Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-06

Champion. you, Ellingham. or whatever
you call yourself?" he cried, pointing at
the marquis with shaking finger. DO
you know what l have been through
while you have been living here in lux
ury? l have scrubbed my cell, / have
eaten bad food, 1 have herded with swine
have drunk water, bad water. l have
smoked cigarette once a day or a week
perhaps, of tobacco which the warders
refused. And l have done these things
in your name. 1t is you who should
have been there. you who should have
come and somehow or other dragged me
out. But you no! You were traitor.
You left me to rot. But l am free. Per
haps it is my turn for a little time now
BE calm, my dear Marcel his COM
panion begged. 1T is not the time to ex-
cite yourself. Those days are past. We
come here to talk of the future"
The marquis bowed and pointed to
chairs. He pointed. also. to the side
| board. Il am sorry he said. ito find
that you come here tonight in a spirit of
recrimination / will admit that on the
occasion you have mentioned the luck
went against you. Yet / do not see that
l am greatly to be blamed
Marcel, who had been on his way to a
chair. swayed upon his feet. His cheeks
We're lvid. His eyes seemed almost as
though they would start from his head
promising things.
Not greatly to be blamed?" he repeat
ed. Not greatly to be blamed, when
you stole away and left the others to
their fate? When you robbed me of my
means of escape, robbed me-
"One moment" the marquis interrupted.
What is this you are charging me with ?
/ robbed you of the means you provided
for your own escape. Well, if you had
meant to leave us in the lurch 1 scarcely
see how you can blame me for sieZing my
opportunity.
TT Is not only that Marcel cried. 1T
is this, this. this!'' throwing out his
arms III a comprehensive gesture. Whose
money mas gone to the furnishing OF this
mansion? Whose money pays the serv-
ant who brought us in here. keeping US
all the time at arms length as though
we We're Migrants and trampS? !. vi
comte dc Neuilly, great-grandson of a
duke of France. God in heaven! ! ask
whose money pays for the clothes upon
your back? For the carriages and horses,
the automobiles, the whole luxury of
your life?
The marquis was looking genuinely as
tonished. Whose money is paying for
these thiLgs?' he asked My own.
Whose else?'
Marcel reached out his hand for the
brandy. He drank nearly tumblerful.
neat, before he spoke again. Then he
came up to within yard of the marquis
chair and stood there with outstretched
hands. Il will not strike" he said. II
will not ask you why you mock me.
am mere TO tell you Ihls you are worse
than a thief You thief who steals
from his own kind. You are man who
breaks his own laws. You are the low
est of the low. But unless you would
have the whole world know tomorrow, or
the next day, what we know, you will
make instant restitution. You think that
shall fear to speak, you think that 1
am afraid to feel the handouts once
more on my wrists. the irons on my
ankles l would rather feel them.
hnr 90 n fitaf RI
rot in my cell than leave you here in lux
ury. unpunished.'
Upon my word, the marquis said
my dear Marcel. you are becoming in
comprehensive. / tell you frankly that
cannot see that you have against me
any very great grievance. l alone es-
capped, it is true, where you others suf-
fered. l fought little too vigorously
in that first rush. but for what happened
in the struggle you can scarcely hold ME
responsible. l should have sought you
out afterward, have provided money for
your defense. have come to tighten the
rigors of your prison life. perhaps. Well,
didn't. There YOU have matter for
complaint But what more. what more
have YOU To say against me-?
Marcel was almost hysterical. What
moreo" he shrieked. "Why this. Not
only did you keep away from us. but you
came over here and lived in luxury upon
our money.
Either YOU are mad Lord Ellingham
declared. cor / am. | have never seen u
penny of your money. All that there was
in the house in the Place Noire that night
was seized by the gendarmes. / ESCAPED
with less than thirty louis In my pocket
reached London absolutely penniless''
Marcel sank back into his chair. He
tried to speak. but sudden pallor crept
over his face. The designations of the
last few days, coming so soon after the
privations of his prison life. had been too
much for him. Pierre bent over and I'M
fastened his collar. The marquis brought
more brandy. Marcel slipped to the floor
and lay there. sasping like a dying man.
shall ] telephone for doctorc" Lord
Eilingham asked.
Pierre shook his head. No." lie an
swered. quickly .'He will revive. lie
was like this for minute or two last
night 1t is nothing. an affair of the
nerves lie has brooded upon this. Your