Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-11-16

may count on thatg I am willing 20
oeneVe that your mad project has
Deen planned with the hope that II
may benefit your oppressed race. !
VIII give to. you the doubtful virtue OF
fanatcism. But that arch-fend Star.
vat is impossible that he be infiu.
enced by an unselfish motive. That
death-mask.. did you know it's slgnih.
canoe till last night7 Madame de Var.
nier. be advised by me before It is too
late. You have said aSn your enemy.
X is true. II I have cone TO this cha
teau as your guest. IL was 70 spy on
you-to learn what have just learned.
TO learn what 1 shall learn"
Do you think have been blind to
that" she interrupted. smiling dis
painfully.
Had the treachery been absent
had the foul play OF thugs and muir
derers not been resorted to- should
still have refused TO aid you. But
when find myself secretly watched
while l am your guest-when / am
per1diousiy offered a drug. which. by
the way, I did not take-when I see
an English gentleman treated with
the violence OF the Middle Ages-last-
ly. when The woman whom I have
sworn to help IS shot at by a lurking
villain have a right 20 my revenge.
/ shall have II. BE sure OF that"
You say that Starva attempted to
murder Helena Brett2"
Scarcely two hours since" re-
turned. trembling with rage. Now.
Madame de Varnier. have listened TO
| you patiently. Listen 10 me I shall
have justice. You have chosen to ally
yourself with a forger. a thief. and a
wOuld-be murderer. You will be
| dragged down with HIM unless you
| throw yourself on my mercy. Great
God. your madness reaches its apoth-
costs In this: you resort 20 every crime
that you may bring freedom a little
nearer TO your precious Macedonians:
and l know. as absolutely as II he had
| confessed 20 me. that Or. Starva Is
! one OF the band Of assassins who has
! doomed 10 a violent death the very
messiah you look 20 for succor."
She stared az me a fun half minute.
this adventures with nerves OF steel.
But It was the woman. the lover. who
looked up at me. She loved Ferdi-
nand: 1 read Ii IN her anguished face.
! made my last appeal
Cast OF that scoundreI before Il is
too late-beforo he betrays you. Help
me 20 bring him % justice before he
dOOms 10 death the prince you
worship. Make 20 me a full confes.
sion-help me 20 rescue the great
name OF Sir Mortimer Brett from the
dishonor that YOU aver (but have In
no way proved besmirches it-and I
swear 20 you that you shall be spared. g"
She laughed az my appeal. II the
laughter was hysterical Il was also
defiant and fearless.
MY dear Monsieur Haddon. you are
too delicious DO you think I have
played my last card2 DO you think I
am so easily frightened by your scowls
and loud voiceg The dishonor OF Sir
Mortimer Brett not yet proved. II is
| proved only too surely. and you are 20
see those proofs presently. You have
called me fool more than once: per
NIT me 20 return the compliment in
all sincerity. / have told you much
enough 10 send Or. Starva and myself
1 70 jail FOR many tedious years. But I
can trust you with my secrets because
know only too surely that you dare
not betray them. You will realize
/ that presently: have no fears. You
see I can threaten as well as yourself.
and behind my threats is something
more formidable than a scowllng
face"
Very well" cried. not without sat
isfaction for I had offered 10 spare
her because ] p,tied. rather than be
cause I thought II wise). we under.
stand each other thoroughly. In "a
hours ! SHAH have done my best 70 put
you and your dear comrade behind the
bars. And you"
i shall drag you with US II you by
any chance are successful You say
you did not take the drug-that you
were acting that you might keep
watch on our movements. Who will
believe you? Captain Forbes? / think
not. You viii find 1t difficult. my dear
monsieur. 70 extricate yourself from
my net"
: Say that grant that" said con-
/ temptuously. you have still the possi-
BILE treachery OF DR.. Starya 70 deal
with"
This time she controlled her agita-
ton. though in her eyes lurked terror
and fear.
For the present DIR. Starva is pow
erless. Had / remained in ignorance
of the meaning OF that horrible stamp
might have listened TO your warn
ings with some misgivings. But since
you have deepened my suspicious con
corning him. have been able TO re-
arrange my plans. DR.. Starva is no
! longer necessary to me. Even II he IS
a member Of the Committee Of Free
dom, he is no more dangerous than
any other member, and with them he
will be punished presently. In the
IA 49, 'l- sasrznss azscrr r-s--r--z,..
meanwhile their intended victim 4.
warned. No, Monsieur Haddon. your
threats do not brighten me. On the
contrary, IL is time for me TO threaten
i have waited patiently enough.
hope, madam"
flung myself into my chair again
with a careless assurance / did not
| feel l remembered Locke's warning;
look out for the Countess Sarahoff
4 N0aNm