Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-05-16
A. Ole MINISTER
XS q POLICE
I'D By HENRY MONTJOY
| XE82 cepyish.. 1912. The DosasM merrill Company.

the package given to him by Monsieur
had just finished brushing the rem
nants of it from his hand with his
handkerchief when the man returned.
Then, taking his seat in the car
riage, he gave his orders to the coach
man and they started.
Now. the rag picker who had fol-
lowed him from the Rue Coo Heron.
de F%leury-a suspect; who had seen
him parting from De Fleury at his doc
and entering his house, full of
the Importance OF what he had
seen. instead of patiently remain
Ing on watch, returned to the
Hotel de Sartines and made his depO-
sltion to Monsieur B~eauregard, De Sar-
tines lieutenant. Then he FASTENED
c and took up his post OF observa-
ton at 10 minute past 2, that is to
say, exactly six minutes after De INs-
sac had departed for Versailles.
BY this fault he condemned himself
to a whole evening and night of mount
ing guard over a hous empty OF it's
master, and he lost Monsieur De Sar-
tines a point in the game, for had De
Sartines been appraised of the young
mans movements. he would have noti-
fed his police in Versailles, who had
q spy in every house, not excepting
that of Monsieur de Richelieu.
1t was a lovely afternoon, and as
they left Paris and its sordidness be-
mind them. De Lussac, lowering the
of the carriage. inhaled the
air with "a delight .momentary and ban
ished by the remembrance of what was
on hand.
He had no plan of campaign. That
the due, though surprised at the sud-
denness OF his visit, would be delighted
to ro0oiv.o him h, Eol< g.. ~.
R1chelieu had several times invited him
on a visit. leaving it open to him to
come when he chose; besides, the due
was his nearest relation and IL De Lus-
a died before him, would be heir TO
the Auvergne estates.
He would have to give a reason,
however. for his visit: that would be
easy enough-nothing to the difficulties
OF a search for q carefully guarded
paper in a house filed, perhaps. with
guests.
De Richelieu's mansion was situated
on the Paris o on the left as one
approaches the palace. The gates
swung open for the carriage, which,
approaching the front door by Il court
yard, set with laburnum and lilac trees.
drew up, and the Comte de Lussac,
ascending the steps where a lackey was
waiting to receive him. passed into the
galleried hall where the majordomo,
Monsieur Beaupre, advanced to receive
him.
This parsonage. who possessed a
vast, stoltd, expressionless face that
seemed nodded from white wax, was
n OF those perfect functionaries who
knew everybody. and everything about
everybody, everything about court ETH
quette. everything about precedence.
He knew the Comte de Lussac. his
affairs, his peculiar manner of living.
his neglect of those things which were
essential to success in society, and the
with which the court had
dubbed him. He despised him as heart
a man OF De Lussac's sort, but he
showed nothing of his thoughts as he
bowed before him.
Good afternoon. Beaupre,'' said the
young a giving his hat and gloves
to the servant who had admitted him.
is Monsieur lie Due at home?'
INC. monsieur. Monsieur lie Duo is at
Luciennes. cut l am expecting him to
return at any moment"
is Monsieur Raffe IMP"
Monsieur Raffe is in the library,
monsieur
"Ah, the library" said De Lussac. his
heart leaping at the words. "Show me
t o him."
The majordomo led the way across
SsAS ~ "a OPStIt1A6 I'll IIc ICll
he opened the door n disclosed the
library Of Monsieur lie Marechal DUO de
Richelfeu. DE Lussac. as he entered,
could not but feel that the omen was
with him. inasmuch as this. the first
room he entered, was the room he had
come to plumber.
1t was not very large, his library Of
Monsieur lie Due. 1t had only one win
dow OF stained glass. blazoned with the
arms of the Richelieus and heavily
barred on the Outside-through the
colors OF the glass. the gray ghostlike
shadows OF the bars showed vaguely
and like a menace.
tuously bound and stamped on the
backs in gold with the Richelieu arms,
stood in open bookcases.
Near the window. at a table by the
only bureau in the room, sat a man
engaged In writing. 1t was Raffe. De
Richelieu's steward, factotum. and
right hand: he was engaged on the
monthly accounts, going over each bill,
item by item and sou by sOu.
Why. 1t is Monsieur lie Comte de
Lussac," cried the old man. rising from
his chair n advancing to greet the
newcomer. How unfortunate that
Monsieur lie Duo should be absent! But
l am expecting him at any moment"
1t does not matter" replied the
day or two. II my cousin will have
me. the air of Paris a suddenly be-
come too much for me and I am SUI
fering from sleeplessness. have some
luggage In my carriage; will you kindly
have it seen to? Meanwhile, l will, II
o will permit me. amuse myself with
a book till my cousins return"
"Oh. monsieur" cried Raffe, as he
gathered up his papers. Il a assur
you that my master will be only too
delighted at your visit. I will have
you room prepared and your luggage
brought to 1t. Can I send you any re-
freshments, monsieur. after your jour-
ney?"
mo. thank you. deal Monsieur Rare.