The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-13
THE PERFUME OF
 THE LADY IN BLACK
By GAST0N LER0UX, Author of "Ths Mystery of
 the Yellow ROOm."
Copyright, 1909, by BrentanO's.

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 I said to Rouletabille. scarcely dar- ing to put into words what was in my mind:
 "Old Bob?
 He did not answer. At the end of a few moments he said:
 Hold your left hand in your right for five minutes and then ask yourself. Is 1t you. LarsanT And when you have replied to yourself do not feel too sure. for he may perhaps have lied to you, and he may be in your own skin without your knowing it."
 With these words Rouletabille left me alone in the west boulevard. It was there that Pere Jacques came to look for me. He brought me a tele- gram
 I was not in much of a hurry to open the dispatch which Pere Jacques had brought me. and in this l was wrong. for as soon as I cast my eyes over the words which 1t contained realized that it was of the deepest i'm portance. My friend at Paris. whom I had requested to keep an eye upon BrignoIles. sent me word that the said Brignolles had left Paris the evening before for the Midi. He had taken the I0:S5 train. My friend in- formed me that he had reason to be- lieve that Brignolies had taken a tick ct for Nice.
 What should Brignolles be doing in Nice? l kept Brignolles to myself all alone and so we'll that when. assuming my most indifferent air. I rejoined RouIetabiIle in the Coprt of Charles the Bold I never mentioned the sub ject-
 His brow was dripping with per spiration; his arns were barred. his col lar thrown of; heavy hammer was In his hand. It seemed to me that he was devotfng considerable time and energy to comparatively simple task. and like fool who does not see be- yond the end of his own nose. could not refrain from telling him so. But, no! I was only able to understand that, half an hour later. when l came upon him lying beside the ruins of the chapel murmuring in his dreams the one word which betrayed the sorrow of his heart--mother." RouletabIlle was dreaming of the Lady in Black. After having relieved his overcharged heart with that one word he left noth- ing more to be heard except his heavy breathing. He was completely ex- hausted. believe that it was the first time he had really slept since we had come from Paris.
 I left the chateau unseen. and soon. my dispatch in my pocket l took the train for Nice. On the way I chanced m the Petit Nfcois: Professor Stanger- son has arrived at Caravan. where he will spend a few weeks with M. Ar thur Rance, the recent purchaser of the Fort of Hercules. who. aided by the beautiful Mime. Arthur Rance. will dispense hospitality to his friends in this mediaeval stronghold Professor Strangerson's daughter. whose mar riage to Nj. Robert Darzac has just taken place in Paris, has also arrived at the Fort of Hercules with her hus- band. the brilliant young professor of La Sorbonne."
 At Nice, hidden behind the blinds of . buffet I awaited the arrival of the train from Paris by which Brignolles was due to arrive. And the next mo ment I saw him alighting from s car. I knew that there must be some strange reason for this journey of which he had not informed M. Darzac beforehand And knew that the trip was secret one when I saw that Brignolles was bending his head As he hurried along. gliding rapidly as a pickpocket among the passengers But was behind him I followed him. These maneuvers seemed to noe more and more ambiguous. Finally Sri gnolles' carriage came out upon the Road de Ia Corniche, and I directed my coachman to take the same way. The numerous windings of this road, it's aecenruated curves. permitted me to see without being seen- Finally we reached the Beaulieu railway station. where l was astonished to see Bri- gnoiles' carriage stop and the man himself get out pay the driver and en- ter the waiting room He was going Co take the train For what purpose? He got into a passenger coach which was bound for the Italian frontier. 1 realized that all his movements were bringing him nearer to the Fort of Hercules I got in the car behind his
 ~SA MAIL A@h EEA On u4LA we reached Menrone. I saw him alight He had turned up the collar of his overcoat and pulled his hat down over his eyes- He cast a stealthy glance around the quay and then mingled with the other passengers Once out side the train shed he got into shab- by old stage which was standing by the sidewalk l inquired of an em- ployee. who told me that that car riage was the stage to Sospei.
 Sospel is picturesque little city lost between the last counterforrs of the Alps. two hours and a half from Men tone by coach No railroad passes through there. It is one of the most retired and quietest corners of France. the most dreaded by revenue officers and by the Alpine hunters. Why was Brignolles going to sospeI7 must find out l hired a carriage from the station. and in few moments 1. too. was climbing over the rocks to the valley of Carei- How l regretted not