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302
BEADLES MONTHLY.
or do they not? Be careful how you
evade this straightforward question. I
have a right to know, and I shall con-
suit the registers if I have reason to
think you are lying to me, cowardly
little hound I” with a terrible oath thatI
will spare you, madam. “ Prick up your
cant, and answer, then, on peril of-”
“ I am willing to take my oath in a
court of justice,” interrupted M. Ro-
quette, not frightened now, but deter-
mined, I knew from‘ the sound of his
voice, “ that no such letters come to this
post-oilice, or pass through my hands.
Madam Maurepas has no correspon-
dents that Itknow of. Now, sir, spare
me your insults, and your presence on
these premises in the future, Ientrcat !”
This last word was spoken more like
an order thana prayer, I thought. I
was astonished- at Mr. Claude’s spirit,
and so would you have been, madam,
could you have seen him-a little man,
with a small, sleek, black head, carried
' chiefly on one side; a short, smiling,
sallow face, and a step; like the hop of
a canary bird. But he had a fearless
eye, I remember that, and was as quick
with a pistol as any one, though it-was
against his conscience to go armed.
“ What did you give for these goods,
Roquette, and what price did your fath-
er pay for his house? -tell me that be-
fore I leavcyyour presence,” my master
asked in his most insulting tone.
Notknowing his suspicions, M. Ro-
quette could not imagine of courseythat
he was accusing him of trickery. ,
"My gratitude, Monsieur Maurepas,
that was the price I paid,",;replied Mr.
Claude, warmly. < , ‘ g .
“Are you sure your house was not
included, Roquette? A small matter is
thrown in, sometimes, when a good bar-
gain is concluded between friends, and
that would have scarcely been an addi-
tional feather’s weight, I take it.”.. I ,
The intention was apparent nowl
M. Roquette’s voice was altered with
rage when he replied: “Donot esti-
mate mine by your own, M. Maurepas,
or you may do some one injustice.” He
stammercd when excited. “And now,
M. Maurepas, if your search is over, we
will part on the terms I at grst :i111‘gE;51E
ed, if you please--eterna Y. 2
immediately."
. “With all my heart, M-R0f1“e“‘’v “'
til it suits my convenience to come
again. , Is that the packet I hear bit)“;
ing of!‘ steam? I must be Off “Sh
speedily. I have business to settle 3‘
the landing,” and to my great rehef my
master rushed forth and ga110P9d 03'
“ That will detain him half an 1101"
at least,” I thought. “ Let me hurry and
be gone.” In another moment the letteg
I held was exchanged for one seale
with the green seal, and directed to V0-
Zr5rz'e, and I‘ was again ga110l3in.‘.-"' homei
ward, by the river road this time. ,d
was afraid of the swamp, so late--afra;d
of getting lost when the dusk s11011I
close. which would be the case before“
reached Maurepas. Besides that, I f6
sure my pony would carry me half
home before master thought of leaving
the steamboat.
I was mistaken. Just as I 80‘ opp?
site that, island which my mistress caller’,
from some whim, “ King Artf11“1’5‘:3i‘t‘1:gie,S
-the same I described be orc, ,,
dim outlines and gigantic trees, 111:
masts-I heard the quick thud and 11“ e
itual blow of‘ master’s great bay hols“:
“Cortez,” and glancing behind, I 53 (1
him coming after me in 11 hard Mme
gallop. But he did not call t0 :13
to stop, as I feared he wfolulgyjggggdp e
me and wait for me, as 1 .
might do;; but, as soon as he S0‘ qfu“;
‘ . ' and 1:91’
close, to 11193; he slackened rein for more
behind me in a leisurely W515’
than a mile,so that my s11SPiCi0”5 W3:
almost disarmed when we rem"-he,d z
alder grove. I had no 0pP0"““‘ty,;,,
not the slightest-,-all this time t0 mic,-
any provision for the safety of the izc
t!31‘: illlcase he should suspect and soled
me for examination. It 135’ cfmceauld
in my bosom, it is true ; but this woter‘
havevbeen no t safeguard had 118 den Y
mined to possess it, I well kI13W- (Th
worst fears were realized at lash mouato
bevlln
unexpecteclly, too, for I had usaulrbc '
hope,I might reach home 1111‘ my
When we entered the alder grove.
master stopped and called to me W h t’
It