Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-05-26

PEELED TO do so.
You viii be kind enough. my dear
monsieur" he said, ito excuse the
great liberty I take; but / really am
under the necessity of asking you for
a little information"
Information! From me, mon
sieur?"
Prom you, my dear monsieur;
from Monsieur Eugene CavaiIlon."
"But | do not know you"
"Ah, yes. YOU remember seeing me
this morning. It is only about a
trifiing matter, and you viii over
wheim me with obligations If Won
viii do me the honor 10 accept my
arm and step outside for a moment"
What could Cavaillon do? He took
FanferiOt's arm, and went out with
I i'm.
The Rue Chaptal is not one Of
those noisy thoroughfares where foot
passengers are in perpetual danger
of being run over by numberless We
hicles dashing TO and fro: there were
but two or three shops. and from the
corner of the Rue Fontaine occupied
10y an apothccary. To- the entrance of
the Rue Leonie, extended a high.
gloomy wall. broken here and there
10y small window which lighted the
carpenters shops behind.
1t was one of those streets where
you could walk at your ease. without
having 10 step from the sidewalk
every moment. So Fanferlot and Ca
WALTON were in no danger OF being
disturbed by passers-by.
What ] wished 20 say is. my dear
monsieur began the detective. "that
Monsieur Prosper Bertomy threw YOU
a note this morning"
Cavaillon vaguely foresaw that Do.
was TO be questioned about this note.
ard instantly put himself on his
guard
"Nou are mistaken" he said, blush
Ing 10 his ears.
Excuse me. monsieur. for presum-
ing to contradict YOU. but 7 am quite
certain of what ! say"
81 assure YOU that Prosper never
gave me anything"
pray. monsieur, 10 not persist I'm
a denial; YOU viii compel me 60 prove
that four clerks saw him throw YOU
note written I'm pencil and closely
folded"
Cayaillon saw the folly OF further
coutradicting man so well in
formed; so he changed his tactics.
and said;
1T is true Prosper gave me a note
this morning; but it was intended for
me alone. and after reading &C.. tore
IL up. and threw the pieces In the
Gre"
This might be the truth. Fam
feriot feared So; hut how could he
assure himself of the fact2 lie re-
membcrcd that the most palpable
tricks often succeed the best. and.
trusting tc his star, hc said, at haz-
ard:
Permit me TO observe that this
statement is not correct. the note
was intrusted To you 20 give TO Clip
sy."
a despairing gesture from Cavaulon
appraised the detective that ne was not
mistaken, hc brcathcd again.
81 swear 90 YOU, monsieur" bee
gan the young man.
EDO not swear. monsieur" inter
rupted Fanferlot. "all the oaths in
the world would be useless. You not
only preserved the note. but YOU
came 20 this house for the purpose
of giving 10 90 Gypsy. and 10 is i'm your
pocket now"
"No, monsieur, mol"
Fanferlot paid no attention TO this
denial, but continued in his gentlest
tone:
And ! am sure you will be kind
enough TO give il 20 me; believe me.
nothing but the most absolute neces-
sity-"
Never" exclaimed Cavallon; and.
believing the moment favorable. he
suddenly attempted 10 jerk his arm
from under Fauferlot's. and escape.
But his efforts were vain; the de-
tcctive's strength was equal to his
suavity.
Don't hurt yourself, young man."
he said, "hut take my advice and
quietly give up the letter"
Il have not got it,"
VERY we'll; see. YOU reduce me to
painful cNtremiyics. Ii YOU persist i'm
being SO obstinate. / shall call two
policemen, who viii take YOU by each
arm. and escort YOU TO the commits
sarv of police; and, once there. 1
shall be under the painful necessity
of searching your pockets, whether
YOU will or not"
Cavaillon was devoted 20 Prosper,
and willing 20 make any sacrifice in
his behalf; but he clearly saw that
II was worse than useless TO struggle
any longer, as he would have no time
20 destroy the note. To deliver il un-
der force was To betrayal; but he
cursed his powerlessness, and almost
wept with rage.
~ NV IN von~ nower," he said, and
then suddenly drew from his pocket
book t-c ui.Uchy note, and gave il
20 the detective.
Fanferlot tremblod with pleasure
as he unfolded the paper; yet. faith
full 10 his habits of fastidious polite
ness, before reading il he bowed to
Cavaillon. and said: