Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 219: what you’re looking at

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

212 . THE ARGOSY. It was a trying situation for the eavesdropper. The slightest noise would have betrayed his presence, and he scarcely dared to breathe. The girl was fumbling at her pocket. She gave a slight cry. “It’s gone, René!” she murmured then in a despairing whisper. ‘ Damnation!” muttered the count. Springing forward he grasped her roughly by the wrist and glared into her face. “ You are not trying to play me false, are you?” he hissed in her ear. “ Oh, René, don’t!’ moaned the girl; “ you hurt me! ” “Find me those jewels, or I’ll hurt you worse!” muttered the other; al- most beside himself with baffled hope. “ Oh, René!” cried Anne, “ts that your love? Is that your reward for all I have done for you, all that I have suffered for your sake? ”’ “ It’s no time to talk about love!” rejoined the other brutally. “ I must have those jewels or I am ruined! Do you hear, girl—ruined! ” Ot a sudden Anne, who had cowered away from him, stood up and peered into her companion’s face. “ René,” she said in a voice that had suddenly grown hard and cold, “ you don’t love me at all; I have been blind—blind in my own conceit; I see now, it was only for what you could get out of me that you professed to care for me! Qh, what a fool—what an ungrateful wretch [ have been!” “ Anne, ma chére! you must not talk like that!’ murmured the count, with an attempt at tenderness, for he saw he had gone too far. “ I spoke unkindly, but in my bitter disappointment I forgot myself. ” ‘And in so doing, you revealed your true self!” was the stinging retort. Just then the girl’s-foot touched something hard that jingled. Like a flash she had stooped and picked it up. “ What’s that? ” asked the count. “ The jewels!” “ Ah! hand them over; I’m in a hurry! ” “No!” The woman’s voice, though low, was clear and sharp. The count looked at her in angry amazement. “What do you mean?” “TIT mean that these jewels shall be replaced where they belong. Thank God, my eyes are open at last, before I have done this irreparable wrong to my benefactress ! ”’ . With an oath Count Rignault sprang at the girl. Cottrell thought it was time to interfere and he gathered himself up for a leap. There was a slight noise behind him, but he was too engrossed to notice it. A figure suddenly rose out of the long grass, and in an instant a glistening blade was raised in the air directly over him ; for 1 moment it hung motionless, as though the man were téking careful aim before it should descend on its victim. } CHAPTER VII.—CorTtrReELL DEFIES LIEUTENANT RIGNAULT. As the knife still hung poised over him, Cottrell, with a spring like a pan- ther, hurled himself upon the broad back of Count Rignault and bore him to UN ceo GONG OOO