The Washington herald., 1907-11-17

Monsieur Leblanc. with. as It seemed TO
st. Quintin. surprising interest.
7 left il at hotel-the Angel and
Royal" said s. Quintin. and then he
was suddenly seized by a strong belief
that he had done foolishly in telling
them this.
And are you going back tonight"
asked Mr.. Williams. You viii have
missed the ladies. I'm afraid They will
be on their way here by this time"
Monsieur Leblanc WAS looking grave
You say YOU took your luggage 70
Doncaster," said he. 4 thought you
We're going 10 stay the night al the Red
Lion here.
St Quintin did not answer. Although
these men We're very clever. very care
full. although ne had as Yet heard and
seen nothing 90 excite any fresh suspi-
ciOns by their behavior to him. he knew
that they must be aware OF his misJrust
and he felt that IL did not so very much
matter whether OF no he kept up an ap-
pearance Of friendship.
His great wish at the moment was 20
get rid Of them both. so that he might
continue the Investigations which they
had interrupted just at the moment when
he felt that he was getting warm.
But this was not so easy. He tried 20
walk fast, in order that he might get
clear Of them as soon as they reached
the park wall. which he proposed 10
climb over. as ne had done in entering.
He knew that neither Of these men
could be- athletic enough % climb UP
after him. so that he reckoned upon
having time 10 reach the village inn
while they were fumbling with the lock
OF the door in the dark
What were you doing by the pond
asked Monsieur Leblanc, in a subdued
and gentle voice.
St. Quintin hesitated
ooh, 7 was-I was looking Tor what
I told YOU l had left behind-for some
thing ! thought I might have dropped
| into the water when We were there this
| afternoon, he said. My matchbox,
a little gold matchbox
This was quite too lame story. and
/ he perceived even in the darkness under
the trees that a sort Of magnetic thrill
| Of alarmed incredibly passed from one
TO the other OF the two men.
"A Matchbox You were hoping 10 md
matchbox in the pond, with stick
J in the dark said Monsieur Leblanc,
drny.
st. Quintn was near enough TO the
wall 70 believe himself safe: so. throw
| INK of all disguise he answered boldly:
We'll. monsieur, I struck against a
| box of some sort II may have been a
matchbox. At any rate, I mean 10 have
another look for it-in the morning.
! Although he could not see much Of
/ their faces, St Quintin was Immediately
alive TO the effect his words had pro-
duced in both his hearers. Running for
ward and making a spring. he got on
I the wall and climbed 10 the top by the
/ help OF the clinging ivy
But when he jumped down on the other
! side he found Mr. Williams had, with
surprising CELEBRITY, got through the door.
/ companion. and was waiting 10 catch
\ him as he touched the ground
Come, we must help you 10 find your
| lost matchbox before you 60" said Mr.
Williams, selling him arm with a grip
which made it impossible to escape
At the same time Monsieur Leblanc
came round to the other side Of him.
and, holding him by the other arm. said
/ in his most urbane tones:
It's all right. I believe l saw your
matchbox on the mantelpiece at ~ cot
| tage. We will go together and see II I'm
not right"
And so, being without a word ready in
excuse. St. Quintin found himself led
away, practically a prisoner. between
/ the two gentlemen Of whom he had so
which he thought he had already reason
| to associate with one CHASTITY and hid
eous crime.