Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-15
CHAPTER XXXIII.

made, and a certain elegance of bearing.
for which in the old days he had been
distinguished. had reasserted itself. He
was clean shaven, his hair was cut and
even his nails had been manicured. He
was conscious of his companions some
what surprised scrutiny and his lips
parted in slight smile.
My consideration for you, dear friend.
he said. has led me to take this unusual
care with my person. ] have decided to
forget the untoward events Of the last
few days. / have decided to believe that
I am free from pursuit and that 1 am
1t Is the optimism of my race, you see
quality worth cultivating.'
:! congratulate YOU" Lord Eilingham
said, dryly. Il do not exactly know why
accepted your pressing invitation. but
since 1 am here perhaps you will tell me
why you extended it to me-"
Willingly Marcel answered. This
man is going to drive us slowly along the
Embankment. | have engaged him 70"
elapsed already. First, then, I want to
tell you that we have failed to discover
those four million francs, or any trace of
them.'
You and Pierre?' Lord Ellingham re-
marked. quietly.
Marcel looked at him swiftly. Pierre
and l., he repeated. 1.-The money is not
in the place where it was hidden. The
hunchback we find still beggar upon
the streets; The girl alone seems to have
prospered."
From which You conclude7' Lord FL
bingham asked.
1T is the girl who found the money!
Marcel declared. Listen. There is an
other reason for believing this AnatOile
you remember Anatoile-he. too, knew
OF the four million francs. To whom did
he go? He did not come to you. He did
not waste time with the hunchback. He
went to the girl, and In her rooms he
was found murdered
Lord Ellingham frowned slightly. II
am perfectly convinced" he said. that
the girl knows nothing of the four mil
lion francs"
Marcel laughed hardly. MY friend. .
he said. you were always easily deceived
by women. Christines mother twisted
you round her little finger. Christine
herself. l have no doubt, could do the
same. How else do you suppose that she
lives In luxury, drives in carriages, wears
a string Of pearls, lives in short, as a
lady Of wealth? OF course there is an
other way"
Lord Ellingham stopped him. You for
get" he said, that Christine is my step
daughter. She lives on an allowance from
me-"
Marcel laughed once more. my dear
marquis" he said, that may be. or it
may not be. Who cares? Money 1 must
iidFCs HOt d llIllc money, out a great deal.
I want my share of that four million
francs. want it either from you or
from her.
Neither of u.s." the marquis declared,
knows anything whatever of the money
you speak off,
Marcel shrugged his shoulders. II re-
peat" he said, that there are four mil
lion francs to be accounted for. I hold
you and her responsible. Half of that
sum l demand. I demand it from you
mr. rofr T hoII a
1t from her. II you both refuse, If 1 see
no chance Of getting it. then I will earn
my pardon. I will seek for Mr.. Jacques
Leblun. I will say to him: Here is the
Of that house in the Place Noire. / will
prove to you that what I said when
was on trial was the truth. Come with
me and / will show you the man who
should have stood by my side in the
dock"
Lord Ellingham was thoughtful. He
looked out of the window at the great
sluggish river. Il am not sure he said.
whether it would pay me to buy your
silence. There is the hunchback. too,
who knows. He is q strange creature,
and think he has no love for me. Be
sides, between ourselves. / fancy that my
time is nearly up. Leblun is in this
country even now. and l think he means
to know the TRUTH
Marcel's thin lips parted. showing his
white teeth. 1t was snarl of fear. OF
IF so, he came after me-
In any case" the marquis continued,
II do not see why l should beggar myself
for nothing. T have had some years of
life, life that has been worth living. l
think that l may as we'll make my bow
to fate as gracefully as possible"
You talk like q fool" Marcel declared
is no reason why you should not remain
unsupported all your days. The hunch-
back amounts TO nothing. He IS half
mad. drunk most of the time. He counts
There is no one else Let me tell you,
life in prison is horrible thing. The
cells, oh, my God! There are no words
to describe them. 1t is a life for YER
min. not for men,
Il have not the slightest Intention
the marquis said. "of experiencing it.
There are other ways
Marcel shrugged his shoulders. Death"
he said. One speaks of it easily enough.
but, after all, it is the end | have held
revolver against my own temple, but
the thought of the black gulf Wi make
ones hand tremble a little, my friend.
One sees SO quickly. one sees SO much"
he added, leaning little forward. "All
the past horrors seem to loom up. All
the dead men one has ever caught a
glimpse of seem to lie, cold and ugly. be-
fore ones vision. No more the wine, the
kisses and the sunshine, the flow of life
in ones veins. Death! Extinction! Ah.'
His face was gray with fear. His COM
panion looked at him cu~iously.
Prison life,'' he said calmly. 'has
shaken your nerve. my dear Marcel"
I'VE talk like children Marcel de-
clared. suddenly. II am not here to play
with words. Win you give me money, or
will you not?"
II will not the marquis answered IF
/ gave you any sum that I could afford
you would be back for more the moment
it was spent. If I treat with you at all
l have burned my bridges. I have moth
ing to do with the past. / do not remem-
Der the house In the Place Noire, and
you, you are stranger. Tell your story
to whom you please. My mind is made
up"
You are not serious?' Marcel whisper
ed. hoarsely.
Il am entirely serious Lord Filing
ham answered. Il owe you Nothing
There was never any comradeship be-
tween us. You were a bad lot from first
to last. You ruined the life of the poor
woman whom / was beguiled into marry
ing. l had courage, which you had not,
but 1t was you who were responsible for
all the wickedness. the real treacherous
wickedness, which went on in that cursed
house. I hated you then. l despise you
Tell him all you know. I am ready to
meet whatever fate may have in store
for me at any time. Permit me-" he
added letting down the window. Il am
going to tell the cabman to STOP"
Marcel sprang at him, but Lord Filing
ham easily threw him away. Then. Of its
own accord, the cab stopped The door
was thrown open. Marcel glared wildly
out.
ssUhera orc MO p, be exciaimed