Beadle's Dime Library No. 157 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

22 ee ere ee —_———- - ee ——- -_— ee Crack! In the very same place where Vidocq had . struck the porter, Casse Tete struck Crocasse— on the nape of the neck, and with the same wea- a pistol butt. Mourad, the Mameluke. ‘¢ You shall have it.” ‘‘But L must know what you're after.” “That is our business. 1 I want is to he left alone.” “Very good, monsieur, but I must tell you pon Without a groan or struggle Crocasse fell on | that I cannot keep all my men quiet without bis face, and back the money, when St, George said: ‘No, let him keep what he has earned. By | with xe . the time he comes to bis senses we shall be safe. Come along, men. For to-night at least you are not robbers, but men trying to save France | from the Austrians. It remains to be seen which will bring you most profit, the role of a robber or an honest patriot. Forward in the name of France.” The five remaining robbers seemed to be much struck by this appeal to their honor, and as they hurried forward through the rain, the creole heard Casse Tete mutter to Riquet: ‘*T tell you thingy will be different now, and we may as well be on the winning side if it pays as well as to-night!” Vidocg burried on with the leader before the rest, and found time to whisper to St. George: “Tt is all right, captain. e rest will stick. But are we enough?” “Enough for what is left todo. I can man- age that alone if necessary, but 1 wish to give your men a chance to prove they are not un- worthy of the name of Frenchmen.” As the creole had expected, Mesns'ny dro ro back among his friends to report this little speech, and from that moment St. George felt safe from any further treachery. In due time they arrived at the Rue de la France, and found it empty of carriages, though the mansion of Monsieur Gohier was still lighted up. | . The dinner is in progress,” said the creole to Vidoecqg. ‘‘ Now, as soon as our friends come, we are ready to begin operations.” They walked up and down the street in the | sleet and mist in pairs ut a distance from each other. Vidocq kept with St. George. Presently he observed in a tone of concern: ‘Weare not alone. There are some other men watching the same house.” . ‘‘Of course. They are the men who think they are going to catch the general.” ‘But Barras sent us to do that.” , ‘*'You see how much he trusted you. going to watch you afterall.” — They counted the watchers in the street, and found they were about a dozen men who kept themselves muffled up and seemed desirous of avoiding observation. : Most of them turned away into side streets when t were approached, but followed the seven confederates at a distance as soon as their backs were turned. | ‘‘On my soul,” muttered Vidocq, ‘‘this is growing interesting. I must tell the rest that mer may not be caught in a trap after all.” e went away for this purpose, and St. George, in spite of his assumption of ‘indiffer- ence, began to feel uneasy. ‘* Here are twelve to seven. Are they friends or fv.es?” he thought. “Tf foes, our work is not over for to-night.” With this thought in his mind he lounged near one of the strangers and managed to come on him face to face. : ‘*Good-evening, citizen,” said St. George. | The man addressed nodded his head very slightly and passed on, muttering something the creole could not catch. St. George cocked a pistol under his cloak and followed the other. ‘** As he had expected, the sound of his foot- steps caused the man to turn and exclaim: ** What do you want with me?” He was ‘*Simply to find who you are and why you | are pacing up and down this street.” The man gave a short, uneasy laugh. ‘‘T thought the streets were free under your republic, citizen.” ‘‘ Aha! I see, you are a royalist.” The stranger started violently. ‘* What do you mean?” ‘That I am an agent of the police, citizen, and that we have a hundred men waiting in the houses round here for the signal of a pistol-shot. Shall I fire it?” The stranger began to tremble. ‘* Monsieur, I swear to you—” ‘There! I said you were a royalist. Off your guard you say monsieur. I think it is my duty to arrest you.” The stranger started back and threw the flap of his cloak aside. - “Try it-at your peril. Iam armed and des- rate. | St. George remained impassive. ‘You are foolish. If you fire it will brin out the police in a minute. Come, I don’t wan to hurt you. Between us two this republic is a miserable farce and our pay is insufficient to su us. You can take a hint, monsieur?” e stranger dropped his cloak again and came closer. as | ‘You can earn a good deal of money by keeping your month shut.” = ‘““Of course. How much?’ ‘*How much do you want?” . *¢Ten thousand francs,” “The fates are friendly to-night. e Tete was stooping to take | knowing what you want us to do. ‘*[ want you to keep your eyes and ears shut rd to all that takes place outside that house which is lighted up.” , “Oho! you mean Monsieur Gohier’s?” ‘Hush! yes. There is no need of mentioning names. Hark! here comes the carriage.” In fact they could hear the rumbling of a carriage coming down the street. | St. George, completely pyatiied, resolved to wait further developments before he did any- thing further. He suspected the carriage now approaching to be that sent from the general’s house, but it was evident that this stranger, whom he knew to be a royalist, expected an- other carriage. | Here was another poy going on, and the creole had no idea of what it could be about. The approaching carriage dashed into the Rue de la France and St. George saw it had bay horses. It was not the vehicle he himself was expecting. While he wondered and hesitated the stranger came close to him and whispered: “Here, take this and keep quiet. It is only a visit that will not hurt you at all. Gohier is with us and you will see a change in a few months when our friends will not be sorry if they helped us. What is your name, my friend?” : “George Lafangere,” answered the creole, at a venture, feeling that the other had passed him a roll of money. “ What is yours?” The carriage had drawn up at the house now and the stranger answered hastily: . “Never mind, hen the king has his own again call on his Minister of Justice, Tl re- member your name. -night,” He hurried off toward the house where St, George could see by the light of the lamps two dark groups on each side of the aw At the opposite side of the street he saw his own men, watching, in a third group. ° They, too, were mystified by the other car- riage. and the strangers, so much stronger in numbers than themselves. The creole crossed the street and found Vidocq looking on with a smile on his harsh features, ‘Have you found out who they are, captain?” he asked, knowingly. “Yes. Have you?” ° t ! “Certainly. ey are Chouans; but what puzzles me is, what they are doing there?” “Look,” whispered Casse Tete, ‘“‘some one descends to the street.” They could see under the awning by the light of the lamps, a white-headed gentleman in the crimson velvet court-dress of a Director of France descending the steps arm in arm with a second person who wore the simple black velvet of a gentleman in the evening. The watchers at the opposite side of the street stole forward, when in a moment the dark groups by the side of the awning broke up and a dozen men confronted them in the road- way. ? Not a step further here,” said a low mena- cing voice. ‘* We'll not bs taken alive. Kee silence and go your own ways and we will n hurt you, but you must not go near the car- riage. ‘Eh, parbleu, we don’t want to hurt the carriage, my friend,” said Vidocq, jeeringly. ‘Tt’s plain enough some person is in it who does not wish to be known. Come, talk reason. We are poor men,” At this moment the cons er door slammed and they heard the voice of the old gentleman say aloud: ‘Farewell, monseigneur. Good fortune at- tend you in your undertaking.” . The Chouan leader uttered a deep curse. ‘Drive on,” he shouted to the driver, and then he turned on St. George’s party as the coach dashed off at a furious pare. ‘¢ You know who it is, but he will be out of your reach before you can alarm Paris. Now which will you do: i or take money?” His tone was that of a desperate man, and the e clicking of pistol-locks followed on both sides as’ he SNe Vidoceg laughed aloud: ‘You fool, I told you we ‘were poor men. You can’t take a hint. | ‘*Take the money, then,” cried the Chouan, in a tone of disgust, and he threw Vidocq a Prat e. ‘“* All we askis five minutes.” *. so ih ,” eried Vidocq, and away went the Chouans, running down the street just as the rumble of wheels was heard on the other side, and the two gray horses hove rie | 7 Vidoeg turned hurriedly to St. @: “Now is our time captain,” he whispered. n St. George nodded. « ~ i “Come on, men. Don’t stop to touch that money,” he cried, ‘sierpiy. | He saw the fi of the gray-headed Director slowly reascending the steps and noticed that there were no servants around, The seven dashed across the street, headed by the creole and Vidocq, and overtook the old man at the steps. | ‘‘ Monsieur Gohier,” said St. George, as he laid his hand on the old man’s shoulder, “‘ we are here. When is the general to come out?” Gohier looked round surprised. ‘Why? Did you not know he had sent an excuse? I thought Barras had attended to that.” ** He has, monsieur, and here is the carriage. The one which just drove away—what was it?” ‘What do you mean? Thatis none of your business,” answered Gohier, tremulously. ‘‘Tt is the business of every citizen of the re- public to protect it from Chouan plots,” re- lied the creole, tightening his gripe. ‘' You ve come down alone. You dared not let even our servants hear you call that man by a title orbidden by the laws. Monsieur Gohier, you are my prisoner, in the name of the republic.” Monsieur Gohier trembled violently. He was a ar, different man from Barras. ‘“‘My dear Ti assure you there was no harm in all this. Reign of Terror is over, and monseigneur only wished to—” | He sto ped, unable to proceed, St. George prompted him. ‘*Monseigneur only wished to sound the me ioe? | on the possibility of a restoration.” “T told him it was impossible,” urged Gohier pitifully. ‘‘Isent him nk Do not expose me, citizen. Barras is equally guilty.” ‘‘ Barras is a prisoner and so are you,” an- swered the creole gravely, ‘‘ You will enter this carriage at oncé etly, or we shall kill you on the spot.as a traitor to the republic.” As he spoke, Vidoeq, Casse Tete and the rest forced the pnbappy Gohier into the carriage, the old man not daring to protest, for the doo of his house was closed by his own order his servants saw nothing. St. George stopped a moment to s oF Ca ‘*'You have kept your word, Can you depend on mine now?” ‘‘T must whether I will or no,” was the very philosophical reply. ; . “*T ‘shall see caye do. Pay the men and come to the general’s house to-morrow morning at daylight. I will see that you do not lose by the operation,” ) Vidoceq screwed up his face. —_— ) “Well, if must be done. Till to-morrow.” The carriage drove off, .ss—iys a? On the box was Perrin, ca of grenadiers, — as a rem ve ' Inside were Gohier, angere and Mourad with St. George. La- fangere b into a chuckle, “We have done it at last. I said we three could go anywhere and do anything, Do you know what has just happened?’ “What?” asked er, nervously, for he seemed to think the remark was addressed to himself. “*Sieyes and Ducos have come to General Bonaparte’s house bringing with them Moulin’s resignation and to-morrow the general will have authority to secure the safety of the re- public at any hazard.” Sieyes, Ducos, and Moulins were the other three Directors. CHAPTER XXIII, THE ORDER. THE morning of the 18th Brumaire, 1799, dawned clear and cold with a biting east wind that froze the mud in the streets; and the house of General Bonaparte in the Rue de la Victoire presented an animated scene, without and with- in ’ The street was crowded with handsomely caparisoned horses, held by orderlies, the house full of generals and colone s, come to take break- fast with the conqueror of Egypt. Among these imposing personages were two officers the simple uniform of lieutenants who attracted little attention and were snubbed by most of the generals. ‘*Qne wore the green and red chasseur dress of the Guides, the other a dragoon uniform. They kept apart from the rest at a side table, and did not pretend to mingle with their supe- riors. The only person who spoke to them was Madame Bonaparte, who was always gracious The boners f all rals appeared e general o ne a to be in very good spirits, ting ed aad joked with his comrades in arms, was constantly attended by a gorgeous Mameluke, whom he was said to have brought from Egypt, and who was re- ak a to understand no French, for the general ‘ected him by and a few Arabic words he bad picked up in the East. The breakfast was full of fun and jollity; for there were so many guests that they pres fh not sit dowh to table, and had to eat bog og el eitting, wherever they happened to be, so that there was no formality about the meeting. In the midst of the buzz of conversation a. | carriage drove up, and the Directors, Sieyes and . Ducos were announced, They were greeted with profound respect by the Corsican general, and taken to the head of a table that had been kept vacant for them. Sieyes had been a priest, and had a cunning face; Ducos looked like a retired butcher. As Comichbooksseo