The Springfield herald., 1912-06-21
By MAX PEMBERTON
Copyright. by w. G. Chapman.)

starched shirt. when the man knocked
upon the door of my bedroom for the
second time. had heard him family
five minutes before. when my head
was as far in basin as the limitations
of Partisan toilet-ware would allow 1t
to go: but now he knocked imperious-
ly. and when opened to him he stood
hesitatingly with foolish leer upon
his face, and that which he meant for
discretion upon his lips.
Well" said /. what the devil do
you want? Can't you see I'm dress
ing?"
At this he looked with obvious pity
for me towards the basin, but quickly
recovered himself.
Dame" said he. with fine Gascon
accent, there is a lady waiting for
monsieur in the salon."
"A LADY," cried with surprise;
"who is she?"
Il am but three days In Paris" re-
piled he, land she is a stranger to me-
II monsieur prefers 1t. / will ask her
some questions"
You will please do nothing of the
sort: did she give her name?"
81 seem to remember that she did,
but 1t has escaped me. l shall say
that you are engaged. and will see her
tomorrow; monsieur leaves Paris a.
nine o'clock heinz"
He said this with another vulgar
leer. but turned round upon him fierce
left of my hair.
You impudent poltroon!" exclaimed
1: "leave the room instantly. and tell
the lady that will be with her in five
minutes"
"Ah," said he, 'it is like that then?
Very good; l shall safeguard your in
terests; trust in me. May 1 be per-
mitted to light the candles?"
He SAID this with a fine eye to the
bill: but sent him away after some
display of temper, and finished my
dressing quickly.
At the time of this occurrence I had
been in the French capital for one
week. being carried there by the an
nouncement of the sale of the Countess
Boccalini's jewels.
On the night of which I am
writing, my trading was done, and
a ridiculous promise to go to the Opera
ball alone kept me in Paris. How the
promise came to be given to my friend
Tussal cannot remember; but he had
assured me that the ball was the event
of April.
By the terms of his invitation I was
to meet him at the Grand cafe at mid
night. and thence was to proceed to
the opera house at half-past twelve.
had determined to dine quietly at my
own hotel, and afterwards to spend the
Intervening hours at the Theatre de la
Porte st. Martin: for which purpose
dressed at comparatively early hour;
and dressing, received the stiff-necked
Gascon's message that a lady wished
to see me. Yet for what purpose she
came, or who she might be, had not
an idea; and | turned over hundred
theories in my mind as descended to
the little reception room OF the hotel,
and there found her sitting by the un-
covered table with railway guide be-
fore her, but obviously agitated, and as
obviously pretty.
II am Bernard Sutton" said I; 'if 1t
is possible that can be OF any service
to you, the privilege is mine"
Thank you, thousand times" said
she. speaking with an accent which
added to the charm of her English. II
have heard of you often from Madam
Carmalovitch. whose husband owned
the famous opal; you We're very kind
to her"
Il was exceedingly sorry for her." l
Il. tor nlnt tiN,, Of har
"Oh, mol" she exclaimed; Il am
Mademoiselle Edile Bernier, and | live
with my mother at 80, Rue Boissiere.
You will laugh to hear why | come to
you. 1t is about something you alone
can advise me upon. and, of course.
you will guess 1t at once"
81 won't waste your time by being
ambiguous" said 1; you have come
TO consult me about some jewels; pray
let me see them"
There was no one else in the salon
at that time. the few people in the
hotel being at dinner. The girl had,
therefore, no hesitation in opening a
bracelet case, which she had carried
under her cloak, and showing me a
plain band of bold which served as a
mount for a small circle of turquoise
and an exceedingly large rose-pink
topaz, which possessed all the luster
o. diamond.
TITS exceedingly pretty" said |. "and
your stones are very good. There is a
little green at the base of the larger
turquoises, but you will hardly match
the topaz in Paris. Are you seeking to
Ernur ha yalua pf II pn
Il would never ask that" she an
swered quickly; ''it was gift from
my fiance. Mons. Georges Barre. whom
you may know by name
vow 1t was very bewitching to
watch the rosy blush which suffused
her cheek when she made this confess
sion. Yet she spoke with the ring of
pride in her voice, and I replied to her
encouragingly while she put her treas
ure beneath her cloak. as though she
feared that other eyes than hers
should rest even upon the case of it.
Mons. Barre is well known to me