The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-03-04

In the first shock of the discovery,
hearing the bars drop home, we stood
gaping, and wondering what it meant.
Then Maignan, with an oath, sprang to
the door and tried it-fruitlessly.
1 Joined with him more at my leis-
ure, and raising my voice asked angri-
~ what this folly meant. open the
door there! Do you hear, landlord ~
1 cried.
No one moved, though Maignan con-
tinued to rattle the door furiously.
do you heaT?" 1 repeated, between
anger and amazement at the fix in
which we had placed ourselves.
Open
But, although the murnur of voices
outside the door grew louder, no one
answered, and I had time TO take in
the full absurdity of the position.
Maignan was furious. La Trape was
vicious, while my own equanimity
scarcely supported me against the
thought that we should probably be
where We were until the arrival of
my people, whom 1 had directed my
wife to send to lie MesniI at noon next
day. The coming would free US, in
deed, but at the cost of ridIcule and
laughter.
Wincing at the thought I bade
Maignan be silent; and, drumming on
the door myself, called for the land
lord. Some one who had been giving
directions in a tone of great conse-
qUence ceased speaking, and came
close to the door. After listening 2
moment, he struck it with his hand.
Silence, rogues!' he cried. DO you
hear? Silence there, unless you want
your ears nailed to the post"
Fool" I answered. open the door
instantly. Are you all mad here, that
you shut up the kings servants in this
way?"
The kings servants!' he cried, jeer-
ing at US. Where are they?"
Here!" I answered, swallowing my
rage as well as I might Il am Mon
s.eur Gringuet's deputy, and if YOU 90
not this instant
Monsieur GTinguers deputy! Ho
hOi' he said. Why, the fool, Monsieur
GTlnguets deputy arrived two hours
before you. You must get uD a little
earlier another time"
I looked at Maignan and La Trape,
and they at me, and by the light of the
lanthorn which the latter held l saw
that they were smiling, doubtless at
the dilemma in which we had Innocent
~ placed ourselves. After a moments
reflection I called out to know who the
speaker on the other side was
4 am Monsieur de Fonvelle," he
answered
We'll, Monsieur de FonveIle," I re-
piled, Il advise you to have a care
what you do. I am Monster Gringuet's
deputy. The other man is an importer.
He mas no papers"
'Oh, yes, he has" he answered.
hooking me. Monsieur Curtin has
seen then, my fine fellow. and he is not
one to pay money without warrant"
At this several laughed, and a quay
ering voice chimed in with, ooh, yes.
he has papersl have seen them. Still,
in a case"
Tut, tut! 1t is all right"
1T is all wrong!" I retorted. Wrong,
I sayi Go to your man, and you will
find him gOne-gone with your money.
Monsieur Curtin
Two or three laughed, but 1 heard
the sound of feet hurrying away, and
guessed that Curtin has retired to sat
isfy himself. Nevertheless. the mo-
ment which followed was an anxious
one, since, if my random shot missed.
I knew that I should find myself in a
worse position than before But judg-
ing-from the fact that the deputy had
not confronted US hinself-that he was
an impostor, to whom Gringuet's i'll
ness had suggested the scheme on
which had myself hit, I hoped for the
best; and, to be sure, in a moment an
Outcry arose in the house and quickly
spread; and then the crowd came
tramping back, all wrangling and
speaking at once.
At the door the chattering ceased
and in a moment the door was thrown
open and I walked out with what dig
nifty I might Outside, the scene which
met my eyes might have been, under
other circumstances, diverting. Before
me stood the landlord of the inn, bow
ing, with light IN each hand, as If the
more he bent his backbone the more
he must propitiate me; while a fat,
middle-aged man at his elbow, whom l
took to be Fonvelle, smiled feebly at
me with a chapfallen expression. A
little aside, Curtin, a shriveled old fell
low, was wrfnging his hands over his
loss, and behind clustered a curious
crowd, of busy-bodies, who had much
ado to control their merriment.
The host began to mutter apologies,
but I cut him short ct will talk to
you tomorrow" I said, in voice which
made him shake in his shoes Now
give me supper, lights and a room-and
hurry. For you, Monsieur de Fonvelle,
you are an asst And for the gentle
man there, who has filled the rogue's
purse he will do well another time to
pay the king his dues!"
With that 1 left the two and followed
my host to his best room, Maignan and
La Trape attending me with very grim
faces. Here the landlord would have
his apologies, but my thoughts.
to revert to the purpose
which had brought me hither, affect
ed to be offended, that, by keeping all
at a distance, I might the more easily
preserve my character.
When I made my appearance next