The Washington herald., 1913-02-09
PART THREE,
CHAPTER I-Continued.

Dy NOSlIlCy dllu NCll upSldAS NdhihS Oii
the maid to follow her.
Where is Placide?" asked Madame.
MA fol! where, indecd| replied
Rosine. In some cabaret most likely;
he went out at twelve and now It's
half past two and he has not returned"
We'll, never mind him, but when he
returns send him to me. And now to
work. Ny boxes must all be packed,
for 1 leave Paris tonight at 10
o'clock"
Tonight, AIadame?"
Yes; tonight; and give a small
reception at eight"
But, Madame"
i know what You are going to saw
You need not trouble; there will be no
preparations or worry about food. Mon
sieur de Sartines will provide the en-
tcrtainment." Madame looked grimly,
around her, then she went to her bu-
reau and wrote three notes while
Rosine stood by waiting.
Here are three letters" said madame
as she finished the last folded it and
sealed it. This one is to the landlord,
Monsieur de Gorges, telling him | give
up the house to-day. Take it to him
at once; also this letter TO Boehmer,
the jeweler, and this to Behrens, the
haberdasher; they are TO bring my pur-
chases here tonight at eight Take
them. Stay, what is that"
A carriage had drawn up in the
street and some one had rung the door
bell Madame crossed the room and
looked out She saw beyond the rails
OF the courtyard a carriage, but the
visitor had evidently been admitted,
for there was no sign of any one in
the courtyard.
Co said she to Rosinc; see who
it is. and should it by any chance be
Monsieur de Sartincs, say that ! am
out"
A moment later Rosine came rum
ming up.
Monsieur dc Maupeou has called,
Madame, and wishes TO speak to YOU"
Monsieur de Maupcou? WE'LL show
him up"
Rosine left the room and the baron
esS presently heard the heavy step of
the vice chancellor on the stairs. The
door opened and Rosine's sprightly
voice announced: Monsieur de Maui
peou."
De Maupeou. whom we have scarce
ly seen up to this. was a parsonage
with funcreal air. a face yellow as
the parcllments of the law, and a coat
0i black velvet worn the least bit at
the seams; as if TO make up for this
touch of business on the coat, his ruff
fes were OF the finest lace and his
right hand, half buried in its ruffles,
showed the sparkle of a diamond.
Despite the gloom and sobriety of
MS appearance there was a touch of
magnihcence about this man, and de-
spite the suggestion OF parchment. a
touch of fire Now, at this moment,
standing before Madame Ia Baronne,
the president of the law courts had as
sumed his most gracious air. He bowed
a. though he were standing before the
dauphiness, and as he took the seat
which she indicated he plunged at once
into the business on hand.
Madame" said he, this morning
] received a note indicating that if |
called to-day at Monsieur le Due de
Richelieu'S house in the Faubourg St.
Honore at one o'clock, | should see
something OF interest to me as vice,
chancellor of France. Also that | was
so make no reference to the note but
simply call as friend of Monsieur dc
Richelieu" /
Monsieur" replied the baroness, II
wrote that note.
"Ah, you wrote that note. Well.
Madame, it is to the honor of my per-
spicacity that | guessed the fact"
She bowed. And what you saw
did it interest you, Monsieur"
Profoundly"
That is well I always like to per-
form what promise Well. Monsieur,
if you accept the invitation | gave you
to my house this evening. | will prom
Use you sight even more interesting
than that which you beheld at the
house of Monsieur de Richelieu."
Madame" said De Maupeou, the
sight which ! beheld this morning in
tcrested me mainly bv the fact that !
did not understand it at all. May L
speak plainly
Certainly"
We'll. | saw Monsieur dc Sartines
in a state of agitation
Yes"
81 saw three pcrsonagcs OF the court
on their knees before a lady whom
they hate for her beauty and wit.
"Yes."
And | heard them asking pardon of
HCI ulluSi liS piS11lSS VI PioSH'S
comedy"
"Yes."
when you invited us all here to,
night | was watching Monsieur de
Sartincs' face Madame, to be brief,
you hold very high percentage in
your hand"
Again you are right, Monsieur" /
"He is your enemy, for tits well
known, Madame, in the circles of JUS |
:ice that he-hun-"
Holds me in suspicion. Oh, Mon |
sieur. he has done more than that; he |
has insulted me three times, and for
each of those insults I have sworn
revenge"
De Maupeou smiled. Upon my faith,
Madame" said he, "all you tell me
exactly confirms what logical reasoning
has made me suspect. and now, to be |
brief again. do not know nor do L |
want to know. what act of Monsieur
de Sartines has placed him in your
bad graces, but this / must know; am
l invited to your house tonight in my
official capacity or simply as Monsieur
dc Maupeou? ]?
I'm your official capacity, Monsieur"
TO meet
a criminal who has conspired |
against the welfare of the State"