The Washington times., 1909-12-21

ma jcsty. the King, anu IT Such an III I
strument were extant, which 1 refuse
20 believe, it would not be placed in
the hands OF a sergeant Of police for
execution"
The sergeant knew enough OF the law
10 be aware that the duke spoke the
truth. His net had inclosed a bigger
FISH than he had expected. The Due de
MontreuiTs face and form were quite
familiar 10 any denizen Of Paris, and (
only a stranger like Cardillac, VINO /
came from a remote corner OF France, /
could have been ignorant of the noble !
mans identity when confronting him. |
The sergeant now recognized the duke, |
and he spoke with a cringing Difference. /
in marked contrast with his proclama- /
tiOn OF arrest.
My lord duke. what you say con- /
corning your privilege is true; never /
theless. the incident that has occurred !
here is In direct contravention Of the !
very precise edict Of the King him |
self and therefore. amounts TO high |
treason. which crime dissOlves all privl- |
lego, save only that pertaining TO the
royal family itself. Who killed this
.man2"
OFFICER, although you argue like an
advocate, you jump at a hasty conclu-
sion The youth. so far rs 1 am able to
Judge on hasty and badly Illuminated
examination, is not dead or even griev-
odsiv wounded. There appears TO be a
scratch on the throat and sword
wound through the arm. I judge him
10 have tainted from loss Of blood and
what we need here IS a surgeon, and
not q sergeant You are iIl-advised in
assuming a duel The truth is, your
streets are badly protected. and doubt
IL ha1
been set upon by footpads; probably
robbed. / think that all who know nc
in Paris. these many years. need not
be told that, If I fought a duel. 'twould
be in some more secluded spot and dur
INK a properly lighted hour of the TWEEN
ty-four. The accusation at which you
hint. officer. is absurd. so far as ii inn
pinges upon me"
The officer stood the picture OF be-
wiiderment. His lord shiD had spoken
with quiet Indifference that was sin
Eularly effective. yet there lay the man.
wounded or dead, and the Instructions
which the officer had received from the
dictators headquarters had informed
him that he would come upon Just such
a scene at almost precisely the moment
he arrived, i'm one or other OF four lanes
leading from the dlctator's house.
He had been told that he would see
entering these lanes, one man follow
ed by another. He was not TO interfere.
even II he heard the sound OF conflict.
until the ARRAY was over. Then Ha was
10 arrest the survivor. or both 10 neither
was killed. and was 10 collect evidence
as 90 whether what had happened Was a
duel or an assassination Apparently
His superiors were I'm doubt as TO tire
iiitentons OF the two men under surveil-
lancc, ana here. 20 his astouighmcnr mo
Aouhd that one or them Was noble of
France who but few months before
had been more powerful than any other.
saFlhg only the Qucen-mOther and her
LaNorlte' Concini. lie was shrevd
enough to know. also that tor,o,-,.g,,,-
Lnls man might be in power again Events
lo!i3weG one another rapidly in France
~ Iord duke you entered this lane
rev minutes ago. and the man
lying there was pursuing Won ~ man
II ne pursued me, 7 ann NOT aware
90 II was proceeding peaceabIy
nome, after "A private couferaDce NOS
Charles d'Albert de I.uvues In his o,,-,,
mouse, AZ his own invitation.
BUT my lord. since Nou entered This
,to no one mas emerged from 70 M
cItner enc How then. came thIs man
Tho duke shrugged IBIS shoulder
Really, sergeant have NOT frr
honor to belong to tho detective for,
~ Inc police. TT YOU wish to 6ud The
c,hpIt ] would suggest that YOU search
uho houses on either side They arc
numerous enough and sinister ouougl
70 harbor thousand criminals a
cutihroat thief of this lOcalie does NOT
nee 10 emerge from either end Of tho
7
mat instead Of standing talking COOL
lsliy there, you should get help eol
THIS man. He may, indeed be dyina
on your hands. and. uy the 1rav dC
you propose to attempt my arre.tYF
NO, my lord duke, but J must take
INC victim INTO custody, and report the
him OF"
Cardiac opened his eyes. and. WIFI
an effort reached q sitting posture Tn,
duke once more pulled rorth the Hask o
afardT, eager % stop the young man.
NOUN until nc could give him rout
hint or the critical situation
Here. my poor fellow, drink this
You have been set on and wounded
take It. by some footpads. Have the,
robbed youy'
MY pockets arc empty" said Car
dllac. promptly feeling with his RICH
hand I'm one. while the duke held IT,
flask 10 his liDs.
You see.' said the nobiemau. "w'Ia
happened IS exactly as J surmisod. Thi
unhappy youth has been maltroatod au,
rehbed, and. for all ! know. he may Dol
friend Of ". de Luyucs himself
cadillac. assisted 20 bis feet by th
duke and the sergeant. wiucinR whc
tine latter caught too roughly his wound
cd arm. looked about him al the sIlcn
assembly OF men.
-FYOu seem 10 have arrived. Officer
with plenty Of assistance. but ] wis
YOU had been fewer I'm number ann
more prompt in appearing
Cardillac was quic<-witted enough d
ordinary circumstance, although D.
quality He noted. nevcrthelcss. a.
dukes emphasis on the suggestion tina
he vsas a friend OF De LuyneF. and no'
knew enough Of the character of th
dictator 90 realize that De must procce
with extreme caution III he was TO- Cir
cuInvent him
.fT am called Victor 90 CaTGilac, ffoT
Eascony. a stranger mere in parit
whittier ] have come ON tho persona
iupltaton Of my friend, Charles d'Albc.
de Esuynes
The deuce You say Uusped Che as
tonished officer. who found himself bS
coming more and more involved wit
those whom be feared M was safer
leave alone IF as YOU state. yoI az
friend Of the chief minister. I nor
YOU VIII accompany me 10 his preseuC
and testify. perhaps. tEat / have irCate
yoi with courtesy
'-l-m willing 60 do that agreed Ca
dliac. but the duke intcrposcd
Nouscnsc. -ergeant-nonscuse Th
vGtaE man Is IN no condition 20 me
anyone but doctor, and NJ. de Luyn'