The Argosy — page 392: what you’re looking at

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

374 In a Dangerous Strait. as he bent towards the light of the lamp and examined it, holding it close to his short-sighted eyes. He uttered an involuntary exclamation of surprise, and looked up at his friend. ‘You are joking, of course,” he said with a smile. ‘I never was more serious,” replied the latter, whose face was indeed grave and stern enough now. Gilbert glanced bewilderingly at the paper again. ‘“‘ But—I don’t understand,” he stammered. ‘“ This is a Bank of England note for a thousand pounds.” ‘“ Exactly,” the Frenchman rejoined ; “ and that is the ‘engraving’ which you have promised to copy in facsimile.” The young man started, and rose to his feet, his eyes dilating with a sudden horrible suspicion. ‘Good heavens! you do not mean »” **I mean precisely what I say,” de Fontenay interrupted with imperturbable calmness. ‘You will not deny your promise, I sup- pose? Here it is, in black and white. You agree to join our fraternity, and to place your professional skill at our service for a consideration, which is specified.” “ That is not the paper I read.” ‘‘ That is the paper you signed. See, here is your name, with the ink scarcely dry upon it.” “Then you substituted that for the other,” Gilbert said quickly. ‘* Ah!” he added with sudden enlightenment. “I understand it all now! This is the climax of a deep-laid scheme. It was for this you played the comedy of friendship, and got me into your power— to make me your tool and accomplice. I was to tum forger to oblige you!’ You must have been mad to think I should consent.” “Tt is you who are the madman if you refuse,” muttered Docquois in a tone of menace there was no mistaking. De Fontenay silenced him by a gesture. ‘* My dear Haviland,” he said, in a voice of friendly remonstrance, . “T think you scarcely understand your position. If you reflect, you will see that you have no alternative but to yield. You are at my mercy. I can ruin you, for this agreement is so worded that I can make use of it against you without compromising myself. ” ‘Before you had time to do so, I should denounce you as an impostor and a felon,” struck in Gilbert, courageously. “Excuse me; a felon I may be, but an impostor I am not. That I am a spendthrift and a gambler is pretty well known to my friends ; but that I have descended to crime in order to avoid the misery and humiliation of poverty is, as yet, my own secret. Denounce me if you like, and see who will believe, on your word, that Raoul de Fontenay is a ‘felon.’” “Oh, M. Haviland will do nothing so imprudent; he will make a virtue of necessity, and become one of us,” spoke de Sanzac, rolling a fresh cigarette. ‘‘ You must not confound us, with vulgar comicbooks.com