The Argosy, March 1907 — page 82: what you’re looking at

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

sneering lips, the jaws, blue with the dark beard underneath, the tricky eyes, which gazed straight into his own—these belonged to the man whom he knew to be his sworn enemy. The man he had strangled in the stable loft near Cannes. A gleam of fierce triumph crossed Colonel Ettori’s sinister face. By a quick motion he opened the door of the carriage. In another moment he would order the arrest of one or both of the men upon the little island, A gruff voice sounded in Inwood’s ear. ‘Take care, monsicur; afterward number seven, where I will await you.” Careless of the moving vehicles and grinding wheels all about, the American plunged into the surging mass before him. He heard Ettori’s sharp exclamation, then, mindful only of escape, seized the first refuge which offered itself. Right in front of him a carriage, forced almost to a standstill by the press before, blocked the way. Almost without thinking Inwood caught the handle of the door, pulled it open, and sprang into the vehicle, slamming the door behind him. - And at that moment the coachman whipped up his horses. CHAPTER IX. ‘THE MAN IN THE CARRIAGE. THE carriage contained one occupant. Fortunately he was seated in the farther side, else Inwood, in his mad plunge, must have trjpped over the extended legs and dashed through the opposite door. He heard one startled exclamation, a quick movement on the seat, and looking up, faced the muzzle of a pistol. But it was not that which brought a gasp to his lips; nor the fear of receiv- ing in the head a ball from the threaten- ing weapon. It was the sight of the “face behind the pistol; the face and the world-famous uniform. The occupant of the carriage was the Emperor Napoleon. The American had not recovered from his surprise when a stern voice sounded in his ear. “ Monsieur is plainly a bungler; he should at least have had a weapon ready, or is it thought that I travel unarmed? ”’ THE ARGOSY. It was wéll known. that Nancie feared assassination; more than one at- tempt had been made upon his life. | The sudden bursting of a stranger into his carriage augured to him but one thing: either a crazy man or a fanatical Royalist. Inwood’s mind was wont to work rap- idly and this time the habit stood him in good stead. To hesitate, to exhibit fear might have worked to his undoing. He looked the emperor fuil in the face. “Your majesty mdy understand the better why I have no weapon in my hand when I assure your majesty that I am wholly unarmed,” said he quietly. A fleetifig expression of surprise crossed Napoleon’s pale face.- He low- ered his pistol, but kept it ready for instant use if necessary. “ Might I then inquire, monsieur, to what I owe the honor of this sudden en- trance?” he demanded coldly. “I became confused, your majesty, and being pressed on every side by horses and vehicles it occurred to me on the spur of the moment that the surest means of safety lay in making use of the first carriage to hand. If for a moment I had dreamed——” The emperor broke in upon him. It is probable that he did not take the prof- fered. excuse without a grain of salt, but his manner showed no skepticism. In the first moment of the unexpected interruption a natural alarm had mani- fested itself. Now he became once more the soldier and emperor. “ Monsieur is not-a Frenchman,” he said sharply. “ Your majesty is correct; American,” replied Inwood. He saw that the emperor did not rec- ognize him, nor was it to be wondered at. On that night, near Cannes, Na- poleon had only a fleeting glance at his face; in the light of broad day, and covered by a two-months’ beard, this face must appear vastly different. “ Ah!” remarked the emperor quietly, “T thought that possibly your were an Englishman; and ’?—he smiled grimly— “just now we are not the best of friends, these Englishmen and I.” I am an Then, with a quick return to sternness: “But monsicur has not explained his presence in Paris; and your name.’ Gomichooks.co