Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1908-01-09
CHAPTER xxlv.--contlnued.

To-day" I stammered. And Sir
Mortimer Is dead!"
II learned of his death when you
we're in the kursaal with me"
you need say no more. | under
stand why you have brought me to
the chateau only too well. A just fate
snatched from your lips the cup OF
success. But fate dashed n cup
from your hand only to tempt you
with another. | have seen for myself
that / bear a sufficiently marked re-
semblance to deceive one who has
known Sir Mortimer but slightly. Per
haps Kuhn has never actually met Sir
Mortimer"
Never" interrupted Madame de
WARMER, her voice trembling.
And you wish me to do-what?"
IAN interview of half an hour and
the destinies Of a nation will be
changed. oh, I know that the move Is
a desperate one. Its audacity Is the
best augury of success. Look, ! give
you power such as few men have held.
Sir Mortimer lies In that room dead.
But there are four people only who
know OF his death: DIR. Starva, Al
phonse. myself, and yourself. One
hour after this interview, 1t will be
given out that he has died suddenly
from heart failure. But in the mean
while the interview between yourself
and the banker will have taken place"
woman, you are mad" ! cried
scornfully. Let us suppose for the
moment that this interview has taken
place between myself and the banker.
Let us say that the deception has
proved to be completely successful.
The loan is promised to Ferdinand,
but how is that promise to be made
good? There are papers to be signed
and attested-there are checks to be
drawn and receipts to be given. Who
is to sign these documents-who is to
sign the receipts? l, the false Sir
Mortimer? Egregious folly! Your
fanaticism has run away with your
common sense. There is no pressure
on earth that could make me consent
to your scheme. Your banker would
not be so great a fool as to be de-
ceived. | say again, even II ! consent
ed. Did you think he would hand out
a package to you containing millions
as a grocer passes a packet of soap
across the counter to a customer"
That l should even discuss the mat
ter with her at all seemed to her a
hopeful sign. She drew her chair
closer to me. | regarded her disdain-
fully. For a clever woman, her scheme
seemed t. me %preposterous on the
face of II.
DO you think, my dear monsieur,
that the perplexities you mention have
not occurred TO me?" She was VIC.
lently scornful in her turn. Yes; and
there are a hundred others. But !
have thought Of them all. Money? ]
have not mentioned money or checks
or receipts. / am not quite an imbe.
cile. ! have arranged all that. You
have simply to see this Kuhn. There
will be no discussion. You will lay
before him an ultimatum. II he
agrees, a document will be gwen to
him promising on the part of England
her moral support. This document will
have been officially sealed by the min
lister of the British Foreign Office II
will already have the signature of Sir
Mortimer Brett"
She leaned close to me. Her breath
was in my face. Her eyes were liquid
fire. Because was silent for the mo
ment she imagined me tempted. But
II l were silent 1t was because my
scorn was too great for ~utterance.
"A forgery" | said at last.
EFT Ictap Tho document itgaIf 10 ~
fetal. 1t awaited merely the sigma
ture Of Sir Mortimer Brett"
. How was that obtained. since Sill
Mortimer is dead?"
DIR. Starva is a clever penman
That is why he is useful"
sprang to my feet, pushing back
my chair so abruptly as to overturr
It. DR.. Starva's name was a red flag
to goad me to enraged Impotence.
And this Is the forgery that Is Il
save a nation!" | cried in fierce con
tempt. Il say again and again, yor
are a fool-a fool to think that youl
scheme can be successful"
win England repudiate an act o.
her minister because he dies shortly
after ~attesting It? / tell you, non
sieur, | have counted the chances.
shall succeed"
And the loyalty OF DR.. Starva? Yot
may count on that? l am willing t.
believe that your mad project hal
been planned with the hope that Il
may benefit your oppressed race.
Will give to you the doubtful virtue o
fanaticism. But that arch.hend Star
va-it is impossible that he be iniu
enced by an unselfish motive. Tha'
death.mask, did you know its signifi
canoe till last night? Madame de Var
nier. be advised by mt before 1t is toc
late. You have SAID am your enemy
It is true. If l have conn to this cha
teau as YOU guest, 1t was to spy OF
you-to learn what | have Just learned
to learn what | shall learn"
do you think | have been blind t
that" she interrupted, smiling dis
painfully.
Had the treachery beer absent,
had the foul play of thugs and muI
derers not been resorted to- SHOULD
still have refused to aid you. Bu
when / find myself secretly watche,
while | am your guest-when | an
perfdiously offered a drug, which, b
the way, l did not take-when | Sc,
an English gentleman treated witt
the violence of the Middle Ages-last
ly, when the oma whom | hay,
sworn to help is shot at by a lurkinI
vllain-I have a right to my revenge
l shall have It. Be SURE Of that"
You say that Starva attempted t
murder Helena Brett?"
Scarcely two hours since" I re