The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-02-25

The Story Of Great Conspiracy by Guy Thorne.
Copyright 1904 by G. p. putnan's Sons.

tie most costly even III that great RIVER
palace OF to-day. but such considerations
need never enter into his life.
The utter uiiquestioncd freedom Of
such life, It's entire Liberation from any
restraint or convention, stiitod him ex-
actly
Llweyn had never Waited sohuabe in
MS private apnrlmerts before ar any
time As he was driven easily to the
meeting he norved himself for II, sum
rnoning up all his resolution. He swept
aside the cnervnting Influences OF the
last few hours.
schuabe was waiting in the large Sit
tlne-room with balconies upon which he
could look down upon the embankment
and the river. 1t was his favourte
aiming all the rooms OF tao site.
He looked gravely and also 81 little
curiously ut the Professor as he entered
the room. There G,ils n question IN
his eyes; tho guest had sensation Of
being measured and weighed with some
definite purpose.
The greeting was cordial enough. "l
am very sorry, Llwcllyn, to catch you
suddenly like this" Schunbe said, "Dut
should like to settle the business re-
| tween us without deInE. j have cor
tain proposals to make 20 you. and II
we agree upon them there be much
| to consider. az the thing Is a big one.
But before we talk of this let me offer
/ you something TO cat"
The Professor had recovered his hun
| ger. The chill OF the night air, the
| sudden excitement of the summons, and,
though he did not realize 1t, the absence
OF patchouli odours in his nostrils, had
recalled an appetite.
The space and air of tho huge room,
with it's high roof. was soothing after
| Bloomsbury Court Mansions
| Supper was spread for two OF n little
round table by the windows. Schuaba
ate little, but watched the other with
keen, detective eyes. talking meanwhile
OF ordinary, trivial things. Nothing cs-
capped him. the little CLEAN OF pleasure
the caviare, the Spanish olives he took
with his Notwithstanding the smaller
! French varicty-the ifnpnssIve watchful
eyes saw 1t all.
1t was too late for COTE. Llweliyn
said, when the man brought it. In q
long-handled brass pan from CONSTANT
nop!e, but he took kummel instead.
The two men faced each other on each
side OF the table. Both were smoking
For moment there was silence; the
critical time was Mt hand. Then
Schuabe spoke. His voice was colu and
steady and very businessike. AS he
talked the voice seemed to wrap round
Llwellyn like steel bands. There was
something relentless and inevitable about
it; bars seemed rising as he spoke.
II am going to be quite frank with
you, Liwellyn." he said, "and you will
find 1t better to be quite frank with me-
He took paper from the pocket OF
his smoking Jacket and referred to 1t
occa sionally.
you owe me now about fourteen thous-
and pounds?"
yes. II is roughly that"
Please correct me II / am wrong in
any point. Your salary at the British
Museum is a thousand pounds year.
and you make about fifteen hundred
more"
Yes. about that, but how do you
81 have made it my business TO know
everything. Professor. For example, they
are about to offer you knighthood."
Llwellyn stirred uneasily. and the hand
which stretched out Tor another clga-
rette shook a little.
II need hardly point out to you" the
cold words went on and certain stern
ness began TO enforce them. Il need
hardly point out that II | were to take
certain steps, your position would De
utterly ruined
Bankruptcy need not entirely ruin a
man"
1T would ruin YOU You see know
where the money has gone. Your pri-
vate tastes are nothing 10 me. and II
is not my business IL you choose to
| spend fortune on a cocotte. But In your
position, as the very handspring and arm
of the Higher Criticism of the Bible,
the revelations which would most GER
tainly be made would ruin you irrepara-
bly,. Your official posts would all go at
once. your name would become a pub
1 lie scandal everywhere. In England one
may do just what one likes II only one
does not in any way, by reason OF posi-
ton. You do belong to the nation. You
can never defy rubic opinion.
I With the ethical POINT OF view I
J have nothing personally to do. But 20
speak plainly, In the eyes OF the great
mass of English people You would be
| stamped rs an irredeemably vicious man
| II every thing came out 1nat is what
they would call you. AT one blow every
thing-knighthood. honour, place all
would fash away. Moreover, you would
have to give up the other SIDE OF your
| life. There would be no more suppers
| with Phrync or rides to Richmond in
| the new Inotor-car."
He laughed, low, contemptuous laugh
! which stung. Lwellyn's face had grown
pale. His large, white fingers picked
uneasily at the tnble-cioth.
His position was very clearly shown
I to him, with greater horror and vivid
ness than ever 1t had come to him be-
/, fore, even in his moments OF acutest
depression.
The overthrow would be indeed utter
and complete. With the greedy imag-
nation OF the sensualist he saw himself
/ living in some cheap. foreign town.
J Bruges, perhaps. or Brussels. upon his
wife's small income, bereft alike of work
\ and Measure.
"All you say is true" he murmured as
the other made an end. i am IN your
power. 1t is best to be plain about l..ese
/ things. What is your aternative?"
"My alternative, ,if you accept It, will
mean certain changes to you. First or
all 1t will be necessary for you to OBJ
tain years leave from the British -du-
1 scum. l had thought of asking You to
resign your position. but that Will NOT
be necessary, I think, now This can
4 be arranged with n Specialist easily
enough.