Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-04-10

letter which means nothing, and a
moment to put postscript which
means everything-
But, cordieu!" cried De Sartines.
there Is no woman in the question.
told you to watch the Comte de Lussac,
to intercept his letters, and you come
prattl1ng to me of a woman!"
Monsieur, have watched him. You
say, monsieur, that there Is no woman
IN the question. Do you not know,
monsieur. that the comte Is in love?'
Il know there is an affair between
MIN and that Austrian woman. Though,
from what can make out, they have
never been alone together he follows
her like a poodle
Monsieur, 1t is more than an 'af-
lair He is in love with her to the hilt.
To watch him it is also necessary to
watch her. and to watch her, if mon
sieur will permit me to say so, re-
quires better eyes than the eyes of a
blind horse"
You have some meaning behind that
expression?" asked De Sartines. look
Ing fixedly at the agent.
Monsieur, have more than a
meaning. I have complaint
"A complaint"
Yes. monsieur. Three days ago you
said to me, 1 put you on the case of
the Comte de Lussac. He is con-
sptrator against the established order,
friend of Rousseau's. member,
suspect, of the-Society Of the Midi.
Watch him like cat; use what meth
DDS you will, but bring me evidence that
he belongs to the society. Bring me
evidence, evidence evidence'-those
were your words, monsieur. / took up
the case In my own way, and before l
had been working IL hours l found that
was being hampered by blind horse
You had let into the case. refer to
Gaussin.'
Go on" said De sartines, greatly in
censed by this criticism of his methods
coming from an inferior, but restrain
ing his temper.
Before had been working IL hours
| found this blunderer poking his nose
into my business, hanging on the skirts
OF Madame la Baronne, following her
carriage, and, to crown his stupidity.
trying to. make love to her maid and
being received with a broom and a
bucket OF cold water which Placide,
her man servant, flung over him The
result, monsieur, is that as nearly as
possible the affair has been spoiled"
Anything more?'
Only this. monsieur-Gaussin Is an
excellent man for the arrest of market
porters or pickpockets. but In an at
fair of this sort he is out of place."
The truth in these words did not
at all abate the anger of De Sartines at
the criticism of his own judgment
which they contained, but, SO complete
ly master Of himself was he that he
showed nothing Of his feelings In the
expression Of his face; his manner only
altered; 1t became freezing He glanced
at the clock on the mantel, paused for
moment as If in thought. and then
said, speaking slowly and distinctly:
1t Is now 25 minutes past o'clock,
| Monday the 4th of May / give you till
o'clock on Wednesday-that Is. two
day less Ave hours and rs minutes-to
bring me the evidence l seek or to prove
to me definitely that such evidence does
not exist"
And il fail, monsieur
You are dismissed from my service
for the insolence you have just shown
In crittcizing> my methods"
And am to have free hand, mon
| sieur, and no more Gausstns?" asked
lAavenne joyfully, and not seeming at
all depressed by the final chause.
You will have a free hand.'
Lavenne bowed profoundly and left
the room, while Monsieur lie Comte de
Sartines. turning to his bureau, began
to arrange his private correspondence
for the day. shutting the door OF his
mind on official matters.
The position Of minister OF police un-
der the regime of Louis XIV required
very exceptional properties in the man
who held it. To begin with, 1t was
necessary that he should be OF noble
birth, courtter with all that complex
theory of etiquet introduced by Louis
XIV at his fingers ends; an astute
politician, for in this age Of ferment
high politics had a finger in the pigeon
holes Of the bureau of Monsieur dom
prevail; a. man with an intimate knowl-
edge of woMeR; wit in an age when
laughter was as poisonous as strych-
nine; a man OF the world and a logi-
clan; dandy, yet not above descend
ing into the sewers Of Paris and, above
all, a man proof against hatred; caring
nothing for the detestation Of the
rogues his agents arrested. of the shop
keepers he prosecuted for false weight,
OF the philosophers he prosecuted for
false opinions. OF the ballad mongers
and literary larvae whose fangg hoy
pulled when they grew too strong
against Madame du Barry, the king, or
the court.
Such man was De Sartines. COM
pick and multifaced. smiling today on
the man whom he would imprison to-
morrow, with the order Of imprison-
ment all the time in his pocket; yet not
at all to be Judged by our standards
OF right and wrong.
In this bureau at which he sat writ
ing now, among the numerous docu-
ments and dossiers which 1t contained,
were to be found papers relative to
the morals and lives OF most OF his
court acquaintances; you can fancy,
then, the feelings OF these people rub
bling shoulders at court and social
functions with this elegant who was in
himself living criticism and threat,
and who, though feared. was trea-ed by
them with scant courtesy-when they
dared.
At 1890 Monsieur de Sartines An
tshed his private correspondence and
rose from his chair. His eyes fell on
the clock. and almost Immediately the
recollection of Lavenne and his mis-
sion REQUIRED to him.
AT 4 O'clock on Wednesday" said he,
III this scamp fails to bring me what
seek, he leaves my service. j never
80 back on my word
CHAPTER III.
A LADY OF OTHER DAYS.
The establishment OF Behrens and