The Washington times., 1909-12-20

him 10 take the step backward that
had been required Of him, and seemed
determined to convince his victim OF
the contests hopelessness ere he
brought il to a termination.
y beg OF YOU, sir. 70 favor me by
taking a third step to the rear painted
the young man. You must admit that
my proposal is quite a fair one, which
is to distribute the light above us into
two equal shares. Your face is still
covered with darkness, while mine is
IN plain sight. I am convinced that
another retreating step will give ms
the equality which 1 lost whsn you
treacberOusly set upon me after J gave
you the warning to be on guard
For the first time the defeated man
spoke.
You talk Of treachery. you dog. and
servant Of a dog" he gasped, and, bit-
ter as were his words, his voice showed
him TO be approaching the last stages
Of exhaustion -
Your language, sir. betrays your
humDla origin. but j will not caVil at it.
The Immediate point at issue between
us rs the third step backward Take
II, i beg OF you, otherwise It IS your
throat you must guard. and remember
that an incision there is a much more
o!enncate operation than touch on
stop! A pariey-a parIeyi I wish
word with you, sir
Not So" cried Cardillac "A parIey
is all TO my advantage, as well you
know. The watch NAV interrupt us AZ
any moment. Besides, you did me the
honor TO run me through the arm, and
my sleeve is filled with blood II have
therefore on two counts not a moment
10 spare-tO keep nv promise to Won.
and run my blade through your treach-
erOus heart ."
For the second time you speak OF
feachery. You are a cutthroat or a
cutpurse, which p
Neither, sir. but a more honorable
adversary than you deserve. I impIOre
you sir, to compliment me by defend
ing yourself with greater skill than you
are doing. You seem determined to mt
upon me the faint OF assassin thai
hangs over you. You are as helpless
sir, as II you were unarmed- 7 do not
wish 70 kill you as YOU killed Concini. d
AS he spoke, the others sword dropped
ringing to the cObblestones. The man
spread out his empty arms.
Il do not understand your language
sir, but finish your work as quickly as
you please, and get back for your hire
Allow me one offer, however, that may
reach your covetous OF. necessitOus soul
will take your own word for the
amount and pay you within half ar
hour double the sum that De Luynes
gives you TOT my muruer. Furthermore
within the half hour 7 shall supply you
with one OF the fastest horses in France
1T is not vet midnight, and before day
| break you viii have outdistsnced al
possible UuEHueTS ana De nee from the
vengeance Of De Iuynes. once beyond
Loches you are safe. II you take "a
the west"
IT do not underestimate the service
I ask Of you, nor the danger to which
you would be committing yourself Il
you accept my offer, therefore double
treble, or quadruple the sum ] VIII pay
you. of course YOU make an enemy
of De Iuynes, that treacherous hound
who dare not face his foes but must
use the musket or the blade Of ar
assassin But II you Join the ranks OF
his enemies ] will give you letters q
D'Epernon, IN Loches. You must keeI
to the north side Of the Loire, make
wide circuit around Blois. cross this
river between there and Tours-for ir
either town De Luynes IS strong-bu
once the river IS crossed make direct fol
| Ioches and you are safe
During this appeal, which was jerket
forth in detached phrases, as II tn,
speakers breath were we'll nigh ex
hausted. the unarned man stepped bach
two PAGES, and the light fell on HIS face
II showed Cardilac the pallid, haggarc