The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-10
e0pYRGGED 8907o BY 0RW9NG ElR@. ALL RlGE0 RE0EEEr

over the relations of Vivian Grey to his
 noble patron. The Marquis no longer
 consulted with him. but seemed to look suspiciously on the precocious youth and turned a remarkably cold shoulder to his
 advances. He seemed ready to break with Cleveland also 'I little thought, sir" said the Marquis pompously, that H.
 was to be made use of had understood that 1 was to-lead."
 Vivian sought Mrs Felix Lorraine and , had a serious conversation with her He saw what influence was at work. He end ed his little lecture by saying: "I can
 contemplate no situation which can jus tify your conduct toward MT. Cleveland even though he had spurned you-kneel- ing at his feet" Mrs. Lorraine shreked and tainted.
 When she had revived she confessed all--she had, indeed, tried to break up the
 cabal She asked Vivian to enter her parlor, where she offered him a glass of
 you,' said the lady. quite recovered Tn hook and seltzer. Let me prepare it for spirits.
 Vivian, gazing vacantly at mirror saw Mrs. Felix mix the drink and pour a white powder into it. sickness came
 over him. Here, drink while it effer-
 veses said the woman.
 "I am not thirsty--I am too hot-I am
 too anything, replied Vivian.
 If you will not drink, then here 1t goes forever" said Mrs. Lorraine, emptying
 the drink into a globe of gold and silver l fish. Later in the day Vivian saw a ser want carrying out the globe, in which the fish were dead.
 Vivian gave Mrs Felix to understand
 that she must undo her work or he would have a tale to tell that would drive her
 an outcast from Chateau Desir-and the lady undid her work. All was harmony again. The plotting went merrily for ward
 Then the conspirators went up to Lon don. The time was approaching when they were to strike. One morning the Marquis sent for Vivian. "Egad I am in
 great spirits this morning. said the mo- bleman. We are sure to win.
 Just then the mornings letters were brought in. "Hahl Whats this?' cried | his lordshp as he read the first letter. It 1 was from Lord Courtown, and it spoke of
 premature conduct. the betrayal of pri- | vate communication and ''the dshonora- 1 ble conduct of MT Vivian Grey" In | short, Lord Courtown had deserted. The
 second letter was from another member | of the cabai and to the same effect-Air might have been written by the same per I son. Letter after letter told the same | story. The whole crew had deserted and l told his lordship that Mr. Vivian Grey i could no longer use them for his own | purpose.
 | What is the matter?" cried Vivian "The matter." shriel6ed the Marquis. l "The matter is that I have been a poor, weak fool" And he flung over to Vivian l the last letter, which a dismissal of the Marquis from some little post of honor in which His Majesty had no fur | ther use for him. That l should have seen the victim of the arts of such a young scoundrel as you,' cried the Mar
 quis. "I will not hear youi' Go away, ], the Marquis of Carabas, to be made a | tool off
 Vivian left the room. He recognized the work of Mrs Felix Lorraine. 'T will seek
 her" he thought. and will stretch her out on rack of mental suffering at least I am ruined, but l will hava revenge" He found Mrs. Felix at her house,
 smiling and gay Solemnly he told her story made up for the occasion. He said
 that Mrs. Cleveland was dead; that he had spoken to Cleveland about Mrs. Lor- raine and that Cleveland had scorned her and vilifed her. He piled up the agony | racking the woman with fiendish ingenl- ty. At last she lost her self-possession | When inc had ended she sprang from tho sofa in a rage and, giving one loud shriek fell forward to the floor. She had burst a blood vessel Vivian turned his victim over to phy- sician and left the house. He sought Cleveland in his club. Cleveland at first would not speak to him Then he in- suited him. There was no way out of 1t the insult had been public. Vivian sent a friend, to the ex-minister T will not kill him." said Vivian. shuddcr- ing as he drove to the place of meeting. No, mol And if he kills me, so much the better" Cleveland fired and missed Vivian fired wildly, but his bullet found the heart Of Cleveland When Vivian recovered from the fever from which his physician had thought he would never rally he went abroad. He was an exile. The first phase of his life, that phase on which he had started out so confidently, was ended and done. With bright intellect, a lack of principle and 1 an untrained mind he had grappled with the world sure of success, and now at an age when his career in his chosen profes- sion should have just begun, it was ended in disaster. defeat and shame He had been, indeed, the "Memnon,' or "a youth too forward of whom Bacon wrote in his parable. Vivians travels brought him to a Ger man watering place where there was | much good company, and he entered once | more a little into society. Among those 1 whom he met was a certain Baron Non ! Konigstein, the envoy of one of the first ] class Powers to the Diet of Frankfort. | with whom Vivian struck up particular 1 intimacy. Gay, serious. learned, trifiinG, l
 the Baron was perfect man of the | world and a most pleasant companion.
 He was only 35 but his experience of life l
 was great and varied.
 "Prlnce I have great pleasure in in- | troducing to you my friend. MT. Grey 1
 MT. Grey the Prince Saivinski, my par
 ticular friend. MT. Grey, my particular 1
 friend Count von Altenburg. And the |
 Chevalier de Boeffleurs. Mir. Grey, my i
 most particular friend" This was the !!
 Baron's introduction when Vivian break l
 lasted with him, and thus under the pat |
 ronage of the Baron, the Polish prince, |
 the Austrian count and the French chev- |
 alier, he entered for a second time into |
 the great world. The baron, the prince, l
 the count and the chevalier were insepd- !
 rable, though they voted Salvinski bore |
 on account of his interminable and point l
 less stories
 At the fair of Frankfort Vivian had |
 rescued from the mob a travelling con
 juror. Essper George, who had fallen into |
 trouble by offending some of the nation |
 alities present. Essper had been sailor. |
 soldier and little of everything and now |
 insisted upon giving up his conjuring and |,
 lishman. With considerable reluctance, |
 and only after the conjuror had placed |
 himself for a while under the tutelage of |
 the Baron's magnificent and stately ser |
 want. Vivian took George on as his valet l