Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-07-10

~ CIV RaEael Sabatini
Q BY Rafaol Sabatint

turning to the members of the Cote
Drojt and frightening his face to a
sympathetic gravity:
IL am glad to inform you. mes
sieurs, that NJ. des Troiscantins is in
the hands of a very competent sur
geon who hopes with care TO restore
him to your councils in a few weeks
time"
The Friday of that very busy
week foun.i the vestibule of the
Menage empty of swordsmen when
he made his leisurely and eXpectant
egress with lie Chapelier.
Have they had enough" he won
dered, sddr essing the question to
lie Chapelier.
Out there under the awning a
group of gentlemen stood in earn
est talk. Scanning the group in a
rapid glance, Andre-Louis perceived
NJ. de La Tour d'AZyr amongst
them. He frightened his lips. He
must afford no provocation. 1t
must be for them TO fasten their
uu1rrels Upon him.
Stil, matters could not be left
where they were, or he should have
had all his pains for nothing. Care
fully looking away from that group
of gentlemen. he raised his voice so
that his words must carry to their
ears.
1T begins to look as ii my fears
of having TO spend the remainder of
my days in the Bots were idle"
Out of the corner of his eye he
caugfiht the stir his words rceated
in that group. Pacing slowly along
between his friends he resumed:
But is it not remarkable that the
| assassin of Lagron should make no
move against Lagron's successor.
Or perhaps it is not remarkable.
Perhaps ths gentleman is prudent
He had not long to wait. Came a
quick step behind him. and a hand
falling upon his shoulder, spun him
violently round. He was brought
face to face with M. de La Tour
d'Azyr. whose handsome counten-
ance was calm and composed, but
whose eyes reflected something of
the sudden blaze of passion stir
ring in him.
You spoke of me, 1 think" said
the Marquis quietly.
Il spoke of an assassin-yes. But
to these my friends" Andre-Louis
manner was no less quiet.
You spoke loudly enough to be
overheard said the Marquis, an
swering the insinuation that he had
been eavesdropping. l perceive that
it is your aim to be offensive
ooh, but you are mistaken. M. lie
Marquis. / have no wish to be
offensive. But l resent having hands
violently laid upon me, especially
when they are hands that l cannot
consider Clean
The elder mans eyelids fickered
| Almost he caught himself admiring
Anrde-Louis' bearing. Rather, ne
feared that his own must suffer by
comparison Because of this, he en-
ragged altogether, and lost control OF
himself. You spoke of me as the
assassin of Lagron. But how much
better are you, M. the feucing-mas-
ter, when you oppose Yourself to
men whose skill is as naturally In
terror to your own!'
"I oppose myself to them" said
Andre-Louis on a tone Of amused
protest. "Ah, pardon, NJ. lie Mar
quis; it is they who chose to oppose
themselves to me-and so stupidity
They push me, they slap my face,
they tread on my toes, they call me
by unpleasant names. What II L am
a fencing master? Must L on that
account submit to every ann OF
ill-treatment from your bad-man-
nered friends?
Comedian" the Marquis con-
temptuously apostrophized him
Are these men who live by the
sword like yourself?"
"On the contrary, M. lie Marquis.
have found them men who died by
the sword with astonishing ease.
cannot suppose that you desire to
add yourself to their number"
"And why, if you please?' La
Tour d'Azyr's face had famed scar
let before that sneer.
"Oh,' Andre-Louis raised his eye
brows and pused his lips, a mar
considering He delivered himself
slowly. because. monsieur, you
prefer the easy victim-the Lagrons
and Vilm orins of this world, mere
I sheep for your butchering. That is
why
And then the Marquis struck him
CONTINUED in Our Next lssue)