Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-25
CHAPTER VIII.


The marquis glanced from the caro-
| which he held toward the man whom his
secretary had just ushered in
This is Mr.. Hannaway, sir" the latter
remarked.
The marquis inclined his head yer,
slightly. IT do not understand the pur.
pose of your visit, SIR" he said land
am exceedingly occupied just now. II
you will kindly explain in a few words
what 1 can do for you I will be glad"
Gilbert Hannaway bowed and glanced
toward the secretary.
do you wish me to stay. sir?" the
latter asked.
The marquis hesitated for a moment
Then he shook his head. No" he SAID
You had better type those letters l gave
you before dinner. Bring them to me in
few minutes and I will sign them"
The secretary bowed and withdrew.
closing the door carefully behind him.
The marquis, who was still regarding his
visitor with a slight frown. motioned him
to take seat
"Sit down if you will, sir" he said, Il
can spare you only very few minutes.
First of all, let me ask you what is the
meaning of that extraordinary message
which l understand came from you last
night?''
Hannaway accepted chair, and laid
his hat and stick upon the table. He
drew up one knee and clasped his hands
around it. "A hunchback, a singing girl
and a monkey he murmured. You
see. 1 had been searching for them and
they appeared unexpectedly. 1t occurred
to me that you, too, might be interested
to know that they We're in London
But why?" the marquis asked. What
has such company as this to do with
me?"
Hannaway was silent for a moment.
Your lordship." he said. ARE we To talk
as men who feel for the point of the
others rapier in the dark? Or are we
to lay our cards upon the table? We
may. perhaps. each be able to help the
other"
The marquis glanced toward the door.
MR. Hannaway," he said, You COM
port yourself like a sane man, but l
frankly admit that your words seem to
Frankly l have no idea what you mean
Hannaway nodded thoughtfully. All
he said you prefer that way. Well. it
is your choice of weapons. for it is l
who have sounded the tocsin. | under
stand that your lordship is leaving Eng
land tomorrow
IF I am" the marquis answered. st
do not conceive it to be any concern of
yours
"One cannot tell Hannaway answered.
connect our lives are almost invisible
There may be something which brings us
into closer touch than you are willing to
admit. Five years ago. for instance, my
lord, things were different with both of
us
The marquis looked at his visitor long
and steadily. Listen" he said. Five
years ago / was a penniless man. / was
leading an adventurous life, and ] was to
be found in strange places. IT is pos
SihIe that / NAV have seen Won i'm some
of them. 1t is possible that / have met
you under circumstances which seem to
you scarcely in keeping with my present
position. What of it? What concern is
it of yourso Are you here to ask for
blackmail?'
You do me an injustice Hannaway
answered. without any sign of anger. T.
too, only five years ago, was wanderer.
something of an adventurer, perhaps. 1t
was about that time that ! began to find
life more than ordinarily interesting. /
was in Paris five years ago.
The marquis bowed. 1t is possible"