The Argosy, June 1904 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

514 THE ARGOSY. “They have slept here every night M. Alfred cannot be told now, for they for six months.” Hill stared. “How often do you open these doors?” he asked. “ How often do you enter the dungeons? ” “| live in one. This is another part. But in this part where you were left I never go. there.” Hill nodded. “Then if J had not made you hear ine with that cannon ball I would have starved to death * Certainly, monsicur. It is most fortunate that you had a a wit. J amt slightly deaf, and would not hear you call or knock. But that cannon ball! Heavens, what a racket! It star- tled me.” “T am glad it did, nerves will not suffer,’ said Hill. “‘Tfere are a few frances. Permit me to offer them as something in the way of a re- ward for letting me out. I have some musie and other things in the chateau. Can you direct me to that portion which ix inhabited ? ” “Oh, Twill guide you. J am very old, and M. Rougiére is so kind. I lost my wife and had no home, and M. Rou- vitre offered me the place as keeper of the dungeons. Those old dungeons do not need a keeper, but M. Rougiere is kind and wanted an excuse to keep me.” “Ts M. Rougiére so kind?” * Ah, monsicur, he is a very good man. But Alfred! Ah, I fear for him.” “You may well,” said Hill, when he thought of what he would do when he eot his hands on Alfred. “ Now, please, direct me to the living rooms.” Old Pierre led the way through other cellar dungeons and store-rooms, and finally ascended a staircase and opened the door, In the room to which he ascended there was a woman. “Oh, what is this?” she cried, as the head of Pierre came up. “ You! What has happened? ” “Why, one of the guests of M. Al- fred last night, wile being shown through the dungeons, went to sleep, and was locked in. But for a tremen- dous row he made I would never have known it, and he would have starved.” “Good heavens! Such a fate! And and hope your PRODUCED BY UNZ.ORG ELECTRONIC REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED It is now a year since 1 was, have gone.” “Monsieur understands that. But there are certain things belonging to him in the chateau which he wishes to obtain.” “Monsicur certainly, after his terri- ble night, may have the freedom of the chateau.” “Where is Paul?” “Oh, Paul! That aristocrat! Ile accompanied messieurs and madame.” Till breathed freely. Paul was the only servant who had seen him. “Then, monsieur, you are at liberty to go fetch your things. Do you know the chateau well? ” “Yes, I have been here times,” sald Hall. want.” As a matter of fact, he did not know what he wanted. He did want informa- tion, but that seemed to be difficult to obtain. “Where have M. Rougiére and ma- dame and M. Alfred gone?” he asked. “I knew they were about to start on a journey, but we were so jolly last might [ forgot to ask where.” “ Oh, that was a merry crowd,” said the woman. “ But no one here knows. It seems that madaine is now done with her mourning, and wished to take a trip, somewhere, [ think, on the Medi- terranecan. I do not know for certain.” “T heard she had purchased a yacht,” remarked Pierre. “ Well, it does not matter,” said Till. “J will go get my things.” They permitted him to roam through the chiteau, the woman signaling in the way servants have to her mates that he was all right. He saw the dining-room, now clean and splendid, with no signs of the sup- per of the night before. He wandered through the salons, the galleries, and finally found himself in a room that compelled him to stand still. li was without doubt a woman’s apartment, and a woman of refined and elegant tastes. That elegance that comes of refinement and wealth com- bined was everywhere evident. A faint odor of perfume was in the air, and daintiness sat royally upon evervthing. several “{} can find what I comuiclboolk CO