A Servant of Satan: Romantic Career of Prado the Assassin — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

12 A SERVANT OF SATAN. ““T may not see you again. It is possible that this may be our last interview. You are the only one of my former friends who has shown me theslightest kindness or sympa- thy in my trouble. It would beuseless tothank you. Iam perfectly aware that my whole record must appear repulsive to you, and that your conduct toward me has been prompted by pity more than by any other sentiment. Were you, however, to know my true story you would pity me even more> ‘The statements which I made to M. Guillo, the Judge d’Instruction who examined me, were merely invented on the spur of the moment, for the pur- pose of showing him that my powers of imagination were, at any rate, as brillant as hisown. No one, not even my - lawyer, knows my real name or history. You will find both in this sealed packet. It contains some notes which I have peek down while in prison, os my past career.” As he said this he placed a bulky parcel in my hand. ‘‘T want you, however,” he continued, ‘‘to promise me twothings. The first is that you will not open the outer covering thereof until after my execution; the second, that you will make no mention or reference to the name inscribed on the inner envelope until you see the death of its possessor announced in the newspapers. It is the name of my poor oldfather. He is in failing health and can scarcely live much longer. When he passes away you are at liberty to break the seals and to use the information contained therein in any form you may think proper. The only object I have in now concealing my indentity is to spare the old gentle- man any unnecessary sorrow and disgrace.” He uttered these last words rather sadly and paused for a_ few minutes before proceeding. ‘With regard to the remainder of my family,” said he at last, ‘‘I am totally indifferent about their feelings in the matter.” : comicbooks rato} a) Ts,