The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1912-02-22
AT ODDS WITH A: Story e| .t:
-Tr- ~- Conspiracy by
/ III X ~ L. ~ | Burton Egbert
co,x1xstb nv --1 p 1,n,,,cot+ conna Stevenson
CHAPrER NIv-(Continued.)
+. &. Lippincott Company

y HNrN VA SaNs NAAS "i NSat 20
monsieur" said one of them, who
seemed 10 be in command. THE
watches We're changed while you
slept"
And how long will you be on duty?'
l asked, carelessly.
Twelve hours, or until 10 o'clock to-
night, monsieur" he answered.
~Ah, you have long hours"
We have always long hours in the
police, monsieur"
At that moment the outer door was
opened. n a servant appeared bring
ing my breakfast.
Excellent" l cried, entering the
outer room n looking at the repast,
which was indeed elaborate. Il see l
shall have no cause to complain of M.
Herault's hospitality. Have you break
tasted. lieutenant 2"
Two hours age, monsieur"
Two hours ago! Great heavens,
man, our tomac must be an aching
emptiness by this time! Sit down. l
beg OF you. There is enough here for
two and some to spare for your men,
l saw that the man was indeed nun
cry and looked at my breakfast with
eager eyes, but he shook his head at
my invitation.
"Ah, come, monsieur" / said, why
should we refuse to be civil to each
other just because I am prisoner and
you are guard? It seems to me that
II little guoG feeling viii make the dag
pass more quickly for both Of us.
Even If you cannot eat, bear me COM
pany, l beg of o for l abhor sitting
down alone to table," and l gently
forced him into a chair and myself
took the one opposite. He yielded,
though still with a show Of reluctance,
and l maintained a lively conversation
While we ate, carefully avoiding any
remark which could appear suspi-
%cious, and finally succeeded in draw
ing the man out a little. l ordered
another bottle Of wine, and treated the
V soldiers to a glass apiece, a cour-
tesy which 1 saw they appreciated.
Breakfast was finally finished and we
arose.
What a charming view!" I cried,
sauntering to he window and gazing
Town owe the river. an. Herault's
house overlooks the Seine, it appears"
at stands upon the bank, monsieur"
answered the lieutenant, who had fol-
lowed me.
Come, monsieur" I said turning to
him and seemingly taking no further
interest In the view, II have not yet
asked your name"
Lieutenant Bernin, monsieur"
We'll. Lieutenant Bernin," I cried, q"
foresee that we are going to pass a
very pleasant day together" and I
turned again to an apparently careless
scrutiny of the scene. / could catch
but a glimpse of the river below the
window, from which 1 judged that the
house not only stood upon the bank,
but that the upper stories projected out
over the water, after the fashion of
many of the older houses standing
along the Seine. In a moment I saw a
possible way of escape. A drop of 40
feet to a stone pavement was not to be
thought of; but a drop of 40 feet into
the water was another matter. 1
turned away from the window. trem-
bling lest by some motion I might be-
tray my thought. l examined the win
dow itself attentively when I could do
so unobServed, n saw that it was of
the ordinary kind, with a sash which
could be readily broken by a blow with
a chair or n other heavy object. The
problem was to keep my guards at a
distance during the moment it would
take me to break a passage and drop
into The water 1t Las a problem not
easy Of solution, and I retired to the
bed room and lay down upon the bed to
think it over
The bed room was about 10 feet
square. without windows and with only
one door, tina opening into the outer
room: This door was of some strength
and had a bolt on the outer side, so
that by merely closing it and throwing
the bolt they could max me a prisoner
in this small room. II it were only the
soldiers who We're in the bed room and
L VIZ WSlS culSlue, an instant would
suffice TO bolt the door, and 1t would be
several minutes at least before they
could break it own-mor time GER
tainly than / should need to get
through the window. In a moment
had my plan, and 1 spent some half
hour working out all its details.
The remainder Of the morning passed
quickly, n when my dinner appeared
Herault accompanied it.
i have been taxing myself with be-
ing inhospitable, NJ. de Brancas," he
said, but beg Of you to believe that it
was the most urgent business which
prevented my coming to see you ear
time to rest or to see his friends"
I can well believe it." I answered.
You are going to dine with me. are
you not, monsieur? %
If it pleases you to have a compan-
ion"
Nothing could please me more"
said, heartily, for / really admired the
man; and as we sat down I examined
his face with interest. It was a face
which, even animated as at this mo
ment, was still as impenetrable as a
wall of stone. The firmly set lips and
aggressive chin showed a mar no
wanting In decision, n I did not doubt
that those cool, gray eyes could become
two poniards when it was a question of
obtaining a confession from a prisoner.
I need not tell you, monsieur" I said,
after a moment, how deeply your sys-
tenn of police espionage interests me.
/ have already two or three proofs
of the t-horoughness Of its work, and it
seems to me a wonderful organization.
Do you object to telling me more about
it 2"
Not at ALL" he answered, smiling.
There is nothing secret about the gem
eral principles Of u system. What
is it you would like to know, mon
sieur?"
Tell me how 1t is organized-how it
proceeds I answered.
TT was the Comte d,Argenson who
brought it to its present state of per-
fection," began Herault. He was. as
you perhaps know, my predecessor, and.
held the position for 10 years. It was
for Louis the Great that the thorough
organization Of the secret department
was undertaken. He had, as you have
doubtless heard. a great liking for
scandal, and for many years the chief
duty of the department. was to discover
intrigaes and l~iaisons. He devoted an
hour every morning listening to the
report OF the police department, and
details Of some love affair. These,
nothing pleased him so greatly as fI,e