The Washington herald., 1913-01-19

IduSflCu-
Madame" said the baroness, Mon
sieur de Sartines' power is limitless.
and / am the master of Monsieur de
Sartines"
Surely, Madame, his mistress?' put
in the comtesse
Monster de Sartines, you will kind
ly reply to the comtesse, who has twice
insulted me"
Now, for the comtesse, Madame de
Stenlis and De Joyeuse, the minister
of police had that contempt which the
police official had for all those in his
power. In that bureau of his where
we have seen him writing. he had their
whole histories, and it was the fate OF
these unfortunates that their histories
were in themselves accusations D'Har-
lancourt had not poisoned her first
husband, according to popular report,
but she had ruined three men and was
infamous. De Joyeuse was a cheat
who had used clogged dyce, betrayed
women, beaten the town for three years
and was suspected of worse crimes
than these. Madame de Stenlis was a
neurotic unprintable. One may fancy
the rage of De Sartines at being jock
eyed before all these whom with one
sweep of his hand he could have Sc
questered in La Force or Bicetre; more
especially as he perceived that they
were covertly laughing at him.
We'll. Madame" cried he. turning
on Madame d'Harlancourt with a face
that astonished her, what now, l am.
the host here to-day. Must my guests
be insulted?'
"Corbleu" cut in the baroness, that
is not the way to speak to a woman of
that sort. Speak, Monsieur. as you
spoke to me-or take the conse-
quences."
At this threat so openly made,
Madame dc Stenlis Uttered. 1t was
the last straw Furious, unable to at
tack the strong woman who had him.
literally, in her power, he attacked the
weak.
Madame Linden has explained her
self to me; she has power which will
enable her to be of service to the state
of France-and you insult her. YOU
Dieu de Dieul what am l minister of
police for if do not know what you
fancy hidden? Shall l speak, Madame:
Shall l speak"
"Ceasei" cried Madame d'Harlan-
whose eyes were fixed on the man be
fore her. She had retreatcd a few.
steps and was brought to a halt by
a chair. whose back she seized.
No one laughed or smiled now;
an atmosphere of terror filled the room,
for the rage of De Sartines chilled the
heart: no one could tell what might
not happen next. De JoyeuSe glanced
at the door. Madame De Stealis press
ed her handkerchief to her lips Only
De Richelieu was calm. and the
baroness.
Make her go on her knees, De Sar-
tines"
Never cried the unfortunate wom-
an, shaking. white. terrified, yet making
one more effort 10 retain her dignity.
De Sartines took one step toward
her; his eyes were blazing and his fist
clenched.
Annhilatcd. mesmerized. BY his glance
and appalled, at his fury, she sank
weeping on her knees.
De Joyeuse skunk toward the door.
Monsieur de Joyeuse, come back,
said the baroness.
Madame, l have an engagement
elsewhere" replied the fashion-plate,
his hands on the door handle.
Monsieur de SartineS,' said she, 81
must ask you to recall Monsieur de
Joyeuse. who also insulted me-"
De Sartines, when Madame d'Har-
lancourt obeyed him, had bridled his
rage He laughed grimly
That is but just. Monsieur de Joy
euse, come back
Monsieur de Ioyeuse came hack.
Now" said the baroness to de
Joyeuse, 'on your knees beside that
woman.
'Never'
Monsieur de Sartines, perhaps YOU
will give the order!"
De Sartines looked at de Joyeuse,
and without a word pointed to the
floor beside the comtesse, who, with
hands twisting her lace handkerchief,
was still kneeling.
De Joyeuse for half a moment SEEM
ed on the point of rebellion. then wi:h
a laugh took his place beside the
comteSse-
Madame de Stenlis was no fool; she
recognized that her turn was coming,
that she and the others were entirely
under the thumb of De Sartines. who
for some reason was entirely under the
thumb of the baroness. She tripped
across to where de Joyeuse was kneel-
ing. and knelt beside him, with laugh
that almost turned the tables on her
tormentor.
Come. De Sartines," said she fneel
beside me and let US pray for the soul
of one dead to society"
Madame d'Harlancourt picked up at
this and folded her hands, and De
Joveuse assumed an air of devotion
Does madame refer to the soul of
the Gomte d'Ys?' asked the baroness
in a suave voice.
At this remark. which showed such
a destructive knowledge of the past of
Madame de Stenlis, De Ssrtines started
back. De Richelieu almost exploded
with mirth, and the group on the floor
wilted.
"And you. Monsieur de Joyeuse,'
went on the pitiless one. for whom
are YOU about to pray? The watchman
Laverolles killed, by accident, no doubt,
but still killed"
"Madame.r cut in De Sartines, ter
rifed himself by her knowledge OF
things. a knowledge which she had
acquired from no higher an authority
than Rosine Madame. that is
enough
Monsieur she replied. Il only in
tended to say that Laverolles, though
an honest man who never used coggcd
u