Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1908-03-20
CHAPTER XXI
A u s t y n


lin, you say, are constant visitors at
the house of the vicomte de Valair,"
remarked NJ. Cassagne, on the morning
following his adventure in the garden.
Yes" replied D'Auburon. ''They are
both there nearly every night"
Now Is the time you must introduce
me as the rich Swiss gentleman, prepar-
: ed to take shares In the Consolidated
Dock Company, or whatever you call it."
Il am prepared TO do that" answered
DAuburon, whenever you are ready to
. assume the part. OF course l cannot an
swer that the mere establishment Of bust
ness relations with the vicomte will lead
to an invitation to his house."
you need not frighten yourself about
that. Any one who has any money to
E 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
E Company scheme, and when l meet the
vicomte l must be prepared to endorse
It."
watching Madame Colbert Remplin
through the de valair lensl There are
other houses which she visits more fire.
Quently where perhaps you would have
better opportunities of watching her."
NO, not according 10 your accounts
of the de Valair entertainments. You
say that they are extended until late
hour, and that Madame Colbert Remplin
herself has become confirmed gambler.
What better opportunity could you wish
for than to study person under such
- circumstances? Give me the atmosphere
of the gambling table to show up the
points In a persons character.
''As you WILL" assented D'Auburon. Il
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
Ing with whom she is in touch, would be
far greater"
''You are mistaken, my friend, / assure
you," replied the detective, sin your esti-
mate of the opportunities such course
would afford. Suppose l did bribe the
footman to leave, and took his place,
which could, admit, be easily done; the
opportunities which would be afforded OF
watching Madame Rempln would not be
In any measure increased Worse, in
the presence Of servants she would be
doubly 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 mingling
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 DAuburon by
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
vieomte de Valair, 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.
"It is always the way with a really
sound thing" he remarked, with good
names behind it. An enterprise OF that
character always goes" Then ne whis-
pered in de Valiar's ear:
L. %ha
the white vest, who wears a pale green
ribbon as a watch guard"
THAT is Monsieur Frederic Lazare,
a rich manufacturer Of Berne, Switzer-
land. l suppose he eschews watch chains
because he gets enough of them In his
business. / have just put his naT, down
for a large block Of shares. Be sure and
he particularly civil to him. He is COM
ing to the house tonight Will you join
ms? We shall have very quiet time.
Positively no cards, will be the order of
the evening""
Thus early In the day fortune had
favored NJ. Frederic Lazare. Almost a
stranger in Paris, the vicomte had gra-
ciously invited him to meet the vlcom-
tesse 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
IT am delighted to meet any friend OF
Monsieur D'Auburon's," was the express
rion with which the Vicomtesse de Valiar
welcomed the manufacturer OF Berne. Il
f. spent few weeks some years ago among
your beautiful mountains, ana l assure
Won l have never forgotten them All
mo but It does not really pay to sigh
for vanished days; they can never come
again." and reflective look came into
her fine eyes, as II some tender recolec-
tion. connected with her early trip to
the land of her guests birth, had recur-
red to her mind.
He recalled the sunny smile habitual