The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-06-01

hotel dSs Reeves were thrown wide
open again.
The Brasserio OF the Blue Rabii
was but sparsely patronized at tn
hour and they found its sanctum qui
empty. There they installed then
selves at corner table, and having
given sleepy waiter an order for alb
sinthe. and brandy. and beer, tried
some preliminary tricks OF fence until
II was quite clear 10 all that all were
rogues. without a scruple among them
Then they began TO talk business.
Look you. gentlemen" said Ju'o
Chevrel. after he had swallowed
greater portion OF the opalescent lia
the waiter had Just brought him,
example which Seager was prompt
follow, II have a plan. IL you will
pay for II you may have an Interview
with the lady tonight. But In calcu-
lating the payment, you must remem-
Der two points. These are. first, the
sacrifice OF my own interests to FUR
Their yours, and then the fact that this
may be the last chance you or Will
have. Tomorrow she may be on her
way to Roche-Segur. or the Chateau
des Reeves, or London, or Rome, or VI
ena. Monsieur my late employer Is
man OF many strange caprices. There
| Is but this one opportunity TO be
| counted upon, and | value II very high
ly."
PUT a price on it," Seager retorted
bluntly.
The worthy Jules had amassed a
modest fortune OF some 10000 francs.
| including the 5000 of which he had
mulcted Nine la Duchesse in New
York. during the few years which had
elapsed since he first entered mon
sieur's service, and II was his present
ambition to increase that sum TO six
| figures when he weHld at once dis
charge himself without warning. To
that end he had intended tc extort TO-
600 more from madam under threat
that he would otherwise Feel II his
duty TO tell the due how she had spent
one afternoon in New York and dined
at Martins with her husbands valet.
Either she or monsieur himself, tc
whom he already referred as his late
employer. must pay to suppress that
story But he had been foiled in his
effort to get speech with the duchesse,
and-monsieur might prove danger
Gus.
Meantime here were two providen-
! tial Americans, no doubt wealthy, who
| did not seem TO know that this Miss
Lorraine, in whom they were SO deeply
Interested, was really the Duchesse
des Reeves. And he certainly had no
object in undeceiving them II they
would pay him the 10000 francs he
required from some quarter or other
IL would be a simple matter to give
up in their favor his further plan for
| interviewing madam. He abruptly
opened negotiations at $1,000 francs.
Spit out the plan" Seag.r command
ed. and Jules Chevrel could have
CRASHED HIS teeth for that he had not
asked more. while Arendscn only con
tanned himself with a visible effort.
Jules Chevrel leaned across the mar
ble-topped table and spoke in a low,
rapid voice.
Tonight" he explained, she will go
to the Eylsee. There is a soiree at
the palace to which the due has prom
! ised TO take her. She will drive there
alone. The chauffeur will be we'll out
of the way, butt shall be there at the
time And ready, as | always am, to
obige a friend. Can you handle an
automobile?"
Seager nodded again, and rose from
the table.
IL think we can make deal OF II, y
he remarked with brisk complacence.
IL want you TO wait here till we re-
turn"
Il am not afraid" Jules Chevrel as.
sured him with bland untruthfulness
81 shall walt 15-no, 20 minutes for
you. until o'clock.
At the darkest corner of the dark
Impasse -Seager stopped before an al
most invisible postern. Arendsen fol
lowed him. muttering. into a passage
back as the pit, and, after Seager had
closed the door carefully, he caught
at his confederate's sleeve leading him
forward with assured footsteps.
They passed through other unbolted
doors, crossed a wooden floor and
climbed many flights of stairs, but nc
more was said till they stopped at the
top in a dim and shadowy space un
der huge skylight.
This is the hotel de Seager ant