The Washington herald., 1912-08-11
.red. "You say that Hagon is in.

L
Very well, then" Violet went on,
| you will find that ne will attempt an
intrigue with the woman The rest
should be easy for YOU"
| De Crost sighed as he bent over his
wife.
| my DEAR" he said, "there is no sub
tlety like the subtlety of woman"
Bernadine's instinct had not deceived
him, and the following afternoon his
servant, who had already received or
ders, silently ushered Mime. Hagon into
his apartments. She was wrapped in
magnificent sables and heavily veiled.
Bernadine saw at once that she was
welcomed her in as matter-of-fact a
manner as possible.
MADAM" he declared, "this is quite
charming of you. You must sit in my
easy chair here, and my man shall bring
Us some tea. / drink mine always after
the fashion of your country, with lem
on, but doubt whether we make If so
well. Won't you unfasten your jacket?
am afraid that my rooms are rather
warm"
Madam had collected herself, but it
was quite obvious that she was unused
to adventures of this sort. Her hand.
when he took it, trembled, and more
than once she glanced furtively toward
the door,
Eyes, ! have come" she murmured.
Il do not know why. 1t is not right
for me to come. Yet there are times
when / am weary, times when Paul
seems fierce. and when l am terrified
Sometimes l even wish that ! were
back"
Your husband seems very highly
strung" Bernadine remarked. "He has
doubtless led an exciting life
"As to that" she replied, gazing
around her now and gradually beeom-
ing more at her ease, Il know but lit
tie. He was a student professor at
Moschaumc, when / met him. l think
| that he was at one of the universities
in ST. Petersburg"
Bernadine glanced at her eovertly. 1t
came to him as an inspiration that the
woman did not know the truth.
you are from Russia, then, after all, !"
he said, smiling. Il felt sure of it"
Yes" she admitted reluctantly
Paul is so queer in these things. He
| will not have me talk of it He prefers
that we are taken for French people. In
deed" she went on, 1T is not l who
desire to think too much of Russia. 1t
is not year since my father was killed
in the riots, and two of my brothers
were sent to Siberia"
Bernadine was deeply interested.
They were among the revolution
aries?" he asked.
She nodded.
YES" she answered.
"And your husband?'
"He, too, was with them in sympa-
thy. Secretly, too, l believe that he
: worked among them. Only he had to
be careful. You see. his position at the
college made it difficult"
Bernadine looked into the woman's
eyes and he knew then that she was
speaking the truth. This man was, in
deed. a great master; he had kept her
in ignorance!
Always" Bernadine said, few min
utes later, as he passed her tea, Il read
with the deepest interest of the peoples
movement in Russia. Tell me, what
became eventually Of their great lead
er-the wonderful Father Paul?"
She sat down her cup untasted, and
her blue eyes flashed with fire which
turned them almost to the color OF
steele.
Wonderful indeedr she exclaimed
! Wonderful Judasl 1t was he who
wrecked the cause. It was he who sold
the lives and liberty of all of US for
gold"
Il heard a rumor of that" Bernadine
remarked, but never believed it"
1T was true" she declared passion
ately.
And where is he now:" Bernadine
asked.
.Deadp she answered hercely. Tom
to pieces, we believe, one night in a
house near Moscow May it be sol"
She was silent for a moment, as
though engaged in prayer. Bernadine
spoke no more of these things. He talk
ed to her kindly, keeping up always his
role of respectful but hopeful adnirer.
Bernadine was a man rarely moved
toward emotion of any sort Yet even
he was conscious OF certain sense Of
excitement, as he stood looking out upon
the Embankment from the windows of
Paul Hagon's sitting-room, few days
later. Madam was sitting on the sofa,
close at hand 1t was for her answer
to certain question that he waited.
Monsieur" she said at last, turning
slowly toward him, "it must be no. In
deed, am sorry, for you have been
very charming to me, and without you
l should have been dull. But to come
to your rooms and dine alone tonight,
it is impossible" ....
"Your husband cannot return before
the morning." Bernadine reminded her.
TT makes no difference" she an
swered. Paul is sometimes fierce and
rough. but he is generous, and all his
life he has worshiped me. He behaves
strangely at times, but l know that he
eares-all the time more, perhaps, than
l deserve"
"And there is no one else" Bernadine |
asked softly, who can claim even the |
smallest piece of your hearth"
Monsieur" the woman begged. you
must not ask me that. ! think that you
had better go away"
Bernadine stood quite still for several
moments. 1t was the climax toward
which he had steadfastly guided the
course of this mild intrigue.
Madam" he declared, you must not
send me away. You shall not
She held out her hand
Then you must not ask impossible
things" she answered.
Then Bernadine took the plunge. He
became suddenly very grave.
Sophia" he said, Il am keeping a
great secret from you and | can do it