Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-06-30

NJ. Nerdurct did NOT answer. He had
first been stupeGed by his mistake.
and was now raching his brain 10 Dis
cover the cause OF it. which was soon
discerned by his penetrating mind.
This is the .ecrst discovered by
Nina" continued Prosper. Madeleine.
this pure and noble Madeleine. whom
| believed to be as immaculate as an
angel, Is in love with this thief. who
has even stole the name he bears. and,
/, trusting fool that 1 was, made this
scoundrel my best friend I confidedl
TO him all my hopes and fears; ana
he was her ioyeri OF course they
amused themselves by ridicriing myl
silly devotion and blind confidencel"
He stopped, overcome by his vio-l
lent emotions. Wounded vanity is the
worst of miseries- The certainty of
having been so shamefully deceived
and betrayed made Prosper almost in
sane with rage.
This is the last humiliation 1 shall.
submit to-" he fiercely cried. 1T shall
not be said that I was coward enough
TO stand by and let an insult like this
go unpublished"
He started toward the house; but
NJ. Nerduret seized his arm and said:,
What are you going 10 do2s
Have my revenge. i viii break.
down the door; what do care for.
the noise and scandal, now that L
have nothing TO lose? 1 shall not at
tempt TO creep into the house like a
thief, but as a master, as one who.
has right TO enter. as a man who.
having received an insult which can
only be washed out with blood comes.
TO demand satisfaction.
You viii do nothing OF the sort j.
Prosper"
who will prevent me2"
Il will"
You? Do not hope that You win
be able to deter me. / will appear
before them. put them TO the blush,
kill them both. then put an end 10 ny
own Evretebed existence. That is
what intend 10 do, and nothing shall
stop mel"
If NJ. verduret had not held Pros
per with vise-like grip. he would
have escaped. and carried out his
threat.
If YOU make any noise, Prosper. or
raise an alarm, all your hopes are
ruined"
II have no hopes now"
"Raoul. put on his guard. VIII es-
cape US, and you will remain dishon-
ored forever"
What difference is il TO me?"
1T makes a great difference to me.
/ have sworn 20 prove your innocence.
4 man of your age can easily end q
wife. but can never restore Iuster TO
furnished name. Let nothing inter
fere with the establishing of your in
nocence."
Genuine passion Is uninfluenced by
surrounding circumstances. NJ. YER
duret and Prosper stood foot-deep in
mud wet TO the skin. the rain pour
ing down on their heads. and Yet
seemed i'm no hurry 10 end their dis
pute.
II viii Toe avenged" repeated Pros
per, with the persistency OF fixed
idea; Il will avenge myself"
wen, avcuge yourself like a man,
and not like child," said NJ. Yer
duret, angrily.
"Monsieurl"
Eyes. repeat IL, like q child. What
viii You do after YOU get into the
house? Have YOU any arms? No. You
rush upon Raoul, and struggle en-
sues; while You two are fighting,
Madeleine jumps ina her carriage, and
drives OF. What then? Which is the
stronger, YOU or Raoul?"
Overcome 10y the sense of his pow
lessness, Prosper was silent.
And arms would be of no use"
continued NJ. Nerduret; 1T is fortu-
nate you have none with you, for il
would be very foolish 20 shoot a man
whom you can send 20 the galleys."
What must l dO?"
wait. Vengeance is delicious
fruit. that must ripen in order that
we may fully enjoy it."
Prosper was unsettled in lis resolu-
ton; NJ. Nerduret seeing this brought
forth his last and strongest argu-
ment.
How do we know" he said, that
Mademoiselle Madeleine is here on
her own account? Did we not come TO
the conclusion that she was sacrific-
ing herself for the benefit of some
one else? That superior win which
| compelled her 70 Danish you may
have constrained this step tonight"
That which comedies with our Sc
cret wishes is always eagerly well
coined. This supposition, apparently
improbable, struck Prosper as posi-
bly, true.
That might be the case" he muir
INJURED, ''who knows?"
II would soon know" said NJ. Yer
| duret, IF could see them together
in that room"
viii you promise me, monsieur, to
tell me the exact truth, ali that you
see and hear, no matter how painful
II may be for mel"
Il swear it, upon my word of hon.
or"
Then, with strength of which a