The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-24


AGAIN the lieutenant bowed, but this
time not quite so profoundly as before.
The unknown was taking a little too
much for granted. An officer of the
King does not break bread with anv
chance traveller who takes IL upon him
self 20 prOffer an invitation. The perusal
Of letter of Introduction. or the in
spectiOn Of credentials should precede
the extending Of hospitality. NeVerthe-
less. the refusal need not BE harsh, for
even an alert lieutenant could not Judge
definitely the importance of a man who
might have arrived on the road from
Paris
& 4 am desOIated, monsieur, by the cir
cUInStance OF a previous engagement,
which refuses me the advantage OF be
ing your guest this evening. II, there
fore, monsieur. you will be so indulgent
as TO accompany me 20 my rOOm- while
your Tepast is being prepared, can
assure you Of the utmost privacy, and
shall be delighted to learn in what man
ner 1 MAJ further your purpose"
Beneath LIE graCiOusness with which
these words were uttered. Cardillac
was sensitive enough 10 feel the iron
touch Of a command. Indeed, the lieS;-
tenant did not await his aCquieSceuce,
DuL, turning, proceeded up the stair,
IoIoWed bl the man with mission
Cardiac began to perceive that the way
he mad mapped out for himself was not
70 be so easy as he had supposed.
he was conducted TO q room which
gave a view up and down the main
road A large table in the center
showed map of the district spread
out on the surface, while at either
end lay pile Of official looking dOcu-
mentS- Lieutenant de Four closed and
locked the door, then motioned his visi-
tor into a chair on one side Of the table
and took seat on the other, with his
back toward the windows, and the light
full on the face Of De Cardillac."
How far have YOU Travelled today2"
asked the lieutenant careleSsly.
Il left Paris this morning. replied
De CaTdillac.
What. and are here in Beaugency by
in the afternoon? You must have set
out early, monsieur"
VERY early, lieutenant"
But I was informed that you entered
by the north gate, and not by the east
ern gate"
That is true. lieutenant. I came by
way Of Rambouillet, Charities. and Cha
teaudun, then came south from Cha
teaudun 20 this place"
You must have been in great haste.
monsieur
Il was. lieutenant Ny business ad-
nits of no delay"
The officer was watching him keenly,
although pretending nonchalance.
Then, why, monsieur, choose a road
thirty leagues in length, when there is
q better road of twenty-siX leagues
which would have brought you here
sooner, or at the same hour, with less
waste Of hOrsefiesh2'
Lieutenant. my road was CHOSEN Tor
me by my superiors, not by myself"
i see. DO you know why the longer
road YVES chOSenZ
Il do lieutenant"
do these orders forbid you to d.
vulge the reasonE'
NO; but only as a last resort.
What do you mean by last re-
INV orders are to tell you as little
as possible, but still TO secure your
cooperation. which is essential TO the
execution Of the plan have in trust.
BY insisting, you may learn everything
presumably, monsieur. you advise
me not TO insist?'
The lieutenant smiled sweetly. His
vis-a-vis remained an example Of COM
plete insOuciance-
IN that case, monsieur, you need
only hand to me, across the table, the
orders OF my superior otlcer at Orleans,
and shall promptly obey whatever
commands are sat down in the docu-
Lieutenant. have just informed
you that I came by Chateaudin, and
not by Orleans"
then, thai you carry no written orders
for me2'
None whatever, lieutenant"
II that is so. monsieur, I deplOre
| the necessity of ignoring your advice.
i cannot move on a verbal cOmmUnica-
LADAl ALu-4l q III aAAEEAr anu Ll4EA LALcLA4
1 that. I shEu ~ compelled, greatly to
my grief. to detain you here, unless
your eNplans ton is both explicit and
satisfactory"
Cardillac slightly inclined his head,
and made ar eloquent gesture with his
right hand
Your decision, lieutenant. is strictly
Z N accordance with what I expected of
| You. The course you have outlined for
Yourself possesses the merit o. extreme
safety The man who acts st'ictIv as
q subordinate shows his excellent quail
{ 1-caJlons for being always q subOrdi-
rate, and he remains such On the
battlefield the soldier who coaslllts his
! own safety acquires a name which
= an not enunciaLe in your presence
ne rams 10 obtain promotion. He
W-io serves his country NAV at times
| be called upon TO take a risk
/ Inc lieutenant itnerrupted by hold
! ing up his hand.
Monsieur be said with more abrlDt-
ness Jhan ne had hitherto used. .'SD5re
me your plaritUdeS about = so15ie-ss
G"ty, and trust me TO order nv co,115I,3
I IN >Ich way as seems best to serve
tile -,,--~ests OF our country. II time fs
/ an OBJECT let us not misuse fr. The
! point OF this business turns on the r,,rae-
uoa of your identity. Vino are Won sir
ana Lcr whom do you act2'
- 4 am victor de Cardillac Of Gasrony-
4 on centuries my ancestors have been
ioIdS OF CarullaC. as today my father
y. as IN future. 1 shall probably be
My father was fortunate enOucb 10 A.
"a treat favor To NJ de Luyncs at a
/ time when he was poor and u1CnOV-1 In
9In'r words, he put the foot of De
Luy mes on the ladder which he has since
assembled to the top. Some months a.s9
NJ. de Luynes, arriving at the position
| or prime minister 20 the King invited
me 70 Paris, where I placed myself ami
/ my sword at his DISPOSAL"
He invited you 20 Paris, NJ de Car
/ dilIac2"
For answer the young man undid
4 his doub!et. took from fl a packet OF
papers. chose one, and tossed it cross
/ the table.
II hope YOU know the signature of
! Nj de luyneS. and, failing that, I tr7Isf
/ YOU viii recognize the sign-lnanuaI oil
| his majesty the King. II YOU are NOT
| acquainted with one or the other. then
1 fear L must return to Paris with nv
mission UnaccOmDlished.'
/ The Continuation of This Story VIII
BE Found In TOmOrropyfs
Issue OF The Times.