The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-06

/ proceeding AT once Paris Duntas
| hands the packet to Maxine
| ----
Watt" she exclaimed. still in the
haif whisper from which she had never
| departed. Walt! 1t will be better to
| lock the door" But even as she spoke
| there came a knock, loud and insistent
| With "a spring, she flung herself on
me, her hand flmbling for the pocket
/ had tapped suggestively a moment
ago. i let her draw out the long case
! which had been guarding--the case
had not once touched since leaving
London. except TO feel anxiously for
/ its outline through my buttoned coat.
| AT Jeast, whatever might be about 10
! happen, she had IL in her own hands
/ now.
Neither OF us spoke or made sound
during the instant that she chung to
| me, the faint, weli-remembered per-
fume of her hair. her dress, in my
nostrils. But as she started away, and
] knew that she had the letter case, the
| knock came again. Then, before
could be sure whether she wished for
| time to hide, or whether she would
have me cry Come in" without SEEM
| ing to hesitate, the IGOR opened. For
| a second or two Maxine and |, and
! a group of figures at the door were
| mere shadows in the ever deepening
| counted ten before the long expected
| light sprang up. had turned 1t on in
| more than one place: and sudden,
| Brilliant illumination showed me tail
| Commissary of Police, with two little
| gendarmes looking over his shoulder.
threw glance at Maxine. who was
| still yelled, and was relieved to see.
| that she had found some means OF put
| ting the letter-case out of sight Hav-
ling ascertained this. 81 -rply inquired
| In French what in the devils name the
| Commissary of Police meant by walk
ing into an Englishmen's rooms with
out being invited: and not only that,
! but what under heaven he wanted any
way.
He was far more polite than ! was :.
Ten thousand pardons, Monsieur.
he apologized. 81 knocked twice. but
hearing no answer, entered, thinking
that perhaps, after ALL the salon was
| unoccupied. Important business must
he my excuse. I have to request that
Monsieur Dundas will first place in my
| hands the gift he has brought from
London to Made,noiselle de Renzie:
~ have brought no gift for Made
noiselle de Renzie." / prevaricated
| boldly. but the mans knowledge of my
name was ominous. If the Paris police
| Ind contrived to learn 1t already, rs
we'll as to find out that was the
bearer of something for MAXINE ~
! looked as Il they knew enough 70 play
the game in their own way-WhateVer
| that might be. 49,,
which Mademoissele lent-to friend
IN England, and Monsieur has now
kindly returned" amended the COM
missary Of Police as politely, as patient
| ly as ever.
"Really, il don't know what you are
talking about" I said, Struggling my
| shoulders and looking beWildered-or
hoping that looked beWllderea. ~
| the while L was wondering, desperate
~ If this meant ruin for MAKING, or
if she would still find some way of
saving herself But all could do
for. her at the moment. was to keep
calm. and tell as many lies as neces-
sary. I hadn't been able to lie to
/ Diana; but had no compunctions
about doing It now, II It We're TO help
/ Maxine. The worst was. that l was
| far from sure 1t would help her.
II trust, Monsieur, that you do not
/ wish to prevent the French police from
doing their duty said the officer, his
| tone tecoming peremptory for the first
time. "Should you attempt 1t, should
unfortunately be compelled to order
/. that Monsieur be searched"
"You seem to forget that you're deal-
Ing with British subject" said I.
.Who Is offending against the laws
az a friendly country" he capped my
words. "You can complain afterwards.
Monsieur. But now
,Why don't you empty your pockets,
Mr.. Dundas," suggested Maxine, light
4 ~ vet contemporary "and show
them that you've nothing in which the
1 police can have any Interests suppose
the next thing they propose. will be TO
/ search me-
II deeply regret to say that will be
|the next thing, Mademoiselle, unless
satisfaction Is given to me- returned
i the Commissary of Police @
Maxine threw back her thick yeili
and II this We're the first time these
men had ever seen the celeprated az
4 tress nff the stage, 1t seemed to me that