Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-04-10

"Of good news, monsieur
Certainly
"But how can that be?"
"If madame will give me the oppor-
tunity," he said. Il should only be too
glad to explain-to Mile. Poynton.'
eff. indeed. it should be good news"
the marquise said slowly, ut were bet
ter broken gradually to mademoiselle.
/ will take her q message"
Permit me to see her, marquise," he
begged. MY errand is indeed impor-
tant."
She shook her head
1T is not" she said, according to
the .convenances' Mademoiselle is I'M
der my protection. have not the hon.
or of knowing you, monsieur"
Duncombe raised his eyebrows.
But you remember calling at my
house in Norfolk and bringing Miss
Poynton away" he. said.
She stared at him calmly.
1.-The matter" she said, has escaped
my memory. l do not love your coun-
try, monsieur, and my rare visits there
do not linger in my mind"
"Your husband" he reminded her.
asked me to visit you here"
MY husbands friends" she replied.
"are not nine
The calm insolence of her manner to-
ward him took him aback. He had
scarcely expected such reception.
Il can only apologize, madame" he
said, with a bow, for intruding. I
will await your husbands return in
the hall"
He bowed low and turned to leave
the room. He had almost reached the
door before she stopped him.
Wait"
He turned round Her voice was diff.
ferent.
Come and sit down here" she said,
pointing to a sofa by her side
He obeyed her. thoroughly amazed.
She leaned back among the cushions
and looked at him thoughtfully.
How is it that you. an Englishman.
speak French so weil:" she asked
II lived in Paris for some years." he
answered
Indeed, And yet you returned to
Norfolk. is it?"
He bowed.
at is true madame" he admitted.
How droll:" she murmured. Miss
poynton-she is an old friend of
yours"
az am very anxious to see her, ma
dame
"Why"
He hesitated. After all his was no
secret mission.
I nave reason to believe" he said
that mistake has been made in til,
identity of the body found in the Sein;
and supposed to be her brothers."
She gave little start. 1t seemed t.
| him that from that moment she regard
| ed him with more interest.
Put that, monsieur" she said, al,
not possible"
"Why not"
She did not answer him for a mo
! ment. Instead she rang a bell
A servant appeared almost immedi
ately.
| Request NJ. lie Marquis to step thi
| way Immediately he returns" she OF
dered.
The man bowed and withdrew. Tn
marquise turned again to Duncombe.
'It is quite impossible" she repeat
| ed. do you know who it was tina
identified the young man?"
Duncombe shook his head.
81 know nothing" he said. 81 saw
the notice in the paper, and hav
been to the morgue with friend"
Were you allowed to see it'll"
mo; for some reason or other W
were not. but we managed to bride on
of the attendants, and we got the pc
lice description"
"This," madame said, sis interesting
| Well?"
"There was one point in particula
in the description" Duncombe said
land a very important one, whicl
proved to US both that the dead mai
was not Guy Poynton."
at is no secret. presumed" she said
Tell me what it was
Duncombe hesitated. He saw n
reason for concealing the facts.
"Ihe height of the body" he said
} "was given FIVE feet nine. Guy Poyn
ton was over six feet"
: The marquise nodded her head slow
ly.
"And now" she said, shall tell yo
who it is who identified the body at tn
morgue-apart from the papers whic
; were found in his pocket and whic
certainly belonged to Mr.. Poynton?"
II should be interested to know" b
admitted.
ut was Miss Poynton herself. 1t
that which has upset her so. She rex
ognized him at once"
Are you sure of this, madame?
Duncombe asked.
81 myself" the marquise answered
accompanied her there. 1t was tel
rible.''
Duncombe looked very grave.
Il am indeed sorry to hear this" b
said. There can be no possibility o
any mistake them"
aNone whatever the marquise d.
/ clared