The Mark Of Cain

of The Bunhouse, Barton, when he came home from a round of profession

was indeed "moving about in worlds not realized." Keen as was the interest which Barton took in the labyrinth of his friend's affairs

," he observed, with some shade o

"I really do think I

away in his hands. "Bring lights, please, and tea, and stir up the fire, Jemima, my friend

ma, who greatly admired the Doctor, and in ten min

enty of milk and no sugar. "Oh, Ariadne, what a boon that clew of yours has been to the detective mind! To think that,

this was trifling

pears to me undoubtedly to refer to the mis

on, with some eagerness this t

what he r

gentleman travelli

left a bearskin coa

ue de l'Opéra, Par

will be sold to

up

the first place, is there such an hotel in Paris as th

at once to the Club, and looked up the Bo

owner of the coat is the man you want And again, is he likely to have left such a very notable article of dress beh

land was not to be easily

nd they may have some idea of where he has gone to; and, at least, they will have noticed how he was treating Margaret, and that, of course, is what I am m

d the incredulous Barton; "but I don't fancy that the villain of rea

uld this elaborate scoundrel be more fortunate than the rest? If he did leave the coat, he will scarcely care to go back for it; a

wever, with some difficulty, prevent the Fellow of St. Gatien's from purchasing a blonde beard, one of those wigs which simulate baldness, and a pair of b

xactly like a German professor, and probably b

his plan of operations, and these, unfortunately, he did not communicate to his friend. The fact is, that the long

e)-must come to an end at last. About dinner-time, Maitland was jolted through the glare of the Parisian streets, to the Avenue de l'Opéra. At the H?tel Alsace et Lorraine he determined not to betray himself by too precipitate eagerness. In the first place, he wrote an assumed name in the hotel book, choosing, by an unlucky ins

termined by the fact that, for the momen

e truth than they suspected, "Paris was not the plac

om of the serpent when he ordered dinner in the fearless old fashion attributed

he evening; as he faltered over the soles, and failed to appreciate the cutlets; as he turned from the noblest cr?s (including the widow's cr?s, those of La Veuve Cliquot), and asked for siphon and fine champagne, the waiter's countenance assumed an air of owl-like sagacity. There was something wrong, the gar?on felt sure, about a

. From that official he purchased two large cigars, which he did not dream of attempting to enjoy; and he then endeavored to enter into conversat

id many English use the hotel? Had any of his countrymen been there lately? He remembered that when he left England a friend of his had asked him to inquire about an article o

ing in the office of the concierge, moved to the neighborhood of the door

ur wanted a lost coat in skin of the bear? It had been lost by a compatriot of monsieur's? Would

eally was on the trail, followed the porter, and the cler

door marked "private," an

n now courteously motione

n sat down in

ked, "was the

answer a few inquiries? Was t

ing to hesitate, admitted that the garment on

sked the clerkly man,

that! His French now began to grow wor

uite a common name. He had met him for the first time on board the steamer; but the man was going

lish gentlemen usually spoke of persons whom they had just m

hat, as they seemed disposed to give him more trou

portment, what was due to Justice; and when Maitland rose, in a state

the collar, sans phrase, and spun him round, amid the horrified clamor of the porter. But the man, without any passion, merely pr

had understood that passpor

land to accompany him into the presence of Justice. As there was no choice, Maitland obtained leave to put some linen in his travelling-bag, and was carried off to what we should call the nearest police-station. Here he was received in a chill bleak room by a formal man, wearing a decoration, who (after some private talk with the detective) asked Maitland to explain his whole conduct in the matter of the coat. In th

ght have set before the Commissaire of Police the whole story of his troubles. He might have begun with the discovery of Shields' body in the snow; he might have gone on to Margaret's disappearance (enlèvement), and to a description of the costume (bearskin coat and all) of the villain who had carried her away. Then he might have described his relations with Margaret, the necessity of finding her, the clew offered by the advertisement in the Times, and his own too subtle and ingenious attempt to follow up that clew. But it is improbable that this narrative, had Maitland told it ever

British citizen who has fallen into the hands of Continental Justice? Are not our countrymen the common butts of German, French, Spanish, and even

of these innocents to deserve incarceration. His conduct, as the Juge

aine, had been very naturally excited by seeing the advertisement about the

uage spoken by the brave Irish. M. Dupin, as a Liberal, had every sympathy with the brave Irish in their noble struggle for whatever they are struggling for; but he did not wish his hostelry to become, so to speak, the mountain-cave of Freedom, and the great secret storehouse of nitro-glycerine. With a view to elucidating t

St. Gatien's man, an attaché of the embassy, whom he luckily happened to know. But this great ally chanced to be out of town, and his name availed Maitland nothing in his interview with the Juge d'Instruction. That magistrate, s

sked the Juge

lied the Fellow

ction. "You entered the name of B

n that letter," said Maitland,

ion lay on a table, as

me unfortunate person, and have draped (afflublé) yours

tion had formed within himself to account for the genera

" asked Maitland, in

re acting on a deplorable system. Justice is not deceived by your falsehoods, nor eluded by your subterfuges. She is calm, stern, but merciful. Unbosom your

prévenu, "What is all this pother about a gr

ather proud of

d the Juge d'Instruction. "Levity will avail you nothing. Tell me, Bu

hat advertiseme

dvertisement. But, on your own system, bad

man who had done

s n

find out I might have found his tailor's name on the co

ietor of the hotel did not in

he s

You insult France in

nd apo

vertisement, as you deny having done it yours

r of the coat put i

d. What had he

here he is probably conspiri

ou trifle wi

u that my name

forge that name

and excitement of the m

e?" (Pourquoi a

de an irrit

signed au secret, and will have an opportunity of revising your

of Maitland's examination. An interview (during which Lord Walter laughed unfeelingly) with his old coach was not refused to the attaché, and, in a few hours, after some

sacrifice the privileges

attempt at an investigation has not been a success. I have endured considerable discomfort, and I fear my case will get

tinople, relinquished the quest of Margaret, and f