The Washington times., 1920-09-05
CHAPTER XXI.
(contInusd from Last sundsy.)
In the Chapel.

atPNhos "sss@ ~~
memory of its oldest inhabitants
had II been singled out as a stage
for the worlds happenings.
For old Henri there had never
dawned such a day. The pride he
had always felt at showing the
glories of the mansion to visitors
was nothing to this. For the time
being the old man was the centre
OF the village, a position OF which
he was careful to make the most.
The sunlight pierced the little
foliage-framed panes OF the vii
lage inn and lit up the eager faces
of tho villagers as they leant for
ward and listened to the story.
"And YOU yourself heard the
groanings?"
Henri took the pipe from his lips.
Have | not told you that did,
lean? I only hope you will never
hear the like. Strong nerves are
necessary, and"-with spardonable
prlde--'T was equal to the occa-
sion"
Henri applied himself to his
glass, aud for the fifth time plunged
into the details of his story. In
their rapt attention they had hard
ly ur'icod The entry OF three strang
arg. who had ordered wine and
taken their seats near the door.
TIE three men had left Paris, as
""ranged, lay the earliest train, and
after taking lunch at Blois, had
"alked over to Massey. The heat
as oppressive and the way dusty,
a tla visit 10 the Three Lilies
iaG b"cn opportune.
JSaverton had during the day
Hr',iaipol MS sullen manner OF
8, ~;sht before. He spoke BIZ:
p a"d, indeed, as he thought
"fHrmation-the kings evil
a II wern---'hat he had
10 his captors, he felt a dull
ntnt at his treatment II
q. "'.,.i to him that he was doomed
10 ccme off very badly in the affair
altogether
or the mystery that evidently
surrounded the Chateau Chauviils
and it's chapel he knew nothing. and
cared less; in The killing Of Hubert
BaXenter he had had no hand; WHY,
then, was he tramping dusty roads
with two men who practically held
him prisoner?
One by one the villagers, satiated
with news. departed to convey their
knowledge TO, and shine with re-
flectea glory among, their waiting
families. AS old Henri, his occu-
patton gone, prepared to follow
them, Berwick touched him on the
shoulder.
"A moment, monsieur. ] have
been listening TO your graphic de-
scription. think I would like to
hear a little more. A bottle Of
wine, now. l am a journalist from
Paris; your story would read well.
I think, and would be. we'll paid for"
The wine was,hrought and, under
its mellow influence, the old man
opened out; if the story was to
appear in print then 1t should be
/. good one and lack no gruesome
detail.
1T was this morning. monsieur,
when l paid my visit to the chapel.
1t is my custom to go there at ten
o'clock each morning to see that
all is as It should be; for, mes
sieurs, there are many valuable
articles on the little altar-a four
teenth-century cross studded with
amethysts. and two candlesticks
which were once in the possession
Of Plus the Sixth. You might say
in your paper, monsieur, that !,
Henri Biblot. have the entire care
of these treasures-B-i-b-l-o-t; yes
one t.
This morning everything seemed
in it's place, and l was about to
leave the chapel when I heard a
sound beneath my feet-a low, hol-
low groan, and coming from the
ancient tomb of the Dartignys."
The man paused for the effect of
his words; then he tapped his
chest impressively.
81 am not a coward, messieurs;
I gained the cross at Sedan. But
confess, as heard this was afraid.
You have not seen the tomb? No?
Well, it is covered in with NOV
able slab, worked by means Of a
lever concealed in the ironwork OF
the railings. My fear was only
momentary, and in a few minutes
/ had slid this stone back and
peered down into the darkness.
"The floor OF the vault, you must
know, lies some ten or twelve feet
beneath that of the chapel. and at
first I was unable to make out any.
thing in the gloom. took candle
from the altar-the saints forgive
me the sacrilege-and managed to
lower 1t a few feet"
The old man ceased speaking and
took long drink from his tumbler,
then he went on:
"The last to be inferred In the
vault. messieurs, was Armand
Raoul de Dartipy, who fell glor-
iously at the battle Of Jemappes.
AS was the custom. the coffin lay
on the raised bier directly beneath
the opening, for each Dartigny lay
there until another burial took
place, when his remains were put
in their niche to make room for the
newcomer. To my horror ! saw
that this coffin was broken, and /