Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-09
CHAPTER XVII.

Christine was sitting alone. curled up
i'm her chair. She had spent a quiet even
ing at home and was now thinking about
Ambrose and their recent interview. She
heard the front doorbell ring and rose
doubtfully to her feet. Her maids had
gone to bed. She could not imagine who
1t might be come to visit her at such an
hour. She stepped out into the hall and
then paused In sudden fear. Supposing
1t should be MARCEL She stood rooted to
the spot. The whole horror of the COM
ing Of that other man. and the thing
which had happened to him. was sudden
ly brought wildly before her. Once more
the bell rang. softly but insistently. She
heard a sound in the servants room and
it gave her courage. At any rate she was
not alone. A cry would summon both
the girls. She opened the door and
peered out.
Your she exclaimed.
The marquis nodded. She closed the
door mechanically and led the way into
the sitting room. Then she turned to
signs there Of the agony through which
he had been passing.
what has happened?'' she asked
why have you come here at this hour?''
II came on the chance of finding you
up and alone" he answered. Tonight l
have had blow. 1 wanted to tell you
about 1t and ask whether you know who
is In London
II know that Marcel is here she an
swered. Marcel and Pierre"
Lord Dillingham; shook his head. 1T is
neither OF them,' he said. "One could
deal with men like those. one in my po-
sition. It ts somebody worse. 1t is
Jacques Leblun. who has followed them.
who stands alo p3 somewhere 70. watching. =
you mean the French detective?"
Lord Ellingham nodded. YES" he an
swered. HE is the man who was pres
ent all through the trial Of Marcel and
the others. who was always silent, but al
ways listening. He believed that Marcel
told the truth when he swore that there
was another man who was responsible
with him for some of the things which
happened at the Place Noire He be-
that great bully of gendarme"
And he is here?" Christine asked, sin
London?"
He is here. watching the marquis an
sWered- He is here because he believes
that through Marcel he will find that
other man."
Christine's face softened. her dark eyes
became compassionate. She passed her
arm through his and led him to a chair
1T is terrible" she said, but it is not
y
Pierre and Marcel were In my house
only yesterday" the marquis said Even
the details of my escape are known to
Leblun. was told tonight by Mayo.
the ambassador, of the man who. with
the hunchhack and the girl, passed out
of the Place Nore that night, wheeling a
piano
She was silent for several minutes II
wonder" she said. softly. ''how much YOU
really had to do with that house of mys-
teries?
The marquis groaned. Not so much
after all, he answered. You know
very well that was desperate that first
night, when your mother and Marcel
brought me there. ] was ready to Join
in anything. but even then | would have
nothing to do with the gaming
1T was the attack upon the bankSo''
she asked. softly.
The marquis nodded. Il was i'm that. =
he admitted. 1T appealed to me. Ii
was a desperate adventure. and it mea mt
wealth for all of us if we succeeded.
But 1t did succeed.
1T succeeded all right lie said but