The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-04

The Story Of a Great Conspiracy by Guy Thorne.
;. p. Putnam's Sons.)


tlonnl vice and write trades against 1t.
OF course, II It becomes u regular habit.
1t Is dangerous, and excess in abs!nthe
is worse than most things But one glass
taken now and again Is n wonderful
stomaohc and positively beneficial.
take one, perhaps five times In year.
and like It. But, like all good things,
IL is terribly abused both by tho people
who use 1t and those who don't"
Suddenly Helena turned to Gortre.
"Oh, look, Basil" che said. "rhero Is
our friend OF the Plage-Quinbus F'les-
trim, the mountain Of flesh. you remember
your Swift"
Tho big stranger, now In evening dress
and her. siir coat. had Just come into
the cafr / was sitting there with
cigarette a Paris paper. He seemed
lost In SOME sort OF anxious speculation
at least 40 it seemed by the dropping OF
the Journal in his massive fingers and the
set expression of abstraction which I'm
gered In his eyes and spread a veil over
his countenance.
They had all turned Mt Helena's cxcla-
nation, and looked towards the other side
OF tho cafe, where the man was sitting.
why, that's Sir Robert Lewellyn"
said Spence.
Tho vicar looked UP eagerly. The
great authority on the antiquities OF the
Holy Land?" he said.
.'Yes. that's tho man. They knighted
him the other day. He's supposed to BIO
the grcatest living authority. you know"
do you know him, them" asked the
vicar.
"oh. yes" said Spence, cnrelessly.
lone knows every one in my trade: /
have to- Two often gone to him for in
formation when anything very special
has been discovered. And have met
him In clubs and at lectures. or at first
nights at the theatre. He is great play
goer."
"a decent sort OF man?" said Gortre,
In tone which certainly implied a doubt.
Spence hesitated moment. "Oh. well.
], suppose So" he said. cRrelessly. There
are tales about his private life. but prob
world as we'll as a great scholar and
suppose tho rather unusual combination
makes people talk. But he is right UP at
at the top OF the tree-goes everywhere,
and he's just been knightef for his work.
I'll go over and speak to him
'If he'll come over said the vicar,
his eyes alight with anticipation and the
hope OF a talk with this famous expert
on the subjects nearest his own heart.
bring him, please There is nothing
should like better than chat with him.
know his Modern Discoveries and Holy
Writ almost by heart
They watched Spence go across TO Sir
Roberts table. Tho big man started as
he was spoken to. looked up in surprise.
then smiled with pleasure and extended
welcoming hand. Spence sat down be-
side him. and they were soon in the
middle OF brisk conversation.
The poor man looked very bored until
Mr.. Spence spoke to him." said Helena.
Father, I'm sure you'll have your wish.
He seems glad to have some one to talk
to-"
She was right. After minute or two
the journalist returned with LlwelIyn.
and the five of them were soon in a full
flood of talk.
II was going to dine alone at my hotel. .
said the professor at LENGTH 'fbut Spence
says that he knows of a decent restaur-
ant here. ! wonder II you would let me
be one of your party? I'm quite alone In
Dieppe for couple of days. I'm waiting
for friend with whom l am going 20
travel"
ooh. do come. Sir Robert" said the
vicar. with manifest pleasure. Are you
going to be away from England for
long?''
81 have leave from the British Mus
cum for year" said the professor. MY
doctor says that require absolute rest
I am en- route for Marseilles and from
there to Alexandria"
The Pannier dor proved a pleasant
little place. and the dinner was excellent.
The professor surprised and then amused
the others by his criticism OF the
viands. He made the dinner his especial
business. sent for the cook and had Il
Ss.:ous conversation with him, chose the
wines with extreme care.
His knowledge of the culinary art WIS
enormous, and he treated 1t with a kind
OF reverence. addressing himself more
particularly to Helena.
Yes. Miss Byars you must be most
careful in the preparation of really good
crayfish soup. This is excellent. Tho
great secret is to favour with little
lobster spawn and to mix the crumb of
a French roll with the stock-white stock
OF course-lbefore you add the powdered
shells and anchoMes.''
Many times. despite his Impotence to
get to deeper and more congenial sub
iects, the vicar smiled at the purring OF
this gourmet, who seemed to prefer a
sauce 10 an inscription and rssoles to
research
But with the special cofree-covered
with crystals of amber sugar-the wears
hoN came. Sir Robert realized that 1t
was inevitable and with half sigh gave
the required opening.
Once started, his manner changed utter>
~. The mask of lnaterialism peeled away
from his face, which became younger,
brighter, as thought animated 1t, and
new, finer lines came out upon 1t as
knowledge poured from him.
The conversation threatened to be a
long one. Spence saw that and proposed
to go on to the Casino with Helena, leov-
ing the two clergyman with Llwellyn. It
was when they had gone that the trio
settled down completely.
It resolved itself at first into a dia-
logue between the two elder men. Gortre 8
knowledge was too general and superti-
cial on these purely antiquarian matters
to allow him to take much part in it. He
sat slipping his coffee and listening with
keen attention and great enjoyment 70
this talk of experts. He had not liked
Llwellyn from the first and could not
do so even now, but he was forced to
recognize the enormous intellectual ac-
tivity and power OF the big, purriny
creature before him.
Step by step the two arohaeologists