The Washington herald., 1906-11-17
CHAPTER XVII.
Francine.

FFanctue.
As the old Count d'Attala had predicted
his capture and death were alone sufi-
cient to cause nIhilism az a united and
coherent organization TO be completely
and Immediately disrupted; for without
| the recognized leadership Of one powerful
chief and with no one ready or. capable
10 assume the vacant Office. the various
scattered lodges composing the society
were bound TO assume independent action
and administration. and thereby dWindle
into separate insignifcance.
But the count had actually underrated
the effects Of the catastrophe which he
had so jestingly referred TO. A thorough
examination Of his books and papers re
suited in the discovery Of exhaustive
registers Of all nihilists the world over
who had at any time been enrolled as
members Of the society. So carefully had
these volumes been compiled that not only
were names and addresses faithfully re
corded. but in each case an individual
/ personal description accompanied the des-
/ iguation. together with a noted COM
mentary on each members business. pro-
fessiOn, dispositions and habits Of life
/ These registers formed a small but in
valuable library. which Perigord subse-
quenuy distributed among the govern
ments Of Russia, France. Germany, Eng
land, Spain, Austria, Switzerland. and
/ Italy. SO that in less than a month al
most every nihilist in Europe was pres
emily known 10 the police of these differ
ent nations, who were thus provided with
an infaliible weapon 10 use, not only in
/ frustrating their evil purposes. but 10
D -. L Il -
destroy the last remnant of their decay
/ ing power
/ Perigord did not remain on the island of
/ Attala longer than was necessary to
/ transport his late fathers treasures and
/ belongings on board the yacht, to cut the
] secret cable, and thereafter to blow up
/ the castle with dynamite and guncOtton.
/ When the work of annhilatiOn was
| complete, he steamed TO the Gulf OF
/ Signs, near SpeZzia, where a final assem-
/ bly, Of his council had been convened to
| meet in the Count d'Attla's villa. On that
/ occasion he redeemed as far as possible
/ his promises to Cressingham and OeItien
/ Cressingham was invested by the Ger
man Emperor with one of the most COW
/ eted orders of European distinction. The
young King OF Italy made him a cOun,
/ of the Roman Empire. and three mon
I lEllfIr
| Of unqualified recommendation TO the
/ Prince of Wales and her majesty the
/ Queen Of England. in which they ex-
/ pressed the great pleasure it would afford
/ them TO meet the young man on some
/ future occasion. as one OF England's rep
/ resentativeS.
| Oeltjen WAS made a count OF the Church
/ of Rome. he received a patent Of Austrian
/ nobility. and the Kaiser promised to re-
/ instate him in a similar position to that
which his careIessness had forfeited.
] With regard TO the vast treasures of
the Count d dAttala. the council command
/ ed them TO be divided into three equal
portions, one of which was to be placed
at the disposal of Cardinal Carnito TO be
! expended in charity, the second was con-
/ ferred upon PeTigOrd. together with the
villa Of Franchia and a patent presented
/ him by the King of Italy which created
/ him and his heirs Counts of Attala-a
/ title which he had of all the world the
/ greatest right to bear The third portion
was handed over 70 Cressingham In trust
/ for Desire. the young man. at PeriRord' $
/ request, having been appointed her guar
dian until her marriage with Ludwig Won
Oeltjen. which had been fixed to take
/ place three months hence in Berlin. the
! Kaiser gracloUsly cOnsenting TO the nun
tials and promising to be present at the
! ceremony.
/ When the council had finished its de-
/ libeTations. Perigord took leave of his
! friends, informing them that circum-
/ stances Of a private nature had arisen
which commanded his immediate presence
4 in Hungary, but he promised that if he