The Argosy, March 1907 — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

THE EAGLE OF EMPIRE, my friend; it is a mistake to carry upon one’s person that which one has taken from a murdered man. Perhaps you do not quite understand, and why I should explain I do not know, only because you _ saved me from violence in the barn, and we women of France do not forget eas- ily. Your danger has been great, mon- sieur, even greater than you dreamed, while you slept so long. They know who killed poor M. Andrea while he waited to fire the beacon at the summit of the tower. It was that which saved Napo- leon that night near Cannes, and to you the Corsican owes the throne he has re- gained. Why you did not give me up that night I cannot tell. Perhaps it was be- cause Ettori angered you beyond meas- ure and, being yourself in the service of Napoleon, you struck down another who wore his uniform. It is evident that the man is very close*to his master—traitor and vampire that he is—for you fled, having made him your mortal enemy. Of that I know little, only that your horse threw you afterward and your head was injured terribly. Of course, they searched your clothes and came upon the pistol—the one with the silver mountings, which bore M. Andrea’s name, and which they knew he carried when he mounted to the summit of the watch-tower. When it was dis- covered that he had been murdered their rage was terrible, both because M. Andrea was most trustworthy and the plans which had been so carefully laid went for nothing. We knew that Napoleon had many followers, what his sudden appearance might mean to France; had he been taken that night, before any had seen his face, Louis would still be king in Paris. And when they found M. An- drea’s pistol on you they would have killed you, even as you lay unconscious —killed you as they would a rat, mon- sieur, for the pistol told them it was you who found M. Andrea in the tower and murdered him. But I remembered then what you had done for me, and because they did not dare make me their enemy they spared you—until a later day, when you should have departed from the house to which I had them take you. What may follow I cannot say, but, having repaid the debt I owed, our paths will cross no more. The oath they made to me—not to harm you while you remained beneath this roof—they will not break, but Ra A en eae Pg a Rm en - . * <r - ¥, \ie ‘i y afterward—you ean read your own dan- ger, monsieur There are those in Paris who will show no mercy. Of one other thing I would warn you, a second danger, which you will doubt- less realize. Ettori serves Napoleon as -second minister of police. Next to his master and Fouché he is all-powerful. If you know the man as I know him you will understand. C. vE F. The letter ended as abruptly as it be- gan. Inwood folded it carefully and placed it in an inner pocket. “It would seem,” said he grimly, “that I am in the position of the man who stood between the devil and the deep sea. Lo remain is to meet this precious assistant to Fouché; to depart is to risk a dagger thrust in the back.” ‘“ Monsteur was pleased -to say?” ven- tured his companion hurriedly. “That we will leave at once; the drums are drawing nearer,” replied the American calmly. CHAPTER -Vill. THE HAND OF .PROVIDENCE. THE alley to which the Frenchman had referred was a narrow street open- ing into one of the wider boulevards beyond. Some five hundred yards in length, and flanked on either side by the walls of adjacent houses, it was used, in common with other alleys in the district, as a passageway for tradesmen in the daytime, prowlers by night, and fre- quently as a means of escape in troublous times. It was upon the latter errand that In- wood, accompanied by the French serv- ing-man, entered the narrow way even as those who beat upon the drums neared the house in the Faubourg St. Germain. Looking ahead, he saw that the road be- fore him ran straight for perhaps a hun- dred yards, then turned abruptly so he could not see the farther end nor the wider street beyond. | The sober-faced Frenchman was close at his elbow. “But a few moments and monsieur will enter the more crowded thorough- fare; it is then that only moderate cau- tion will be necessary,” said he respect- fully. - Eomichboo 649 Sale lo} Ii wy. ae if yi 7 ,