Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-08-04
CHAPTER XIII

morning. and NJ. Fauvel had Just en-
tered his study when bis mail was
brought IN.
After opening a dozen business let
tiers. his eyes fen on the fatal missive
sent by Prosper.
Something about the writing struck
him as peculiar.
Ii was evidently a disguised hand.
and although. owing 20 the fact Of
his being "a millionaire. he was in the
habit OF receiving anonymous lom-
munications, sometimes abusive. but
generally begging for money. this
particular letter filled him with an
indefinite preseutiment Of evil. a cold
chill ran through his heart, and he
dreaded 10 open il.
With absolute certainty that he
was about 70 learn some new calomi-
~. he broke the seal and opening the
coarse cafe paper. was shocked hy
the following words:
DEAR SIE-Nou have handed
your cashier over 70 the law. and YOU
acted properly. convinced as YOU
were Of his dishonesty.
But II il was he Who took three
hundred and fifty thousand francs
from your safe. was it ne also who
took Madame Fauvel's diamonds -
This was a terrible blow 20 man
whose life hitherto had been an un-
broken chain Of prosperity. who could
recall the past without one bitter re-
gret, without remem berirx anv sor-
row deep enough 70 bring forth a
tear
What, his wife deceive hiri. And
among an men. 20 choose ole vie
enough TO rob her Of her jewels. and
force her Go be his accomplics in the
ruin of an innocent young man.
For did not the letter before him
assert this 20 be the fac. and tell
him how 10 convince himself Of It's;
truth?
NJ. Fauvel was as bewildcrcd az II
he had been knocked on the head
with "a club. IL was impossible for
his scattered ideas 70 take IN the
enormity of what these dreadful
words intimated. lie seemed 10 boz
mentally and physically paralysed. az
he sat there staring blankly at the
letter.
changed 10 indignant rage.
What a fool / ann" he cried. "; O
listen 20 such base lies. such malicious
charges against the purest woman
whom God ever sent 20 bless man. 90
And he angriy crumpied up the LETT
ter, and threw e. into the empty hre-
place. saying:
i will forget having read 81. will
not soil my mind by letting 30 dwell
upon such turpitudei"
He said this and ne thought it:
but, for all that. be could not open
the rest OF his letters. The anonv-
NOUS missive stood before his eyes in
letters OF fire. and drove every other
thought from his mind.
That penetrating. clinging. all-cor-
roding worm. suspicion. had taken
possession o. his soul. and ae hs
leaned over his desk. with his face
buried in his hands. thinking over
many things which had lately o.
CURED. Insignificant at the time. but
fearfully omiuous now. this unwul-
ingly admitted germ Of suspicion
grew and expanded until 10 became
certainty.
But, resolved that be would not
think Of his wife in connection with
so vile deed. he imagined thou
sand wild excuses FOR the mischief
maker who took his mode OF annoy
ing him; of course there was no truth
in his assertions. bat from curiosity
he would like 20 know who had writ
ten il. And yet suppose
sshT.v.os FrrT CIT
wildly cried. as the idea Of his wife's
guilt would obstinately return TO his
troubled mind.
Thinking that the writing might
throw some light on the MYSTERY. he
started up and tTemhIirgly picxed the
fatal letter out OF the ashes. Care
fully smoothing IL out. he laid il on
his desk, and studied the heavy
strokes, light strokes. and capitals of
every word
1T must be from some Of my clerks"
he finally said; some one who is an
CRY with me for refusing 20 raise his
salary; or perhaps IL IS the one thar
| dismissed the other day."
ClinginC 20 this idea. he tboupbt
over az the Young men in his bank:
but not one could he believe canable
of resortinR 30 so base a vengeance.
Then he wondered where the letter
had been posted. thinking this might
throw some light upon the mystery
He looked at the envelope, ana read
the pOstmark:
Rue du Cardinal Lemoine."
This fact told him nothing.
Once more he read the letter, spell
ing over each word, and trying TO put
Inherent construction on the horri-
Ole phases that stared him in the face
1T Is generally agreed thai an anon
ymous letter should be treated with
silent contempt. and cast aside as the
malicious lies of coward who dLres
not 20 say TO a mans face what he
secretly commits 80 paper, and forces
upon him
This is all very well In theOrv f,,t