A Maker of History

uous smile. The girl in blue, with the dazzlingly fair hair and wonderful complexion, steadied his hand and exchanged a meaning look with the man who sat opposite. Surel

flashed her great

mself like this eve

ss compared it to the purring of a cat. Men as a rule found no

m the stain on the table-cloth into the eyes of Madame, and

as anything. Chucked out of everywhere in London at half-past twelve. 'Time, gentlemen, please!' And out g

n until you had been introduced-whispered in his ear. He shook his

r?on! Ring the bell, there's a good chap, Monsieur-dash it,

taggered towa

ieur," Madame exclaimed. "It i

k. Duncombe had swung round and faced them. He had turned the key in the door, and was calmly pocke

revolver, was white with the inherited cowardice of the degenerate. Flossie, who had drunk more wine than any of them, was trying to look as though it were a joke. Duncombe, with his disordered evening clothes, his stained shirt-front and

er mad nor drunk. I have a few questions to ask you, and if your answers are satisfactory you may yet find

rom their places around the table. It was Madame whom he addressed more directly-M

three is between ourselves alone. You came, I presume, because it promised to be pro

little black moustache with a much berin

f arms? If we can help Monsieur-it is an affair of pleasure, and if he chooses to make a present to these ladies

ase, and presented it to Duncombe,

require first of all that in addressing us you recognize my position as a French nobleman, wh

smiled

mission, and they did not succeed. Both of these ladies, I believe, have been approached for the information I desire, and they have t

is shrugged

," he murmured; "a

interru

nity from Hell,' they call you sometimes, I think. You see I know where I am and the risk I run. Even this little room has its secrets-a murder or two, I believe, and other things-secrets which I don't suppose there is gold enoug

d francs!" Ma

ie said nothing, b

stion, M

moiselle Phyllis Poynton

garette with fingers which shook a little, and the fair face of Mademoise

whom Monsie

ot

rl! There are

ynton! It is a n

shman smiled up

y my charming young companion, Mademoiselle Flossie here. Now I have at least half a dozen friends in the café below whom I could summon here by touching that b

whispered in the man's e

. "Monsieur will not break faith with us. He will not

ung Englishman d

eld up h

will tell Monsie

The Englishman, however, was unmoved. His keen gray eyes were fixed upon her, but the revolver remained in his right hand. From downstairs they could hear the music of violins, the ra

ng a pledged word. If Monsieur the Director here knew that I was telling

mbe n

n," h

e to no one. She was always a mystery. She was very handsomely dressed-for an English girl, quite chic! She spent money, and Monsieur Albert the direct

him but once-since that time never. He told us about Mademoiselle. She made some inquiries about her brother, and Monsieur Albe

There was to be the morning sunlight streaming across the supper-tables, the faces of all of us aged and haggard. Monsieur Louis here, without doubt, a very child of the devil! Oh, a very moral picture,

s though the intention was to take him by su

wer, questions," he said. "Will you ki

hough to loosen her necklace. She had not the appea

her table. His name was the Vicomte D'Aubarde, and he was known to most of us, though to the young lady h

me saw it and smiled. Her lover perh

gether in the Vicomte's coupé. They were apparently on the best of terms. Since the

is that?" Duncom

night," Mad

wn a roll of not

m therefore going to pay you the amount I promised, although

nsi

o break through this thieves' compact of yours. I have paid a thousand francs for lies-I will pay ten tho

ed furtively at Madame, and the flash of Madame's eyes was li

e said. "Good night! Think over wha

y. Mademoiselle Flossie ventured to thro

im go downstairs. Madame pick

orge D

ey H

rf

Hotel,

murmured, "tell him the tr

e murmured, h

le Baro