Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-20

were rings under her eyes. She looked
always at her husband. as though she
feared to lose him. Lord Ellingham him
self seemed like man whose thoughts
are in another world. Christine. my dear
companion Christine. was crying"
"All this" Leblun remarked. politely,
interests me exceedingly. A little fam
lily group. suffering. perhaps. from fear
ly see-you will excuse me. / know-but /
scarcely see why the recital of 1T has
procured me the pleasure of this visit?"
THE fear of impending trouble" Am
brose repeated That is good. The fear
is there and the trouble is there Mon
sieur Leblun they sit there and they
listen for your footsteps. They listen for
your ring. They listen for a servant to
throw open the door and announce. Mon
sieur Leblun,"
The detective nodded gravely. 1T was
in my mind" he admitted. cautiously.
to pay a visit to the household you
mention
Ambrose nodded Five years ago" he
said. that man Ellingham was a GRIM
inal, not vicious one ever, yet certainly
a criminal. Retribution comes to him a
little late
The detective bowed All the time he
not sure what this visit might portend
Il am one of those Ambrose con-
unued, who may be called lookers-on at
this game of life. I have no part or
s-.dte III IT. NlckS ana Du11etS fortune
have known. hunger and thirst l have
known. but the joys which come to other
men pass me by. Therefore Monsieur Lee
blum, l have never known what it is TO
have heart. l am like you. I can
watch suffering without finching I can
amuses or bores me, according to my
humor You, too, Monsieur Leblun, are
like that"
Perhaps" Leblun assented. a little i'm
Rfff 7 hot i%
not to discuss my characteristics that you
paid me this visit?''
Not in the least" Ambrose answered.
There was little proposition 1. wis led
To make 1t may sound ridiculous to you.
] trust that when 1t is made you will
not think too scornfulIy of me- But, in
deed, there were days. before / was as
you see me now. when the girl Christine
was child In short frocks-there were
days, i say, which I have not altogether
forgotten. when she was in a sense q
part of my life. I will not weary YOU
with details. l will only say that when
her mother was led away in Paris into
becoming the associate of gamblers and
thieves. when Christine escaped from that
house for fear of unutterabe things it
was To me she came. For years we crept
about the world together. Somehow or
other slight weakness seems to have
developed itself in my nature. If | could
would do her a kindness"
Leblun had ceased even his polite inter-
jections. He glanced meaningly at the
clock and back again quickly at his Wis
itor.
This morning" Ambrose continued,
"she threw herself on her knees before
me. she even raised her lips to mine We
We're alone for moment. She had come
into the hall with me and she had drawn
me into another room. Do you know
what it was that she begged Of me, Mon
sieur Leblun"
The detective shook his head slowly.
1t is not for me to imagine" he an
swered. coldly.
"She asked me to come to you. to beg
you TO stay your hand Ambrose said,
thoughtfully. "A strange errand. you
will think, yet l offer you a considera-
ton
"A consideration of four million francs.
/ presume?' the detective remarked
Monsieur Leblun." Ambrose replied.
with a little bow. You are marvellous
Those others who rushed about so clum-
silly. seeking for the money. they did not
guess that a man who lived in rags a
poor creature like me. might know where
that money was. But L do. and ii is
yours II you abandon that visit to the
Marquis of dillingham;.
Jacques Leblun looked coldly upon his