The evening world., 1920-08-07
CHAPTER IX.

lnS morning theIe W."
- cracking sound down below
there. 1t seemed TO suggest attempts
but they stopped at once hS
such II long time since! NO
the thing no longer works and they
can't make use Of IT,
Who's they2"
without waiting for his answer she
continued:
Listen. Stephane. we have a few
minutes before US, perhaps fewer
than we think. Francois Will be free
al any moment now and will come to
our rescue. Lot us make the most OF
the interval and tell each other the
things which both OF us ought 70
know. Let US discuss matters quietly.
We are threatened with no immedl-
ate danger: and the time will be well
employed,"
Veronique was pretending a sense
Of security which she did not feel
That Francois would make his escape
she refused 20 doubt: but who could
ltell that the boy would go to the win
dow and notice the hook OF the hang
ling ladder? on failing to soc his
mother, would he not rather think Of
following the underground tunnel and
running TO the Priory?
However. she mastered herself,
feeling the need OF the explanation
for which she had asked. and, sitting
down on a granite projection which
formed sort OF bench, she at once
began to tell Stephane the events
which she had witnessed and in
which she had played a leading part,
from the moment when her investiga-
lions led her to the deserted cabin
containing Maguennocs dead body.
Stephane listened to the terrifying
narrative without attempting to in
ed by his gestures of adherence and
the despairing expression OF his face
NJ. d'Hergemoncs death in particular
, seemed to crush him, as did Homo,
! rine's. He had been greatly attached
to both OF them.
{ There, Stephane," said Veronique
. when she had described the anguish
. which she suffered after the execu
! ton Of the sisters Archighat. the dis
: covery OF the underground passag
and her interview with Francois
THAT Is all that need absolutely tel
you. l thought that you ought L
know what have kept from Francois
so that we may fight our enemies to-
gether."
. He shook his head:
(which enemies?" he said. a. too
: In spite OF your explanations. am ask
: ing the very question which you aslte,
me. l have a feeling that we are fun
into the midst OF "a great TRACED
which has continued for years, 10
centuries. and in which we have be
4 gun TO play our parts only at the mo
ment OF the crisis, at the moment o
the terrific cataolyNm prepared b.
generations of men. may be wronp
Perhaps there Is nothing more thu
Il disconnected series OF sinister weir
and horrible coino licences amid whic
4 we are tossed from side to side, with
n out being able 10 appeal 10 any othe
reasons than the within OF chance. /
4 reality l know no more than you dC
am surrounded by the Same oh
security stricken by the same sorrow
I, and the same losses. It's all lust in
4 sanity, eNtravagant commissions, un
precedent Shocks the crimes OF say
h ages, the fury OF the barbaric ages
3, Veronique agreed.
. Yes, OF the barbaric ages; an
that is what battles me most an
n impresses me so much! What is IN
4 connection between the present an
the past, between our prosecutors {
to-day and the men who lived 4
" these caves In days OF old and who's
actions arc prolonged into our Ow
time, in u manner 80 impossible (
y understand? To what do they all re
l fer, those legends OF which / kno,
nothing except from Honorine's d.
y lirium and the distress of the sister
Archignat?"
They spoke low, with their ears al
ways on the alert, Stephane listene
for sounds in the corridor, Veroniqu
concentrated her attention on II
~ cliff, in the hope Of hearing Francois
), signal.
y They are very complicated les
!. ends said Stephane, very obscui
~ traditions in which we must abando
= any attempt to distinguish betwee
=, what is superstition and what migl
= be truth. out Of this tumble OF o.
- wives tales, the very most that v
can disentangle Is two sets of idea
those referring 10 the prophecy OF n
thirty collins and those relating TO II
existence Of a treasure, or guther
" IA miraculous stone"
ne Then they take as a prophecy
IS said Veronique, the words which
on read on MaguennOc's drawing an
'e- again on the Fairies Dolmen?"
,al YES, Il prophecy which dat
back Ia an indeterminate period al
M which for centuries has governed n
"A whole history and the whole life
Sarek. The belief has always pr
=" vailed that "A day would come whe
en- within space OF [ elye months, Il
be thirty principal reefs which surrouI
la Il lob .