Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1909-08-19


Yes, you saw me talkin' to my
tr.end, the marquis, my good man, y
said Mr.. Sinclair, pompously. And
you'll hear more than you care to
if you don't take my card up" and he
handed it to the man.
The foo man took it gingerly, and
/ glanced from one to the other of his
fellows obviously.
Perhaps t is some racing man,
said one of them, struck with a
| bright idea. Take his card up
James. II it amt right, the marquis
will soon have him kicked out"
This was not pleasant for Mr.. Sin
clair to hear. but he bore it as well
as he could.
Il don't think the marquis will
have ne kicked out, young man." he
said. Just you take my card up
and I'll teach you better manners
than to insult a friend of the Mar.
quis Of Merle"
Too astounded to argue any longer
the footman assembled the stairs
slowly with the card
The marquis was dressed for din,
ner, and seated in small room
which had been set aside as his writ
.ng-rOOm, study, Or private room. In
mis- well-cut evening dress, his snowy
shirt front with his single diamond
glittering in it, with his pale, clear
face, he looked the model Of an arts.
tocrat from the white, shapely hand
TO he smooth, cIose-cut hair.
There was not line upon his
face, not tremor upon his lips, al,
though since the time he had driven
away from the man. he had looked
forward to this interview and won
dered what evil it BODIED for njn>
He took the card glanced at It and
nodded carelessly.
SHOW the man up"
The foom went downstairs witt
a grin.
The marquis will see LOU, my
man. he said, condescendingly
Mr., Sinclair redeemed furiously.
Don't you call me my mani" he
said, passionately "Tll teach you;
but Wait-only watt" and he clinched
his hat in his hand and walked up
stairs.
The marquis was reading the even
ing paper, and lowered it to his
knees as Mr. Sinclair entered A
faint smile of amusement and disgust
played in his eyes as they rested on
the extraordinary ''get-up" of his Wis
itOr; and with almost gOod-natured
contenGpt-if good nature could posi-
bly, be attributed to the maruuis-be
said
Now, my man, I have kept my
promise 7 WITH give you ten minutes
quite long enough for you to tell
any reasonable number of lies in
at the end Of that time I shall ring
the bell. and hand y0u over to the
police!7'
He did not ask Mr.. Sinclair to sit
down SO that gentleman, putting his
ha- on the ground, took a chair and
wiped his forehead The marquis
leaned back In an attitude of perfect
Incidence and eyed him with a smil-
ing cOntempt-
Now, sir, begin il yoa please?"
he said.
Mr.. Sinclair polished hrs face and
pulled down In % Cuffs
I've got a, story to- tell you, my
lord, that will astonish YOU ne com
menced
No doubt" assented the marquis:
but please remember 7 allow you
en- minutes only to astouisEl me in
I dine at haif-past eight,
All right, marquis said Nj. S.n-
clair, with a nod. Ten MINUTES will
L0-iess than ten minutes. would do
it, but | am not going to hurry
Now, first of all, perhaps you'll be
good enough, to, tell me your name?
The marquis was now convinced
that he had a lunatic to deal with,
and glanced toward the bell Mr.. ON
clair read the glance. and nodded, re-
assuringly.
"Oh, its all right, my lord. I'm
sane enough, as I'll prove to you
directly, Perhaps you'll oblige me
by answering my question"
you are. an tmpertinent rascal,
my friend" he said My name is
VIVIAN Bertrand Deyigne, but l am
usually called Marquis of Merle"
All" said Mr.. Sinclair. Called
Marquis o. Merle Nicely put
The marquis half rose, but leaned
back, with an air of resignation
He had brought this upon himself
He ought tc have given the man in
charge in the morning. Well, he
would hear what the fellow had to
say.
And as Marquis of Merle, you
inherited the Hall and the late mar
quis' money-there wasn't much Of it,
though
The marquis stared at him Taught.
lily under his half-closed eyelids.
Your father was bit by the same
dog as yourself, wasn't he. my lord?'
Fond of shutting the cards, eh?"
The marquis eyed him in silence.
I'm only stating the truth, mar
outs, when / say that he'd have been
ruined before you were born if Il
hadn't been for your mother being an
heiress, She was a Miss De We're,
marquis