Evening star., 1921-04-17
THE BLACKMAILER
By Frederic Boutet

not big enough 10 huft you NO,
please don't nv to discuss It with me:
| you tomorrow. You will toll me yes
| or no. II it's no. I'll go to NJ verra-
live and tell him poor Auguete's
story. He may pay me something
news about the city. II it's yes. and
I believe it will be yes. I'll collect
and take the next train. Everybody
will be satisfied. The marriage will
take place and you will never hear
of me again.
| word Of honor" he concluded with
what he wanted to be taken as a
pledge Of absolute good faith.
He boTsd d confidently onade ~. ana d. went vent
5xas h ns ssiden B,.ssat sss
seated in his chair. still holding his
burnt-out cigarette in his fingers.
He was dumfounded. He knew even
better than his impudent. visitor
but inevitable. would fall on him. He
thought Of his friends and Of his
enemies. Of the rich. prudish and
traight-laced society Of that little
"s1 ss .e Tss's H:
Of n: verralive. the undisputed head
with whom he had been 50 proud
Of establishing. He thought Of his
son Philippe. who adored Claire Yer
shadow Of the black sheep criminal
stalked menacingly. and that other
shadow OF the blackmailer. who had
just departed. whose demands, If he
edly be renewed again and again.
NJ. Blestat reflected for q long
tina He came to one decision and
then another. Finally he made MP
his mind. He got up and put ON
at.a nls e0a1 h.a anS q. et na the soas. he h''
Fifteen minutes later he was in
the presence Of M. Verralive. The
latter. highly imposing in appear
ance. with long gray hair ana
noble face. wearing 2 fixed. grave
the mantelpiece in his private office.
M. Blestat had come to tell the
truth. He told 1t. He outlined briefly
his brothers history-his extrava-
gances. his misfortunes. his miscon-
duct. his condemnation and his death
in prison. Then he told of the visit
he had received and the ATTEMPTED
blackmaii. He spoke with dead
voice. and shame almost choked him.
Nf vERRALIvE had listened calm
AvA' ly. He spoke after a pause of
several minutes.
why didn't you give him the hun
dred thousand francs?" he asked.
II have told you-because he would
have continued to threaten me be-
cause it would have been a menace
constantly hanging over me and my
son. Also. because realized that I
| tn IN
you"
1T wasn't because of the amount he
asked?"
mo. the amount didn't matter. l
would have given three times -
much to"
He didn't complete the phrase. ITO
avoid the humiliation I suffer at this
moment"
1T is easy to see that you are rich"
yoa sa,a W we're yeFrae risht so ore rsfuse ONE
oughtn't to allow himself to be
squeezed that way: don't deny that
this affair is embarrassing. But I
have high regard for you and your
when this biackmailer comes back to-
morrow show him the door and
threaten to call the police. If he
dares to come here Til take care Of
him. We won't allow him TO spread
any SSouu@l HI tHiS tO~u moreover,
who would believe him If I, Hippolyte
verralive. publicly branded him az a
liar?'
NJ Blestat breathed freely once more.
He was filled with gratitude.
Il thank you from the bottom Of my
heart" he said.
mot at all. not at ALL" replied NJ
Verralive. magnanimously. Don't
mention 1t again. So the marriage
will take place next month. BY the
way. I have also something to tell
you. We are men Of affairs; can
talk frankly with you. It concerns
Claire's dot. Owing to circumstances
which ! hadn't foreseen. dnd my
self little short OF ready money. L
can't do what had hoped to do. But
I don't want to see the children suffer
on that account. So I have counted
on you to give 1t In my stead. It's no
great matter-not to you. At least.
Only a hundred Thousand francs
There 10 no reason why you can't ac-
commodate me. 10 thePe?" he conclud-
Cd. In . tone which b1ooked no re-
fusal.
None at all-nonA at an STAN
nnered N. BlestAt, succeeding In fore
ing a smile. In spite Of his profound
astonishment