CHAPTER IV.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 140, 6 February 1886, Page 3

CHAPTER IV.

M. JOTXRAT.

Edmond de Saktilly lived in the rue d'Astorg, in a house situated between a courtyard and a garden. The time has not yet come when men of the world thought it necessary to have a stud of race-horses ; besides, Sartilly's fortune, although a very handsome one for that time, did not warrant this very great expense, and so with an income of fifty thousand francs a year he had only a valet de chambre and a groom. Small coupe's, now so much in vogue, had not then been invented, and the Viscount's stable contained only a cabriolet and a tilbury. Although this would now be considered a very modest establishment, at that day it was quite sufficient to enable the Viscount to make a rather good appearance in Paris. Being well born, and possessing good family connections, he had free entrance into the aristocratic circles of the faubourg St. Germain, although he occasionally frequented a circle more joyous, if not quite so choice. For a few years past he had gone very little into the gay world, preferring to the whirl of fashionable life the Bociety of a few intimate friends ; the dearest among these was assuredly Roger de Mensignac, and the projected marriage with his sister had drawn these ties still closer. Sartilly led, therefore, a rather isolated life, and the disappearance of the friend of his childhood would have been to him a terrible catastrophe, even if it had not given him a glimpse of the still unknown and terrible dangers that threatened Jeanne. 16 was pot the loss of her fortune that disquieted him, as he knew that the noble young girl was entirely ignor-

ant of affairs of this kind, and he felt almost a satisfaction in. her loss, as when he believed her heiress to a fortune far superior to his own, honourable sorupleahad for a long time prevented him trom thinking of her ; now his most ardenb desire was to marry her without fortune, and these unexpected events arriving, gave him the unhoped for opportunity of realising hia wish. Ho felt a presentiment that the invisible enemie3 who had struck Roger would carry on their guilty endeavours to reach all who bore the name of De Mensignac. The death of the old Marquis had been surrounded with Btrange circumstances, and the life of his son had many obscure spots in it, with which his dis appearance might perhaps be connected. Sartilly had just passed part of the night of this terrible day in connecting together the mysterious past with the mournful events of the night before, and after a long and painful wakefuluess had at last fallen into a sleep, agitated suddenly. Although ifc was bright daylight, his lamp was st'U burning, but his weary eyes, shunning the light, closed in spite of himself, and ho felt that physical prostration which always follows great moral shocks — his exhausted mind losing itself in vague reflections. His room, furnished with an elegant simplicity, and brightly lighted by a clear wintry sun, seemed to him cold and dark. The fire which blazed cheerfully in the white marble chimney-place, the gay-coloured Turkish carpet, the mirrors and crystal vases that shone on his dressing-table, all the material comforts that a rich man finds himself surrounded with on awaking, had lost al) their charm, and Sartilly, casting his eyes on a large portrait of Roger opposite his bed, it seemed to him as if a sad smile animated his friend's features, and his over-excited brain calling up to him at the same time Jeanne's image, the portrait appeared as if it were going to speak and say to him, "Protect her." Wishing to escape from this fascination, after having rung, he got up, put on a morning costume, and sank down in an arm-chair by the side of the fire. The valet de chambre who came in was a perfect contrast to Toby. At the first glance at him, it could be seen that he was one of the rare surviving servants of that devoted race that the present generation knovrs very little of. Born in the house where they served, and devoted to the family whom they considered themselves part of, these worthy people merited the privilege never refused them of chatting with their masters, and sometimes evonreproving them. Thevalets, who filled the placo of confidants in the comedies of the last century, were not then personages of the imagination, and tho oncroachment of English manners could have alone replaced them by the mute slaves who, not allowed to be on familiar terms with their master?, rob and betray them. Antoine was a perfect type of the domestic of another age. He was a son of one of Edmonds farmers, born on his domain, and hia father's foster-brother. He was now sixty.and for forty years he had never left the Sartlily house, and he expected to die thero. His honest face had retained a rather rustic expression, and although his dress was of irreproachable cleanliness, it wanted the Britannic stamp that atthis time constituted the great elegance of a valet do chambre. He adored his master, who in return felt a real affection for him, and he cordially detested Toby, whphad an equal dislike to him. In taking into his service a groom of English training, Sartilly had made a concession to the taste of the epoch, and to the necessities of his stables, but he always appreciated very deeply the simple devotion of his faithful Antoine, and after the sad night he had just passed it was a solace and relief to ccc him come into his room. The old servant brought a lettor on a tray, and he had evidently read and recognised the handwriting of the address, for he presented it with the joyous eagerness of a servant sure of pleasing his master ; but a comic disappointment appeared on hia face when he saw his master frown and break the seal withill-omenedagitation. While Sartilly was reading it, be watched the expression of his face, and when he saw him, after reading it, fall into a profound reverie, ho hazarded the question, " la Mademoiselle Jeanno ill?" 11 No, Antoine, no," answered Sartilly, absently. "I am going very soon to see her. Will you tell Toby to have the carriage in readiness by four o'clock ?" •'Hum!" eaid Antoine, in a significant tone. *' I don't know exactly whether he is here, for if he does to-day as he did yesterday and the day before, I am afraid he will keep you waiting." " And what did he do ?" asked Sartilly, rather surprised. "He was not here a moment, and there is nothing astonishing in it, for you see he has strange friends who come to see him." " Come, explain yourself. Ordinarily, Toby does very -well, and h© cannot, my old Antoine, be always on the spot as you are. Besides, day before yesterday I took him with me in the cabriolet to the opera ball, and afterward to the Bois de Boulogne, and yesterday it seems to me that I saw him," said the Viscount, trying to call back his recollections. " He came in after five o'clock, bringing Ralph half- foundered, went to bed saying he could not stand any more fatigue that, however, did not hinder him from going out laat night, and coming back this morning, as he often does." Sartilly was not listening now to Antoine, for an idea had just struck him, bringing back forgotten souvenir?, as a ray of sunshine suddenly appearing brings out the striking points of an edifice. At first he tried to imagine how his groom had known that he was in the police-office, a place that he had never visited before, and why he had come there to take care of his horso. Then he thought of Jeanne's narrative and her positive declaration that she had seen Toby coming out of the De Mensignac mansion in the middle of the night ; and, had it not seemed absurd, all these things combined might have awakened a suspicion in his mind as to Toby's loyalty. The letter that he had just received from Jeanne contained a request for him to come and see her the same afternoon, and he determined to profit by this opportunity to clear up the circumstance. But there still remained the unexplained visit to the Place Dauphine, and Sartilly, vaguely puzzled, wished to have t cleared up immediately. "Go see if Toby is in the stable, and bring him here," he eaid to Antoine, " I will send him to you, sir, "eaid the old servant, who did not appear to have any wish to meet Toby. A few minutes afterwards the groom came in as usual, erect, carefully dressedfrom head to foot, from the high topped boots to the Scotch fiat cap with red and green plaid band. " At what hour did you bring Ralph back yesterday ?" Sartilly asked Toby, speaking to him in the English manner, very different from the familiar one he used with Antoine. " At twenty-five minutes past five o'clock,' said the groom, with singular precision. " Who told you that I had gone to the police office ?" •' Sir, in the Bois de Boulogne you had ordered me to hire a horse to bring the cabriolet back to Paris. On arriving here at twelve o'clock, I thought, sir, you might want me attheDeMeneignacmansiontogroomßalph ; on reaching there, the porter told me yon had left in great haste, and I supposed you had gone to the police for— for the head,"

Toby, who had an instant hesitation in pronouncing these laBt words, began again to speak in a perfectly steady voice, "And as I thought Kalph was a little injured, I took him to the veterinary doctor." His answers were co clearly given that Sartilly reproached himself for having thought an instant that a boy like this could be implicated in the last night's event 3. The groom did not seem to be one to take a part, even a subaltern one, in a conspiracy, therefore his master hastily dismissed him, tolling him to have hia carriage ready by four o'clock. But when alone again, Sattilly fell back into the same gloomy thoughts ; trying to bring before him the most trifling circumstances of the adventures of the. past night, he remembered the police-agenfc whoso intelligent fade he had been struck with. At first ho had a confused recollection that this man had appeared inclined to continue the pursuit himself if the chief of the police abandoned it, and then it occurred to him that at twelve o'clock he was to receive a visit from him. The hour was approaching, and the prospect of this meeting changed Sartilly'a thoughts, for he hoped to find in this humble agent an active and skilful auxiliary whose zeal ho felt certain of, for he had not forgotten the intere&t he had taken in the examinations. He longed for him to come, while walking up and down the room looking at the clock. '• Fool that I am !" he cried suddenly, striking his forehead ; " I forgot to give him my address." This mistake raised the irritation of the Viscount to the highestjpitch, and the more he thought of the services to bo derived from this man, the more he regretted not having made a better arrangement for meeting him, as he could not send to the police-office without compromising both himself and the agent. Sartilly now began to fear that he must renounce all hope of this desired interview, when old Antoine reappeared to announce that a man had called to see his master. Antoine had not given the visitor the name of thegentleman, in his disdainful appreciation of a subaltern officer of the police. •'Tell him to come in," said the Viscount quickly, after having read on a greyish paper card the written name of Jottrat He knew already the man who was coming in, Notwithstanding, his curiosity was greatly excited, as Jottrat's face, of which he had had only a glimpse on tho staircase of the police office, and by the funereal table, remained engraved on his memory with singular clearness. There are certain individuals who produce an undefinablo impression, and the Viscount, while remarking the obscure agent of police, obeyed an influence which he felt unable to explain. Antoine raised the curtain, introducing the visitor without announcing him, judging, doubtless, that his namo was one of those that was not to be spoken in a loud voice. Besides, the appearance of the agent agreed marvellously with the quiet manner that Antoine had taken to introduce him, as for this occasion he had bent his erect form, rounded his shoulders, and changed his military bearing. His face, animated by a marked expression of respectful sympathy, and his intelligent eyes seemed to be entreating the Viscount to forgivo hia intrusion. Upon the whole, his atti'udo was that of a man who felt the honour he was receiving, but it was neither fawning nor servile, as be had tho air of a man who had como to offer useful aid, and nothing more. Sartilly had observed this at a glance, and already the icy coldness which he felt at first melted. The agent, from his dress and demeanour.becamean equal in the Viscount's eyes, and he had the good toste to begin the conversation in a kind tone of voice. " I thank you for having come, as I began to fear I would not see you, not having given you my address." The agent could not restrain a smile at the doubt the Viscount bad expressed. " I know it, sir," he answered, in a voice whose penetrating sweetness astonished and charmed Sartilly, "and if I had dared, would have called here last evening." " You know whero I lived," said Sartilly, surprised ; ' have I, then, without knowing it, been under supervision, and have you had | charge of — " | He did not finish, but the agent undorstood him, as he blushed slightly. "No, sir," he answered calmly ; "there was no need of that ; your namo is one of those that all Paris knows, and besides, I have heard it often enough formerly not to forget it." " How was that ?" said Sartilly, more and more astonished. There was a silence for an instant. The Viscount felt more constrained since Jottrat had spoken, for what could be said to a man who, after being a soldier, followed the profession of a spy? He merely pointed] to a chair, sitting down himself in an arm-chair by the fire, waiting for him to explain himself. The agent eat down without showing the least embarrassment. " Sir," he said, "I have come, as you perhaps have already divined, to offer my Eervioes in trying to find out the authors of the crime committed night before last." " I accept your offer, " said Sartilly, "and I beg you to fix the price you put upon your services." " Will you have the goodness to permit me, sir," answered Jottrat, after an instant's hesitation, " not to speak on this subject until after having succeeded ?" "Bo it so ; but will you succeed ? This seems to me very doubtful after the defeat we met with yesterday at theDe Noreff mansion. Your chief himself is very much discouraged, and I fear intends renouncing the pursuit." "He will certainly renounce it." i (l Then it ia without his knowledge and authority you intend to act ?" "We must do so," answered Jottrat, quietly. And as Sartilly looked at him without appearing to understand, he went on speaking slowly, as if he wished that each one of hia words might be engraved on the mind of his interrogator. " Affairs of this kind invariably take a course that I know very well, having observed them twenty yeans. A crime ia committed, and the more difficult to discover the guilty actot sin it the more zeal and order the police display. They rush to find traces of the criminals, the whole army of agents of every grade are employed, and act with vigour, promptitude, and sagacity. A skilful leader seizes by chance some true information gained unexpectedly, and the assassin is lost. This is the first period of the research. " But when a false start has been taken, and on© meets with impossibilities, and is to face unassailable situations, the activity of the police diminishes ; as they have been mistaken once, thoy fear a second failure, and become timid. It is in this state we will be in a few days. 11 Then other criminal offenceßarebrought forward ; being new, they hope to manage them better, and begin by degrees to be disheartened with tho many failures in the old affair. Tho force and activity of the police are employed on a new search, and they expect no further developments in the old one, excepting what" a happy chance may bring to light. The great Parisian current drawing everything with it, causes events to be rapidly forgotten, and the remembrance of this crime, that has occupied 9,\\ Franc© for three days, will gradually fa^

away. In the course of a month things will be in thi6 position, and it is then I can be useful to you." Sartilly had listened with curiosity to this singular account of practical police affairs, given by a man whose ability he could not doubt, bub whose object he could not divine. As he wished to be more enlightened before advancing farther, he gave Jotfcrat an approving nod. " The guilty one," said the officer, (l goes absolutely through the same phases. We suppose him naturally to be an intelligent man. At the first moment he is armed at all points— firm, vigilant, and skilful, he neither commits a fault nor an imprudence. He has prepared for his defence a real array of lies, alibie,and substitution of persons,and as long j as the police pursue him with all their force he is unassailable. " Yeaterday,my chief went to M. de Noreff to arrest him ; and although I did not see him I am sure he finished by making excuses to him. Days, weeks, months pass. This arouses his passions and interests. He has had to submit to the moral effort that extreme situations bring, and gradually his quick and sagacious mind becomes less clear. His nerves relax because the struggle is over, and his memory weakens as time passes. If he is attacked then and pressed by close questions— if, one by one, inquiries and proofs are taken up, he will contradict, betray himself, and be lost. In a month I will open the campaign against M. de Noreff." " You believe him guilty, then?" 11 He is guilty, and has accomplices," said Jottrat, in so firm a tone that his conviction seemed a certainty. "But," eaid the Viscount, rather embarrassed, still unwilling to mix the name of his betrothed in thi3 horrible affair, "you are not ignorant, doubtless, of the coincidence of my best friend, the Marquis de Mensignac." "No, sir; and it is precisely this coincidence that makes me feel sure of tracing the crime to M. de Noreff." This significant sentence threw Sartilly into a great perplexity. It was evident that the agent possessed some secret known ! to him alone ; to ask him for it would be to conclude a compact with him— would be to accept, without further examination, an alliance with a man who was, after all, only a spy, and in spite of his violent desire to engage him on the spot, Sartilly had the power to resfcain himself. "The explanations you have given me seem very sensible, and I am ready toemploy you on your OAvn conditions. You will not object, if I want information of you, and I will take care to obtain it with out compromising you with your chief." 11 1 would have asked you to do so myself," said Jottrat. "I have nothing to hide in my life but the occupation I follow." "And why, then, did you choose it?" asked the Viscount, forgetting, in spite of himself, the reserve that he had guarded. The agent evidently turned pale, and did not answer immediately. " I was wrong, sir," said Sartilly, quickly, "to pry into your secrets, and I beg you to foi'get the question. Let us rather speak of the plan we are to follow." " The secrets of. an agent of the detective police have nothing, sir^ that can interest a man in your position," answered Jottrat, sadly. *' As to arranging a plan now, I think it would be premature, for the reasons I have had the honour of stating to you. We must let the time of excessive excitement pass before seriously attacking M. de Norefl for as long as he is on his guard, it would be useless to attempt anything. lam going to move quietly, and collect my information and as soon as the opportune moment arrives I will call and place myself at your disposal." " Very -well," said Sartilly ; " but I may want to see you before then, and how shall I be able to find you, without going to the police-office ?" "Every evening, from nine to ten o'clock, in rue de Marais St. German, No. 19, Ask for M. Pinson." The moment Jottrat had finished this sentence, tho curtain of the door was gently raised by some one, who must have crossed the antechamber with precaution, as neither the Viscount nor the agent had heard anything, Sarnlly, very much displeased at being surprised in this manner, got up suddenly and recognised with astonishment his groom Toby. He had committed a serious infringement upon the rules of his service by coming into his master's room without being, called, and when a stranger was there, and Sartilly naturally supposed some misfortune had taken place. It never occurred to him that Toby, broken in as he was to English habits, would commit a bold act of this kind without an important motive. 11 Why have you come here when I did not ring for you ?" the Viscount asked, in a severe voice that was not habitual to him. "But I really thought I heard your bell," answered the groom, not the least disconcerted; "and as Antoine had just gone out—" " You must be crazy ; go down to the stable, and do not forget to have the horse harnessed by four o'clock." Aftor giving this order, Sartilly raised his eyes and saw with surprise that Jottrat was looking at the groom with deep attention. The iattor had not moved, but was still standing in the door examining the agent 1 with droll persistency. " You hear when I don't ring,"and you don't hear when I speak to you, ifcappear3," said Sartilly. irritated to the last degree. This time Toby understood, for he let the curtain fall, and disappeared as suddenly as he came. This foolish prank of his groom had irritated tho Viscount extremely,for he walked backward and forward with long strides, storming at the ennui of having servants. " Excuse me if I ask a question," said Jottrat, quietly ; "is this young man in the habifc of disobeying your orders in this way ?" "Never; on the contrary, he is an admirable servant, and in the three yeai'B he has been with me this is the first time it has happened." "It is very singular," said the police officer, half shutting bis eyes, as if trying to call back a confused remembrance. This attitude at last attracted the attention of^the Viscount, who thought it necessary not to leave any doubts about Toby in the police officer's mind. " Upon the whole, I have very little fault to find with my groom, and I think I can depend upon him," said he, in a calmer tone "He looked at me a long time," replied Jottrat, " and I thought he already knew me, or wished to know me again. But what struck me most was his strange resemblance to t ome one I have seen in old times." " Who was the person ?" " I cannot tell you ; my memory -was awakened on seeing this young man, but I don't feel any certainly. If I knew anything of his origin, perhaps I could reit ember. ' " He is, I believe, an illegitimate child ; at all events, he is an orphan, and English on his mother's side, I have been told. It was poor Roger de Mensignac who recommended him to me, and when I took him into my service three years ago, he had just left a Welsh gentleman, Sir Arthur Pollack,"

"None of these details enlighten me," said Jottrab, still thoughtful, " and I beg your pardon for having fatigued you with my souvenirs, with your mind in the condition it must be. X am going now, and I will wait your orders to act." "No, no, " said Sartilly,"do not wait for my orders ; search everywhere, and above all, use every possible means for finding Roger. If you find my poor friend, I will reward you in a way that you will be able to change your profession." The agent, far from seeming joyful at this prospect, shook his head sadly. " This search my chief can make as well aB I can, but it will amount to nothing. If the Marquis de Mensignac were living, he would have appeared to'save the honour of his name — I know the story of the five hundred thousand francs— and if he is dead those who have killed him have taken their precautions too well to let his dead body ever be seen." "What do you hope for, then ?", " To revenge him and myself at the same time." "To revenge yourself; you, and for what ?" asked the astonished Viscount, The police agent was silent, his mask of tranquility had fallen, his features expressed violent agitation, and although evidently regretting having said so much, an irresistible feeling impelled him to say more, and at length he burst out, in a voice trembling with anger, "I wish to revenge myself on this De Noreff— on that coward, that traitor, that miserable spy." This last word had scarcely left his lips when he felt conscious of the impropriety of such an outburst. "Excuse me sir," he said again, with a sincere emotion, that touched SartiUy, " I had forgotten what I am myself, and I have also forgotten that you have not received mo here to listen to an account of my personal dislikes." " Tell me, on the contrary, all you know of this man," said the Viscount, warmly. " I ask, I beg it of you." A tear shone in the eyes of the police agent on hearing Sartilly speak to him in this almost affectionate tone, but he had had already time to recover his composure, and he knew how to eive a commonplace answer. "Alas ! sir," he said, in his usual manner, "I know very little about this man, and the hate that I bear to him proceeds from rather vulgar causes. He came to Paris for tho first time a year after the revolution of July, and a short time after the Government learned with certainty that, although born in Sweden, he was a secret agent for Russia, his special mission being to watch the Polish immigrants, ard te g] c information of their correspondence with their friends in Warsaw. He was also supposed to mix himself with the intrigues against the new monarchy that bad bteu first established in France ; so he was watched, and the affair was put in my hands, and at the moment when I held the threads of the conspiracy, he had the skill to remove the proofs, and I was believed to be an awkward and faithless agent, was sacrificed, and, after this disaster, remained two years without employment. This is the cause of my bitter feelings towards him, and you see my history has nothing in it that can interest you." Sartilly had listened eagerly to the police agent's recital, and an absolute conviction that he had not told him all the truth took possession of his mind, for he felt that he must have a more serious grievance against De Noreff than merely the grudge of an unmerited disgrace. The Viscount now knew enough of the man, and judged him sufficiently well to understand that his immovable features, his humble countenance, hid an ardent soul and a proud heart. An agent of his stomp would not hate without a reason, but he chose to guard his own secret. "What does it matter, after all,' thought Sartilly, "provided he serves me well?" "Listen to me, Jottrat," he said, in that frank and firm tone that goes directly to tho heart, expressing a=? it does such entire truthfulness. " IZou detest this man ai much as I do, and whatever may be your motives for hating him, M. de Noreff is your enemy as well as mine. I propose to employ you immediately to aid me in my plans, and I only ask you to unite with me'to attain our ends.'' " I am ready to lay down my life, if necessary, to insure success," the agent auswered, quietly. " You shall not die, and together we will crush this venomous wretch. When shall I see you again !" "If you will believe me, sir, we will do better not to meet again for a month. It will take that time to prepare my batteries, and I have already had the honour of explaining to you why it would be useless to begin the ti3ge before then. To-day is the fourteenth of February — I will see you the fifteenth of March, and I think it would not be prudent to come here, as my presence would not fail to be remarked, if it were only by your servants ; while at my house, on the contrary, it would be easy for you to come without being seen, and I will take precautions to that effect. My windows are in the fourth storey of rue de Marais, No. 19. Whenever you see a lamp lighted behind the third window on the right, you may be sure that I am alone, and that you can come up without danger. Never come but in the evening, after nine o'clock, as in the daytime I have my duties to attend to." " Very well ; but if before the fifteenth of March some extraordinary incident should occur on your side, or on mine, do you see any inconvenience in our meeting to speak of it ?" " If it is you who wieh to tell me of some event, there is nothing more simple — come to my- house when the signal is in the window. If, on the contrary, it should be I who had something new to communicate, the case would be more embarrassing, as I think it is extremoly dangerous to show myself here ; perhaps I have been wrong in coming to-day, and I think it would be better not to meet, as by doing so, our success might be compromised." ** But. you can always write to me. ' " Servants who introduce visitors receive the letters also, and the danger is the same." Sartilly made a gesture expressing entire confidence in the discretion of his servants, but it did not seem to convince Jottrat, as, after an instant's silence, he said, " I will write to you at your club." " Very well." "And now, sir, I am going to leave ; but before going, permit me to ask you a last question." "What is it?" "Have you the immediate need of the services of your groom ?" " " Yes, I am going out at four o'clock in my carriage, and, of course, I take him with me. It is near three o'clock, and Toby must be in the stable at this moment. But why do you wish to know ?" " Toby is not in the stable," interrupted Jottrat, who had drown near the window, " for I see him in the street." The highest part of tho pavilion was sufficiently elevated for one to see beyond the wall of the courtyard, and Sartilly, looking out, saw at the corner of rue d'Astorg and rue de la Ville d'Eveque, the groom posted -on the step x>f a cab watching, and seeinjng to expect something or someone, *" '

"This is too much," said the Viscount, ringing violently ; "it will end^ in my sending this fellow away. Antoine," he paid to hia old servant, who was not long in coming forward, showing hia honest face, "go and bring Toby in ; he is idling away his time at the .other side of the street. Tell him for me it is time to prepare the carriage. Take him to the stable, and when he is in, lock it and bring me the key." Jottrat could not restrain a smile, and bowing, said, "We two must certainly succeed." And aa Sartilly looked at him with some astonishment, the detective agent pointed with his finger to the groom, going along with Antoine toward the house, and murmured, " Thank you for having so well understood me, sir ; now I can go out without being followed." (To be Continued.)