Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-06-16
SATURDAY. -. JUNE 10TH. 1905

kept III ignorance OF your intention
of following up this affair. Monsieur
Patrigent will tell you 70 watch Pros
per; you viii reply that you will not
lose sight of him. 1 myself will an
swer for his being in safe keeping"
Suppose he asks me about Gipsy2"
NJ. Lecoq hesitated for a moment.
Tell him." he finally said, that
you persuaded her, in the interest OF
Prosper, to live in n house where she
can watch some one whom you sus-
pect."
Fanferlot was joyously picking up
his hat to go, when NJ. Lecoq checked
him by waving his hand, and said:
''I have not finished. Do you know
how to drive a carriage and manage
horses?"
why, patron, can you ask this of a
man who used TO be a rider in the
Bouthor circus2"
Very well. AS soon as the judge
dismisses you, return home immedi-
ately, make yourself a wig and the
complete dress of valet; and. hav-
ing dressed yourself. take this letter
to the agency on the Rue Delorme."
But, patron"
There must be no but. my friend;
the agent will send you TO Monsieur
de Clameran. who is looking for
valet, his man having left him yes
terday."
Excuse me if I venture TO suggest
that YOU are making mistake. This
Clameran is not the cashiers friend2"
why do you always interrupt me2"
said NJ. Lecoq. imperiously. do what
/ tell YOU. and don't disturb your
mind about the rest. Clamcran is not
a friend Of Prosper's, I know; but he
Is the friend and protector of Raoul
de Layers. Why so? Whence the
intimacy OF these two men of such
different ages That is what I must
find out. ] must also find out who
this forge-mastcr is. who lives in
Paris. and never goes 20 attend 20
his furnaces. 4 jolly fellow, who
takes il in his head TO live at the
Hotel du Louvre. i'm the midst OF a
tumultuous, ever-changing crowd. is
a fellow difficult TO watch. Through
you / will have an eve upon him. He
has carriage: YOU are 10 drive il:
aud you will soon be able 60 give me
an account of his manner OF life. and
OF the sort OF people with whom he
associates"
you shall be ohrved. patron"
"Another thirr. Monsieur de- Clam
eran is irritable aud suspicious. You
viii be presented to him under the
name of Joseph Dubois. lie will de-
mand your certificate of good char
acter. Here are three. which state
that YOU have lived with the Marquis
de Stairmeuse and the Count de Com
marin, and that Won have Just left the
Baron dc WortscAen. who went 20
Germany the other day. NOV, keep
your eyes open; be careful OF your
drOsN and manners. Be polite, but
not excessively SO. And, above all
things, don't be obsequious; il might
arouse suspicion.
II understand, patron. Where shall
eport 10 you2"
Il will call on you every day. Until
1 tell you differently. don't step foot
In this house; you might be followed.
II anything important should happen,
send a note 90 your wife, and she
will inform me. Go, and be prudent"
The door closed on Fanferlot as NJ.
In the twinkling of an eye he had
Invested himself Of the appearance of
- police officer. He took of his stiff
cravat and gold speetacles. and re-
moved the close wig from his thick
black hair. The official Lecoq had
disappeared, leaving in his place the
genuine LecOq whom nobody knew
a handsome young man, with a bold.
determined manner, and brilliant,
piercing eyes.
But he only remained himself for
an instant. Seated before a dressing
table, covered with more cosmetics,
paints, perfumes, false hair, and 9th
or unmentionable shams than are 10
be found on the toilet-tables of our
modern bellies, he began to undo the
work Of nature, and make himself a
new face.
lie worked slowly, handling his
brushes with great care. But in an
hour he had accomplished one of his
daily masterpieces. When he had fin
ished, be was no longer Lecoq; he
was the large gentleman with red
whiskers, whom Fanferlot failed TO
recognize.
We'll" he said, casting a last look
in the mirror, Il have forgotten moth
ing; have left nothing to CHARGE. All
my plans are fixed; and i shall make
some progress to-day, provided the
Squirrel does not waste time"
But Fanferlot was too happy to
waste a minute. He did not run, he
flew, toward the Palais de Justice.
AT last he was now able TO convince
some one that he, Fanferlot, was
man of wonderful perspicacity.
AS TO acknowledging that he was
about TO obtain a triumph with the
ideas of another man, he never
thought Of it. 1t is generally in per-
feet good faith that the jackdaw
struts in the peacock's feathers.
His hopes were not deceived. If the
judge was not absolutely and fully
convinced, he admired the ingenuity
OF the whole proceeding, and compli-
fsa1 n. i