The Washington herald., 1913-01-19
By HENRY MOUNTJOY

woman, Eve shall see something now.
ARMED to the teeth. and will de-
stroy your complacency with one
word She turned to the others. Look
on Monsieur de Sartines' face as
say the word; study it,
swell, Madame" said De Sartines,
folding his arms, SAY your word"
"Porcheronp said the baroness.
"Cordieup cried De Sartines. start
ing back as If she had struck him.
"Porcheronr cried the baroness
again. advancing toward him while he
retreated before her as though the
word were a whip. Then OF a sudden
he regained his self-possession.
Madame" said he, Il must speak
with you alone
Monsieur" replied she, 81 prefer
speaking to you in public .. .. ...
81 forbid itn
She laughed grimly, then, after a
moments reflection: Very well, Mon
sieur,' she said. 1et us speak in pri-
vate This window opens upon the
terrace: let us go out
De Sartines opened the window and
followed her out on the terrace. leav-
ing the others amazed at the turn
things had taken: all but De Richelieuu,
who, however, said nothing. pretend
ing an astonishment equal to theirs.
"Now, Monsieur" said the baroness,
when they were alone, ''let US be ex-
plicit" She took a paper from her
pocket and handed II to him, He
looked at it; it was a copy OF
the, contract. exact in every detail
l.. L-..Ir,kt,,r
glanced at it. he folded it and placed
it in his pocket
well, Madame" said he. "it seems
you have been at great trouble to place
yourself in this position"
What position, Monsieur?
"My prisoner, and the prisoner OF
the state until your death"
She made an inpatient gesture.
when will you learn to understand
me? Let us be clear. You intend to
imprison me-"
De Sartines bowed.
We'll, Monsieur. by doing so YOU
will inevitably ruin yourself. The orig
inal of that document is in the hands
of a friend of mine; have arranged
to inform him every day at a certain
hour that 7 am alive and free. Should
he not hear from me, say. tomorrow.
he is instructed to place that document
in the hands OF Monsieur de Maupeou.
the chancellor. leave you to
guess the result"
1t was at this moment that De Sar-
tines perceived quite clearly that he was
lost. unless he could propitiate or cir
cumvent this subtle intelligence against
i l. L I,,,,,=a1t
Madame said he. this document
was in the keeping OF Monsieur dc
Richeiieu"
Indeed? Well. it is in his keeping
no longer Oh. believe me, Monsieur,
the game is now in my hands; | can
break you like china figure at any
moment like. And now, do yos
know what YOU are thinking? You are
thinking: When this woman leaves
here shall have her followed by my
agents and | shall find out with whom
sne has placed the weapon; | shall ar
rest him and search his house. Well.
Monsieur. II. when | leave here, | tind
out that I am being followed, | shall
take a very drastic course. | shall
leave Paris for three days and let
things take their way
"Mordieuw said De Sartines, upon
whose face the sweat was standing,
all this is beside the point"
Which point, Monsieur:
why. ma fol that you are conSid-
ering me in the light OF an enemy. |
who have no personal animosity to you
at all. All. Madame. too late | have
perceived your genius. Even now an
alliance"
IAN alliance with you! Come, Mon
sieur, we are wasting valuable time.
and | have my monkeys to attend to
She turned and re-entered the room
where the others were all standing.
De Sartines, behind her, filled with
fury and CONSERVATION, still wore an
appearance of unconcern.
And now, Monsieur" said the bar
oness. that we have finished business.
let us have some pleasure. l am hum
cry"
'If Madame will join us at table"
"Sit at table with those! No, Mon
sieur. Besides, am only hungry for
my dessert"
Madame De Stenlis turned from De
Joyeuse, with whom she had been