Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-08-14

Eyes, madame?"
my carriage. And remember mat
you are coming to supper WIN me ~
night in the Rue Cog Heron, at . pre-
cisely."
De Sartines, taken aback by this IN
vitation which was also q m
could only bow.
She turned to Madame de Stenlls ana
the comtesse.
Ladies, you will be with me this
evening at 8 punctually."
They glanced at De Sartines, then
they bowed.
And you, too, monsieur" said she,
turning to De Joyeuse.
He bowed.
Then she turned to De Maupeou, ana
De Sartines felt sick at heart.
Monsieur de Maupeou, you, too, are
invited. Will you not make n Oh
us?"
Il shall be charmed" replied De
Maupeou, who scented something
strange in all this.
You will, ! hope. My carriage
Monsieur de Sartines."
De Richelieu himself called for her
carriage, n De. Sartines escorted her
to it.
Madame" said he at the carriage
door, II pray you to think over every
thing in your mind. The play of the
rat, the cat, and the corn Is very
amusing. What is the charge for the
copyright and the manuscript? Shall
we say 1o0,0 900 francs"
Monsieur" she replied, that Is the
price Of my jewels. We shall see about
the price Of the play after it has been
performed"
I-1~. @-,ox ovo1 ha ra-
turned to the reception room, hall
broken with anxiety n feeling as
though he were inclosed by a net.
De Joyeuse. and h two women We're
making their adieus to De Richelieu.
"Good-by, De Sartines, till this eve
ming said Madame de Stenlis as
left.
Till this evening" said Madame
d'Harlancourt.
Till this evening. lear De Sartines."
said De Joyeuse.
"Till this evening"" replied De Sar-
tines, bowling. He read in their faces,
their voices, and their manner the hint
Of what they guessed-that De Sartines
was to be the first protagonist in ma
DANES little comedy and that De Sar-
tines would have at her hands a suffl-
GENTLY lively time; not one of them
would not ave given the rags OF his
VI lSpuLSlC1Oll " roSS kAAS
Of police in the dust, and he knew 1t.
De Maupeou, who had called to see
De Richelieu relative, so he said, to
the question of a suit which was pend
ing at the courts n who had finished
speaking to him on he matter, now
turned to go.
Till this evening, Monsieur de Sar-
tines"
De S~artines bowed as ne left the
room. Then when the marechal and
the minister found themselves alone,
De Sartines turned savagely on the
DUO.
what is this?"
ma fol, I don't know; but madame,
seems t. have turned the tables very
completely on you. my dear minister"
'Cordieu! turned the tables upon me!
l should think SO. You have been
robbed
De Richelieu clapped his hand to his
pocket.
"You have been robbed of that
cursed contract. She has possession
of it; h has made a copy Of it; she
holds it like a sword, ventre Dieu; and
she has the will to use it."
"Ciel!" cried Richelieu, the picture
Of ghastness, striking himself on the
forehead as he spoke, 81 might have
known when she said that word 'Por-
cheron!' I fa2cied she had only got
wind of the thing and was holding you
in check by the name. But 1t Is I'M
~possiblee The paper Is secreted IN the
drawer Of my bureau n no one ever
is admitted to the library. All! Ah!"
.@Whar?' asked De Sartines, almost
startled at the old m~arechaps express
sion.
Il see it all now"
Eyes, yes?"
81 know the thief" 9
Yes, yes?"
de Lussac! He alone has had access
to my library. He came the other day
on a visit-scamp, traitor! He said he
was tired OF Paris and wanted 6
change. All, mon Dieu! to think that
l have been robbed by a kinsman!"
We'll, monsieur, your kinsman is
safe, in the bastile. If he has taken
the thing, then ne must have passed
it on to this Internal woman. The
course before you is clear"
"Yes?"
"You must visit De Lussac in the
bastile and exert your power upon him..
You must make him write a letter to
madame ordering her to deliver up to
you the paper that has e stolen
from you"
MA fol- said Richelieu, "that is not
he will deny it,"
AL the same, you must try. Theaten
him with lifelong Imprisonment If he
does not do as. you dictate, and to seal
the matter show him these papers,
De Sartines took a packet from his
pocket. They are the papers of the
Society of the Midi, which I found in
the orange tree shrub In his courtyard.
When, he sees them he will know he
is losts unless he ~surrenders."
De .Richelieu took: the papers and
placed them in his pocket.
Continued next week.