The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1939-01-05

81 said he Wouldn't SUIT you,
said Herrick, complacently
For an instant ! thought that the
fellow would launch an attack. AS
a beast about to spring, he dropped
to a crouch and actually lifted his
lip. Then he had himself in hand,
and had turned about.
AS he crossed to the window
'I'm not at all certain" he said,
'that Brief is going to suit him"
I addressed myself to Winter.
"Did you hear that remark"
81 did, sir" said Winter, quietly.
Repeat it to Mr.. Parish, her
Grace's page"
very good, SIR"
Virgil stood very still, with his
back to the room. When at last he
turned, saw he was very pale.
'.My uncle will receive you," he
said, ''in a quarter of an hour"
Then he passed to the doorway
and left us alone.
Two things were now clear, and
Herrick at once sat down and wrote
the Duchess note.
Madam.
Before we had been here ten minutes.
Virgil took care to warn me not TO re.
mind his uncle of anything which had
happened before he became Count OF
Brief. This. ! submit. goes to show
that Virgil Is aware of the truth.
The presence of Winter appeared TO
shock him so much that I am sure that
he regards him not only as personal
tNtNk uyffn
against him. If and when he is charged
with the theft of the jewels.
Yours to command.
This note we gave to Winter, to
give to Parish at once. Then we
washed our hands and made our
way back to the hall.
We were not sent for to go to
the Count of Brief. In fact, we
did not see him, until he passed
through the hall, on his way to re-
ceive the Duchess, whose car had
entered the drive. This, ] suppose,
by design-so that Herrick should
have no time to awaken such sleep
ing dogs as the Count desired to
let lie.
I shall never forget his appear
ance, or how startling to me was
his coming across the hall, for, ex-
cept that he was stouter and, SEEM
ingly, younger in years, he might
have been his poor brother, come
back to life.
If he was i'll at ease, he never
showed it, but used us both cavalier
ly, as though to confirm the impress
sion his letter conveyed.
(Which is which," he demanded,
and gave us no time to reply, "Oh,
this must be Herrick. The Duchess
mentioned your name. If you want
anything, ask the steward - he
knows the rules of the house. And
now you'd better come with me. She
will expect to see you upon the
steps,"
With that for welcome, he led the
way to the courtyard, as though he
were late.
A little bevy of servants was
standing beside the steps-with Ber-
tram, the steward, before them,
wand in hand. On the other side
were standing Parish and Winter
and two waiting-women in black.
AS I came out with Herrick, Par
ish came forward at once, to pay
his respects.
I put out my hand for his.
'I'm looking forward" said, 'to
a talk with you.
AS he took my hand
ST shall be honored, sir, when
ever you please"
! turned to see the Count staring
and Percy Virgil beside him, poking
his head. Then the Count said some
thing in German at which the two
of them laughed.
Herrick's voice rang out, as the
crack of lash.
''We know the Duchess servants,
because we know Tracery. Can you
say as much, you two?"
His words might have been a
spell. Everyone in the courtyard
seemed suddenly turned to stone.
Bertram stood open-mouthed, with
a hand halfway to his head, and
the others stared straight before
them, not seeming to breathe. Only
the Count and Virgil turned slowly
as red as fire, and at this full-fa-
vored moment, I heard the crunch
of gravel beneath the wheels of a
car.
Since this meant that the Duchess
was come, the tense situation was
less relieved than submerged, and
all eyes were turned to the archway
which led to the drive.
A liveried groom appeared, back
ing
Then a long limousine turned
slowly into the courtyard and moved
to the foot of the steps-and there
were Elizabeth smiling and the
Duchess of Whelp leaning back, with
the air of a Lord Chief Justice up
on his Bench.
The chauffeurs sat still, uncov-
cred, while a footman opened the
door and the Count stood bowling
and waiting for the Duchess to put
out a hand.
In silence Old Harry surveyed
him. Then she spoke clear and
loud.
"There is something different
about you. We're both of us older,
of course, but it's deeper than that.
The flesh is Esau's flesh, but the
spirit ;" White to the lips, the
Count looked ready to swoon. "It's
very strange. I should never have
said you were Brief"
Somehow the man made answer.
az. 4xxrox,+,r four xrca,.r $500 d,