and retiring intelli-
gence vaguely suggestive Of the police
T--something which his friends refrain
ed from mentioning to him, for this
VasSili was Il dignified man, of like
susceptibilities with ourselves and just
ly proud of the fact that he belonged
to the diplomatic corps. What posi-
ton he occupied in that select corpora
l
but it was known that he enjoyed con-
siderable emoluments, while he was
never called upon to represent his coun-
try or his emperor in any official ca
pacity. He was attached, he said, to
the Russian embassy. His enemies
called him a spy.
In ten minutes Claude de Chauxville
left the Concours HippiGue.
At the Cafe Tantale-not in the gar
ner room--he found the man called
Vassiii consuming a pensive and soil
tary glass of liqueur.
De ChauXville sat down, stated his
requirements to the waiter in single
word and offered his companion a Gig
arctic, which Vassili accepted, with the
consciousness that it came from a cor
oneted case.
81 am rather thinking of visiting
Russia" said the Frenchman.
again" added Vassili in his quiet
voice. "And NJ. lie Baron wants pass
porte"
'And more" answered De Chaux-
vile. 81 want what you hate parting
with-informatiOn."
The man called Vassili leaned back
in his chair with little smile. 1t was
an odd little smile, which fell over his
features like a mask and completely
hid his thoughts. 1t was apparent that
Claude de Chauxville's tricks of speech
and manner fell here on barren ground.
The Frenchman's epigrams. his meth
cd Of conveying his meaning in a non
committing and impersonal generality.
failed to impress this nearer.
"Then," said Vassili, 'if l under
stand NJ. lie Baron Alright, it is a ques-
ton of private and personal affairs
that suggests this journey to-Rus-
sia?"
Precisely"
SIN no sense mission?" suggested
the other, slipping his liqueur thought
fully.
Gin no sense a mission. give you q
proof. have been granted six months
leave of absence, as you probably
know"
Precisely SO. When a military off,
1