The American Marquis by Nick Carter — page 59: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE AMERICAN MARQUIS. ge Monsieur Roche assumed the tones of Bras-de-Fer. ‘Say, ami Tete-de-Fer, are you yet learned in the bank- ing system?” “<Mon Dieu, a detective!” ‘‘Hixactly.” | «°Tf I answer you will have me set free?” “T will.” ‘<Go on.” ‘‘How came you to be engaged in that Chateau d'lberri affair?” ‘‘Very simple. I was hired.” ‘*Who hired you?” ‘*T don’t know.” ‘Don’t know?” ‘No; I never saw him without a mask.” ‘How much were you paid: gi ‘‘'Ten thousand francs.’ ‘* Just to kill the young man?” ‘Oh, no; I was to drive and sign my name as witness to the marriage.” ‘Tell me about the murder. How was it planned?” ‘¢ At first | was to drive him part way home, pretend an accident, have him get out, and break his skull. But the - We young fellow and his sister sot the idea that the American suspected something, so he got her to entice him into an- other room for a few minutes while we fixed it foranew | lan.” The bands of Henri Roche closed tightly. ‘< We were to lead him into the garden and do him there. Any other man would have given in, but he was a devil. _ How he did fight!” ‘© Are you sure the woman knew of the plan to murder the American?” . <“Know it? Of course she did. Why, I can hear her now saying, so sweet-like, ‘Have you the pillow for him?” meaning my club. Mon Dieu! yes, she and her brother had it all planned.” ‘*And you do not know anything about either of them, their names or looks: Think. Five thousand francs for a clew of some sort.” ‘© T could never see his face nor hers, 1 nor hear their names, though I tried hard, too. But wait. I did find his hand- kerchief—a silk one.” a