The Argosy, Vol. XXIV, No. 3 — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

A MONTH IN THE MOON. 529 At these words Kaddour’s eyes flamed. He hesitated an instant, then, turning to Norbert, he said, ‘‘ Will you allow me to ask you a question, sir??? It was the first time he had ever so spoken. They all looked up. ‘‘ Most willingly,’’ answered Norbert. ‘‘ Pray ask.’’ ‘If it is not indiscreet on my part,’’ pursued Kaddour, ‘‘ I would know whether the parties you have just mentioned are your friends ?”’ ' What persons? Wagner, Gryphins, and Vogel?” ‘“ Kspecially the two last named,’’ said Kaddour. ‘“ Certainly not ; they are by no means my friends.’’ ‘‘ But I thought,” stammered Kaddour, who seemed strangely upset—‘‘ J thought they were your partners.” ‘To a certain extent they were my partners indeed, but they are, above all things, my sworn enemies, who have omitted nothing that lay in their power to ruin my enterprise.”’ 7 ‘Is it possible!’’ cried Kaddour, rising from his seat. ‘‘Ah!’’ he continued, ‘‘I understand it all now. It was they who sent an Arab to denounce your project to the Mogaddem ! What a fool I was not to see it before. But,’’ added the dwarf, suddenly stopping short and turning two flaming eyes on Norbert—‘‘ but do you not know all about these men whom you permitted to follow you to the Soudan?”’ ‘I know nothing about them,’’ said Norbert. “ They are chance associ- ates whom circumstances threw in my way. I neither know nor care whence they came.’’ ‘But it shall be my care to tell you who they are!’’ cried Kaddour, whose emotion almost choked him. ‘‘It matters very much to me, for herein lies my sole excuse for the evil things I have done you, and for the evil I would have done! This has been the only bar to my deep gratitude for all your goodness. But how could I guess the truth?” ‘You know Gryphins and Vogel?’’ asked the doctor. ‘“Do I know them ?’’ cried Kaddour excitedly. ‘‘ Do I know the two villains who stole from me my share of earthly happiness, and almost des- troyed my very form? Do I know the butchers who for fifteen years tor- tured me in the most dreadful manner, and made me the laughing stock of the world? Yes, indeed, I know them only too well! I hate them to such a point that I would give anything in the world to have them here, were it only for one minute, to pay them off for all they made me suffer !”’ There was such a tone of rage in these words that it was impossible to listen to them without shuddering. Vet none of his hearers thought of remonstrating. His grotesque exterior notwithstanding, Kaddour inspired Inore respect than compassion. ‘The common herd had seen in hima super- natural being on account of his pretended powers, and more enlightened witnesses could not but acknowledge a superior intelligence in him, even while they condemned his charlatanism. For a moment Kaddour was silent with emotion. Then he resumed: ‘Ido not suppose that it would interest you to hear the history of my life. You would only pity me for my fearful wrongs, and pity is as abhor- rent to me as contempt.”’ 7) Ccomiclsoolks (C@