The Washington times., 1909-12-21
Bv ROBERT BARR

viii uOt thank YOU FOR disturbing him
at this hour of night merely TO convince
him that YOU are an eGryglOuS blund-
eTer. Doubtless the duel you are look
ing fer has been taking place while YOU
have been wasting time here. My word
should have been sufficient, / think
Pardon me. my lord duke, but yOH
said yourself that you knew nothing 1f
this young man.
Neither I do. I never met him be-
fore I'm nay life. but / know the family
OF CardiIlac i'm Gascouy TO bc one OF
ancient ana honorable rank, and If the
word Of q scion of that house Is sur
hcient for me. II ought TO be accepted by
you, ll u rs not, YOU must be prepared
TO take the consequences when YOU meet
my friend Charles d'Albert de Luynes,
with whom, as / have told you, / spent
the evening
My instructions We're very definite,
my lord duke, and I confess myself iu
q quandary. The family OF DE Cardll-
lac may be OF the best, as YOU say, bul
as you arc not personally acquainted
with thlS young man you cannot VouCh
that he bears any relationship TO it,
If have not been robbed Of my pa
pers as wCll as my purse said Car
diiiac mildly, Il can soon resolve your
doubt Kindly search inside my dOublct.
MY arm Stems stiff and gnwieldy. You
VIII ind there documents that prove my
identity, and also the letter of invita-
hone you know his handwriting"
The sergeant, with many apologies
that the search was not a legal one, bat
carried out in fuldllment of CardillaCs
own desire, came uTon the papers. and
read the letter OF de Luynes, which had
been written on the official stationery
of the kings palace.
Dear NJ. de CardillaC:
Paris by all means. t. is de-
lihtful city, where young men enjoy
themselves and become rich. long
TO toe, embrace the founder OF NY, for
Cardmac laughed as the sergeant sti,s5,
read this letter.
My experiences OF tonight" he said.
/ do not bear ou' the statement of your
/ master. I have found Paris anything
but a delightful city; and, SD far from
becoming rich. stand al tins moment
pcnuilcSS.
profusc I'M his rioiOEics moth TO the
/ duke and To the young stranger
''T deeply regret what has happened. o.
| he said. and shall maxi no attempt
I 10 detaln YOU moment longer. 7 hope,
/ my lord duke. and You, NJ. lie Car1tlldc,
viii testify that ! have end favored 20
carry ont my disaErceable duty rs
courteously as possible and lid not per
/ sist after ] was satisfied Of tins young
mans Identity. I shall now withdraw
/ my men, and YOU may proceed on your
way unmOlested. I sincerely regret
having interrupted your progress, ms
/ lord duke
You may dismiss your men, if You
/ like, sergeant but you yourself must
/ accompany me to my house. Take with
you whatever bcdyEUard YOU deem suf-
! fcient to see us home I'm safety.
/ shall write q letter 10 NJ de auvues,
( which viii be entrusted TO NOur care,
! sergeant in that letter I shall explain
/ that you have done your duty with
/ vigilance. and You viii find that no
/ complaint has been lodged by me. IN
4 this 7 am sure NJ de Cardillac win
/ join me-
The young man bowed prompt af-
i nrmaUvc.
The inconvenience TO me has been
/ trivial. but NJ. de Cardiliac's wound Is
/ q serious matter, which deserves the at
( tentiCn OF the authorities. AS ] said a
I short time since. I am certain a man
/ so busy AS NJ de Luyuee VIII not thank
I YOU for arousiug him a. this hour of
/ the night so YOU may present my letter
not later than an hour before audience
/ time tomorrow.
You may tell NJ dc Luynes-or per
| haps 7 had better state in the letter
that NJ. de Cardillac and myself viii, IT
] indeed monsieur is able TO Ua abroad
call upon him at the same hour tomor