Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 196 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

» Oe, — — 8 a La Marmoset, the Detective Queen. ee Swe ——— income amounting to three or four thousand | would put it into practice as soon as possl- ble.” dollars. The money in bulk the friends soon made way with, for the gaming table is as fascinating and as certain to despoil the player in Paris as elsewhere, And at the time that our story opens, the two, at the end of a desperate week’s battle with the urbane gentlemen who preside over the “‘ black and red,” found themselves at the end of their tether. The ready money was all gone, and they only had their regular in- come now to depend upon. As tue Russian prince had expressed it, both had been regularly cleaned out. ‘Well, old fellow, this is the end of our bold ndventure,” observed Gordon, who was a light- hearted, dashing fellow, a little below the me- dium higbt, but splendidly built, with a hand- some, manly face, well set off with curling dark-brown locks, a little mustache and im- pee of the same hue, and a pair of the finest 1azel eyes that ever shone in a man’s face. ‘Our esteemed friend, Johnny Crapaud, has relieved us of our surplus lucre, and as a man can’t keep on in the way that we have been go- ing for any sixty or seventy dollars a week, which in future will be the extent of our allow- ance, I think the quicker we get back to the lund of the free, and hang our shingle on the outward walls, the better. It is time that we began to ease the ills, and the pockets, of our afflicted fellow-men, and women also.” ‘You are right, Hal,” the other replied busily engaged with memorandum-book an yancil in footing up some accounts. ‘‘I have just made acalculation and I find that I have ao about money enough to settle up all my ebts, give a grand parting blow-out to the fel- lows and pay my passage to New York.” **Oh, have you just been going through that interesting exercise in arithmetic? I did it some time ago, and I was careful enough to re- serve sufficient funds for those purposes. And now that the matter is understood, when shall we sail?” ** Hold on a moment; there is a little matter that I must attend to first.” “The quarrel with that elegant, cast-iron piece of perfection who calls himself a Russian prince? IfI were you I wouldn’t waste time with the rascal. For my part I don’t believe he is sny more a prince than I am, and f feel pretty sure that, prince or no prince, he han- dles cards in a way no gentleman would. In fine, I think he is a swindler and a sharper of the first water.” **Oh, no, [ don’t refer to the Russian; I call him the Russian, although I agree with you that he is no more a Russian or a prince than the fellow down-stairs who blacks our boots. He doesn’t trouble me at all. I had made up my mind not to allow the man to force me into a quarrel, but [ have been thinking the matter over and I have about come to the conclusion that, if he wantS blood so badly, he ought to haveit. When you come to think about it, it is the same idea as being blackguarded by a coal-heaver in the street whom you happen ac- cidentally to jostle. Of course, as a gentleman, you should walk on and pay no attention to the dirty ruffian, but when you rat ag to be fully convinced that you can thrash the fellow with- out the slightest trouble, it is hard to resist the temptation to turn back and give the brute the lesson he so richly deserves.” “You are right, old fellow; prudence and respectability say go on; manhood says go back and show the beast that the men in blouses and pantaloons are not the only ones in the world who have fists and know how to use them.” “Exactly! Thatismy idea. You have heard this Russian brag of h‘s skill in the use of all kinds of weapons, and relate in how many duels he has figured as principaland come off without a scratch, but always leaving his antagonist prostrate upon the field.” **Oh, yes; the fellow is the champion liar, and 1 have always felt like telling him so.” “Well, now, I flatter myself I am rather clever both with pistol and sword, and I have just enough of the Old Boy in me to make me feel inclined to cut this fellow’s comb and stop his ae = i will jolly good fun, and [ will be your nd. ** But the matter to which I referred was not this affair, but concerns the lady of whom we have been reading this ene and he pointed to the newspaper upon the table. **The divine countess, eh?” ** Yes; according to these accounts she is now threatened with a law-suit which may cost her all her property. I have longadmired.the lady, and I have reason to think that I am not with- out favor in her eyes; therefore why should I not bring matters to a focus very soon?” ‘* Propose to the eharming countess, eh?” *“ Yes; if the law-suit aay her succeeds and she is stripped of her estates, a foreign land would be much more agreeable to her than her ewn native country. At any rate, to make the offer now when this misfortune threatens her will at least show the disinterestedness of my affection.” ; “It is a capital idea, and if I were you I “What do you say to this afternoon?” ‘* The sooner the better, and I willaccompany | -you it you have no objection.” “None in the least.” Never in all their lives had the two young men taken more pains with their toilet than when preparing to call upon the countess, and two o'clock in the afternoon found whem at the door of the Hotel Morel. CHAPTER X. A MOST UNDIGNIFIED AFFAIR. THE countess had not yet returned ffom her morning drive, so the porter in charge of the door replied to the young men’s inquiries, but as she was expected to return every instant, if the gentlemen pleased they could walk into the garden and enjoy a cigar there, and no doubt they would not have long to wait. This suited the friends exactly, for, as Gor- don whisper d to the other—there must be no backing out now, Into the garden then walked the two, and there, to their disgust, they found the Russian. The prince was not alone; an army officer, one Captain Roland Fauconnier, an under-sized, rather stout, and gross-looking gentleman, with tightly-cropped hair and an enormous mustache and imperial, was with the prince. The captain wore the regular undress uniform of the French service and the breast of his tightly buttoned coat was adorned with half a dozen medals, trophies won by the captain on some hard-fought fields. For gallantry i action the Fauconnier stood second to no man in the Freneh service, and yet, in spite of this, it would have been difficult to find a bigger blackguard in all France—even Europe might be thrown in for that matter. A brawler and a duelist, a gambler—most men with whom he played de- clared a trickster and a cheat, it was really marvelous how he managed to keep his place in the service, although it must be remembered that really everything in France was rotten to the core during the reign of the third Napoleon. With this captain, Dunbar had already had trouble. The officer, when flushed with liquor one night, had taken it into his head that the American was a pigeon who could be easily plucked—had intruded into his company and had been properly rebuked for the offense. The captain and the prince were sitting to- gether on a garden seat when the Americans entered, busily pan. in contemplating the tree which had served as a ladder for the noc- turnal visitor to the countess’s apartment. The prince had been duly informed by his spy in the household, the apparently innocent ichette, of all that had taken place, and was discussing the matter with his companion when the two Americans came strolling into the garden. ‘* Morbleu!” cried the officer, when bis evil little eyes lighted upon the two; ‘‘there are those cursed Americans! Mon ami, why do you not pick a quarrel with that tall fellow and drill a hole i 8 that pretty stomach?” ‘**T will, upon the first opportunity.” **Oh, a thousand fiends! Do you wait for an opportunity? Make one, my dear fellow! That is the way we gentlemen of the sword do. I can tell you one thing—either you get that fel- low out of the way or else I wouldn’t give a five-franc piece for your chance with the coun- tess, but perhaps you are not anxious for the divine mademoiselle since this news has become public property.” ‘“You refer to the American claimant?” “Yes; but as he has mysteriously disap- ared, no doubt you hope the danger is past. - **Oh, he will leave an heir behind, that is cer- tain; perhaps a dozen of them, and the more there is of them the worse it will be for the countess. But, to tell you the truth, my dear fellow, I am really in love with the girl, and although I am practical enough to admit that a pretty girl with money would be more valuable, in my opinion, than a charming maiden with- out cash, yet in this case lam hard-hit, and I am determined to have the countess even if she has not a single sou to call her own.” “Get rid of the American then, and as tepid as possible, or else you will not have the chance to win Mademoiselle Morel. There is no time like the present. Zounds, man! can’f you see that the fellow does not intend to meet you if he can avoid it? I heard him say the other evening in public that a gentleman was not obliged to go out with a card-sharp, and the observation was meant for my ears as your friend, my dear fellow.” “Do you think so? Well, we must push mat- ters then.” Raising his voice so that his words weed easily reach the ears of the young men, he said: ‘“‘Really, my dear captain, it is a wonder to me that the countess admits such visitors, but perhaps it is as curiosities, objects of interest, you know, barbarians from afar.” ‘““By Jupiter! I never thought of that! Deuced good joke, isn’t it? Ha, ha, ha!” cried the captain. | ‘‘That is your cue; or shall I take it up?” Gordon demanded, hotly. a ———— etd **'No, no; it is my quarrel, but if the rascal should get the best of it, then avenge me,” Dun- bar answered. He advanced toward the prince and his companion, Gordon following, and his manner was so full of menace that the two sprung to their feet, the Russian taking « firmer gripe upon the little light cane which he carried. ‘Sir, you area scoundrel anda puppy!” Dun- bar exclaimed, addressing the prince. rc teh his usual perfect control, the Russian grew hot with rage and made a violent blow at the American’s head with the cane, but Dunbar caught the wrist of the priace and with a single twist disarmed him. A cry of pain escaped the Russian at the vio- lent wrench, and he essayed to close in and grapple with his antagonist, but Dunbar, seem- ingly with hardly an effort, pushed him away. The prince’s temper was up now; so, like a wild bull, he rushed upon his foe. Dunbar, perceiving that an encounter must take place, was in readiness for it. The cham- pion amateur boxer of his college, a few years’ residence in Paris had not caused his good right arm to forget its cunning. So, asthe prince rushed upon him, quite ig- norant or the artof self-defense, impressed with a single idea—to clutch and strangle his an- tagonist, the American’s right arm shot out with terrible force, the fist landing between the eyes with a shock which made his higliness, for a moment, see more stars than he had ever be- held before at a single glance. As the prince rushed forward, the captain stooped to pick up the cane, and being behind the Rasetari, in a stooping position, the stroke of the young American’s fist hurled the prince backward, over the bent form of the captain, and the two sprawled upon the ground in a ridiculous manner, the French officer fairly flattened to the earth by the weight of the prince, like a i frog. ‘Oh, mon Dieu! my back is broken!” he groaned, Neither of the Americans could resist a burst of laughter at the ludicrous scene; and a couple of the servants who beheld the affair could not help doing likewise. The Russian was pale with rage and the cap- tain red with anger as they picked them- selves up. ' ‘*Oh, you may laugh, you canaille! but be- fore this day is over you shall weep tears of blood!” cried the Muscovite, so convu.sed with passion that he could hardly speak. CHAPTER XI. THE CHALLENGE. DuNBAR took a card trom his pockst and tossed it contemptuously at the other’s feet. ‘*There is my card, and your messenger will find me at home all this afternoon and evening. My opinion in regard to a gentleman meeting such a fellow as youare I have expressed prett freely in public places, and no doubt my wor have come to your ears; but under the circum- stances, since you seem to be longing for blood, I don’t mind giving you a chance for your meney, if only for the purpose of showing you that you are as little able to cope with me with arms as with the weapons that nature has provided us.” And then, while the prince was picking up the card and the captain was brushing the dirt from his person, and swearing in an undertone that his best uniform was spoiled—no light matter to one not troubled with much ready cash—the two friends turned and left the premises, “You will i idely your wooing to some other time?’ rdon remarked, as the two emerged into the street. ‘Yes; with the prospect of this other en- gagement on my hands, [ think it will be the wisest course.” ‘‘T think so myself; not much use of engag- ing in the afternoon to marry a girl when there’s a chance of being killed before midnight.” ‘¢Not much! I presume there isn’t much doubt his second will wait upon me this afternoon, and probably arrange for the affair to come otf to-night. ° ere is a full moon, therefore night will serve our purpose as well as day.” ‘From what I have seen of the man, I fancy he will want to hurry the matter before his rage has time to cool. I think he is just the kind to crawl out of an affair of this kind if be had time to reflect over it, unless all the odds were on his side.” “Just what you must look after. As my second, you will have to arrange the terms of the duel, and you must be careful that this ras- cally captain does not come any tricks over you.” «Well, I don’t profess to be very expert in this sort of thing, but if he gets the best of me, I’m willing to be shot fora yaller dog, that’s all.” ‘‘ We have the choice of weapons, you know.” “Yes, of course, as the challenged party; so we have the advantage, and I intend to make alloutof itI can. But, I say, in regard to the countess, you are withdrawing and leaving your rival in possession of the field.” ‘‘Oh, no; you are wrong there, for, unless I EGomicboo cS 4