Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-07-28
CHAPTFR M.

ton, had been collected and prepared
by the stout man with the jovial face
who had taken Prosper under his pro
lection. NJ. Nerduret-
Reaching Paris at nine o'clock IN
the evening, not by the Lyons road
as he had said. but By the Orleans
train. NJ. Nerduref hurried up 20 the
Archangel. where he found the cash
Ter impatientlv expecting him.
"You are shout 20 hear some rich
developments" he said 20 Prosper,
'and see how far hack into the past
one has TO seek for the primary cause
of "A crime All things arc linked to-
gether ami dependent upon each 9TH
er in this world OF ours. II Castor de
Clameran had not entered little
.afe at TarascOn 20 play game Of
billiards 20 years ago, your money
safe would not have been robbed
three weeks ago.
Valentine de Ia Nerberie il pun
ished in 1866 for the murder COM
United for her sake in 1870 Nothing
Is neglected or forgotten. when stern
retribution asserts her sway ..is-
ten"
And he forthwith related all that
he had discoN cred. referring. as he
went along. 20 volumiuous manu-
script which he had prepared. with
many notes aud authenticated proofs
attached.
During the last week ". Verdurct
had not had p hours rest. but he
bore no traces OF fatigue His iron
muscles hraved any amount Of labor,
and his elastic nature was too well
tempered 20 give way beneath such
pressure.
While any other man would have
sunk exhausted IN a chair. ne stood
mp and described. with the enthusi-
asm and captivating animation pecu-
liar 10 him. the minutest details and
intrioacies OF the plot that he had de-
voted his whole energy 90 unravel
ing; Personating every character he
brought upon the scene 70 take part
in the strange drama, SO that his lis
terer was bewildered and dazzied by
his brilliant acting.
As Prosper listened 20 this narra-
tive OF events happening 90 years
back. the secret conversations as min
utely related as n overheard the mo-
ment they took place, IL sounded more
Ike romance than a statement Of
plain facts.
All these ingenious explanations
might De logical. but what founda-
ton did they possess? Might they not
be the dreams OF an excited magma
tion2
NJ Nerdurcf did NOT nni@h hs- -
port until four o'clock in the morn
ing then he cried. with an accent OF
triumph:
And now they are on their guard
and sharp, wary rascals too: but they
won't escape me. I've coruered them
beautifully. Before week il over
Prosper. YOU viii be publicly exon.
Grated, and will come ont OF this
scrape with flying colors. have
promised your father YOU shall"
lmpossible!" said Prosper. ia n
dazed way; lit can not be-"
"What?"
All this you have just told me"
NJ Nerduret opened wide his eyes
as II he could not understand any
one having the audacity TO doubt the
accuracy Of his report
Impossible. indeed" he cried
What have you not sense enough
60 see the plain truth written all over
every fact. aud attested by the best
authority? Your Observation-Disclosures .ex-
asperates me 10 the last degree"
But how can such rascalities take
place in Paris, in our very midst.
without"
"Parbleui" interrupted the fat
man. you are young, my friendi Are
you innocent enough TO suppose that
crimes. forty times worse than this
don't occur every day? You think the
horrors OF the police court are the
only ones. Pooh. You only read in the
Gazette des TribunauN' OF the cruel
meiodramas of life, where the actors
are as cowardly as the knife. and as
treacherous AS the poison they use.
IL is at the family fireside. often I'm
der shelter Of the law itself. that the
real tragedies OF life are acted: in
modern crimes, the traitors wear
gloves, and cloak themselves with
public position; the victims die. smil-
Ing TO the last, without revealing the
torture they have endured 10 the end.
Why. what ! have just related 10 YOU
rs an everyday occurrence; and YOU
profess establishment"
can't heip wondering how you
discovered All this tissue OF crime"
"Ah, that is the point" said the fat
man, with self-satisfed smile.
When j undertake task. devote
my whole attention 10 il. Now. MAKE.
note OF tins: When man of ordi-
nary Intelligence concentrates his
thoughts and energies upon the at
tainment of an object. he is certain 20
OBTAIN ultimate success. Besides that.
have my own method of working up
a case"
still, don't see what grounds you
had TO go upon"
To be sure, one needs some light
TO guide one in q dark affair like this.
But the fire in Clameran's eve at the
mention of Gaston's name igaited my
lantern. From that moment 7 walked