The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-06-25
PROLOGUE

In the month Of December, 1913,
and on the very day that a British
cavalry division marched into Cologne
with flags flying and bands playing
as the conquerors Of beaten natlon'
the manager of the Hotel Nationaie
In Berne received q letter. Its con-
tents appeared to puzzle him some
what, for having read 1t twice ne
rang the bell on his desk to summon
his secretary. Almost Immediately
the door opened, and a young French
Rirl came into the room.
'Monsieur rangT
"Have we ever had staying in the
hotel a man called lie Comte de Guy|
He leaned back in his chair ana
looked at her through his pince-nez.
THE secretary thought for a mo-
ment and then shook her head. mot
rs far as I can remember" she said.
aDo we know anything about him2
Has he ever fed here, or taken pri-
vate room?"
"Not that I know Of"
The manager handed her the letter.
and waited In silence until she had
read 1t.
1T seems on the face Of 1t a pecu-
liar request from an unknown man,
he remarked as she laid it down. "A
dinner Of four covers; no expense to
he spared. Wines specified and If
= not in hotel to be obtained. A private
room at half-past seven sharp. Guests
to ask for room x"
The secretary nodded In agreement.
ut can hardly be hoax" she re-
marked after short silence.
mo" The manager tapped his
teeth with his pen thoughtfully. but
IL by any chance 1t was, 1t would
prove an expensive one for US.
wish l could think who this Comte de
Guy is"
He took off his pince-nez and aaid
them on the desk in front OF him
..Send the maitre d'hotel to me at
once"
Whatever may have been the man
ayers misgivings, they were certainly
not shared by the head waiter as nc
left the Office after receiving his In
structions. War and short rations
had not been conducive to any partic
ularly lucrative business In MS
sphere: and the whole sound OF the
proposed entertainment seemed to hin
10 contain considerable promise.
And so at about twenty minutes
nast seven the maitre d'hotel wa'
hoyering around the hali-porter. TIM
manager was lowering round tn
maitre d'hotel, and the secretary wal
towering around both. At hve-and
twenty minutes past the first CUES
He was peculiar-looking man, u
Z big fur coat, reminding one IRE
sistibly Of q Goldfish.
II wish to be taken to Room *
The French secretary stiffened invol
untarily as the maitre d'hotel steppet
obseuuiously forward. Cosmopolitan
. the hotel was, even now she coul'
never hear German spoken without a
inward shudder Of digust.
"a Boche," she murmured u disgust
Almost Immediately afterward tn
second and third members OF the PAL
Il arrived. They did not come togetl
q, and what seemed peculiar to tn
manager was that they were evidentl
strangers to one another.
The leading 0ne-a tall gaunt ma
With q ragged beard and pair 2
piercing eyes-asked In q nasal and b
no means an inaudiblc tone for ROOF
x. As he spoke a little fat man VIII
was standing just behind him starte
uerceptibly, and shot birdlike giane
1t the speaker.
Then ID execrable French he to
asked for Room 4.
~He's not French said the seer
4,ry excitedly to the manager. TINT
1er one was another Boche."
The manager thoaghtfully twirie
~ Dince-nex between his fingers.
srwo Germans and an American
II. looked / little apprehensive. -