Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-10-31
CHAPTER XXI
A u S t y n


the house OF the Eicomte De Naiair.'
remarked NJ. CasSagne, on the morning
following his adventure in the garden.
Yes" replied D'Au5urou. They are
both there nearly every night
Now is the time sou must introduce
me as the rich Swiss gentleman. prepar-
ed to take shares in the Consolidated
Dock Company, or whatever YOU call it."
II am prepared 70 do that answered
UAuburon, whenever you are ready 10
assume the part. OF course | cannot an
swer that tie mere establishment Of bust
ness relations with the vicomfe viii lead
to an invitation to hi, house"
you need not brighten yourself about
that. Any one who has any money to
drop on his card tables need not remain
long unlimited. ! have seen enough OF
him to know that. You had better see
him this evening and say that you expect
me from Berne shortly. Meantime, you
must post me thoroughly on the Dock
Company scheme. and when | meet the
ycomte | must be prepared TO endorse
IT,"
What is your particular object in
watching Madame Colbert Remplin
through the de VaIair lens? There are
other houses which she visits more fire.
quently where perhaps you would have
better opportunities of watching her
mo, not according to your accounts
Of the de Valair entertainments. You
say that they are extended until late
hour. and that Madame Colbert-Remplln
herself has become confirmed gambler.
What better opportunity could you wish
for than TO study a person under such
circumstances? Give me the atmosphere
Of the gambling table to show up the
points in a persons character.
las you will" assented D'Auburon. 1
should have thought. though. 1t would
have been an easy matter for you to have
attached yourself to the household OF
madame in some capacity; where your
opportunities OF studying her, and not
lug with whom she is in touch. would be
far greater
You are mistaken, my friend, assure
you" replied the detective, lin your esti-
mate of the opportunities such course
would afford Suppose | did bride the
footman to leave. and took his place,
which could. l admit, easily done; the
opportunities which would be afforded Oh
watching Madame Remplin would not De
In any measure increased. Worse, IN
the presence OF servants she would be
doubv cautious; and she could, in the
capacity of mistress. impose such tasks
upon members of her household as would
effectually compel their absence when she
wished to be entirely free from espionage.
Besides, a mere servant has no opportu-
nifty to follow her and watch her in So
ciety; TO note her actions when mlnglinS
with the world, to listen to her as she
converses with her equals, and to read
between the lines of her general conduct
and behavior.
On the morning following this dialogue
NJ. Cassagne. having met D'Auburon oy
appointment at his club, the two gentle
men proceeded to the office of the Mu-
tual Credit and Trust Company, where
Cassagne was formally introduced to the
Vicomte de Nalair. Jules Chabot, Nj.
Colbert Remplin and others interested IN
the dock enterprise.
During the conversation which ensued
the broker Herr Goldstein called and
brought the intelligence that such stock
as he had been authorized to place upon
the Bourse had found ready takers.
1T is always the way with really
sound thing" he remarked, with good
names behind it. An enterprise of that
character always goes" Then he whis-
percd in de Valiars ear:
"Who is the new man! The one IN
the white vest, who wears pale green
ribbon as a watch guard.
"That is Monsieur Frederic Lazare,
a rich manufacturer of Berne, Swltzer-
land. | suppose he eschews watch chains
because he gets enough of them in his
business. / have just put his name down
for large block of shares. BE sure and
he particularly civil to him. He is com
ing to the house tonight. Will you JOIN
us? We shall have a very quiet time.
Positively no cards, will be the order of
the evening"
Thus early in the day fortune had
favored NJ. Frederic La2are. Almost
stranger in Paris, the vicomte had gra-
ciously invited him to meet the vlcom-
Jesse at their house in the Avenue Wag-
ram.
with much pleasure" had been the
formal phrase with which the wealthy
Swiss had accepted the invitation. But
he uttered the words from the bottom of
his heart.
Il am delighted to meet any friend of
Monsieur D'Auburon's, was the express
sion with which the Vicomtesse de Valiar
welcomed the manufacturer of Berne. Il
spent a few weeks some years ago among
your beautiful mountains, and | assure
YOU | have never forgotten them. All
me, but it does not really pay to sigh
for vanished days: they can never come
again." and q reflective look came into
her fine eyes, as if some tender recollec-
ton. connected with her early trip to
the land of her guests birth, had recur-
red TO her mind.
He recalled the sunny smile habitual
with her when before her world, by say
ing;
when more advanced age brings
with it such opportunities as have fallen
10 your lot. madame, you should not re-
greet the fight of years; and are you to
be pitied, who know seemingly how to
make such good use of the worlds best
things?"
+. 1t was a very small part which sat
down TO dinner. There were eight per-
sons in all. Herr GoldStein. the broker.
was one Jules Chabot was also there.
The banker, Colbert Remplin and Mad
anne Colbert-Remplin came in at the last
moment The Swiss gentleman was duly
introduced to all in turn but the for
tunes of the evening placed him by the
side of the vicomtesse and remote from
that portion of the table where Madame
Colbert Remplin was seated.
He found in his hostess a woman of
unusual conversational attachments. She
was equally happy with the chat and
gossip of society, or prepared TO talk
cleverly on deeper topics. The dinner
was irreproachable. Had Cassagne's mind
not been SO preoccupied he would doubt
less have enjoyed it. There are some
dinners money will not purchase.
I'VE are to have no cards, l believe"
said the broker: chat is the edict to-
night, is it not:"
Yes" replied the vicomtesse, 1--WE are
TO have for once a quiet evening. l hope
you will manage to amuSe yourself.