A MYSTERIOUS CASE; OR, TRACING A CRIME.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 242, 12 October 1893, Page 6

A MYSTERIOUS CASE; OR, TRACING A CRIME.

BY K. F. SILL.

Author of 'The Dumb Deteobbe,' • Prino. aad Peasant.' 'The Twin Detectives,' etc.

CHAPTER XL.

THE LONO JOUENEV.

jßedcuft's preparations to leavo New York were almost completed.

He had succeeded in turning all the for tone of Melville's father iubo caah.

He only waited to ascertain from his daughter bhe fabe of Gußbave. He felb rabher nervous on tho subjecb of reburning bo Europe, for he bad been guilty of many crimes.

He hoped that time bad wrouehb so many changes in his appearance thab he would no longer be recognised as the charlatan professor of mesmerism and swindler. . His record was a very bad one, and_ in every capital in Europe he had made bimaelt notorious. Now America had grown too hot for him. He must leave at once, before Melville s lawyer returned and his rascalities were brought to light. He knew the murder die had commitbed would escape debection, for bhe subtle poison of the devil-worshippers defied the most skilful research.

It did ita deadly work and left no trace. Louis Norton's murderer would go unpunished ; bhe old man's blood cried oub in vain. Melville, no longer under the powerful influence of the mesmerist, waa rapidly becoming himself again.

All Redcliff now waited for waa the information from Philetus on the subject of Guatav—Count De Severne. He wiahod to aecnre the young man's powerful protection in caee any of hia old Crimea came up againßb him. x He bad never been able to influence Gustave or ronder him subject to hia unearthly power. He only hoped to ruin him by bhreatening to make public the Btory of his mother's shame.

He gloated over the thoughb of forcing the young counb to protect the author of the dißgrace of his honoured name. Hia infernal nature gloried in forcing his companionship on Gustave, who detested him.

• I bate the prond upstarb !' ho hissed, as he sat drinking wine as uaual. ' I always hated him. With his calm, superior face, I never could move him one Bingle inch. ■ And thab nighb when the tigress cub, Philetus, found those paperß and gave them bo him, will I ever forget tho torrent of abuse he poured upon my devoted head 1 ' Bneabo, the fool, to keep those papers! Women aro always fools ! They will write lobbers and hoard up old letters. I believe that if a woman had a paper in' ber possession thab convicted her of murder Bhe'd stick to ib.'

As he thus soliloquised he drank deeply. He had acquired this habit since he had taken up hia quarters in Melville's house. The lasb thine; Melville's father had done jusb before his death was to purchase a largo quantity of raro old wine. Thia Redcliff appreciated highly. He sab alone every evening, and drank deeply. Since the pighb when he felb the strange premonition, he had boen nervous, and unlike himself.

His strong magnetic nature was subject to fits of depression, and a powerful impression had been made upon him by the recolleotion of the words of the old priestess of the devil-worshippers, Conscience he had none, bub a fear came over him as ho thought of the crimes he bad committed. 'Iblß time she was hore,' he rautterod, Striding up and down tho floor. • Half-pasb eight,' she says. He drew a letter from his pookeb, and ran bis eye over ib. •I will be ab your house by half-pasb eighb, Tho general dines ab his club, and 1 will take an early dinner in my dressingroom.'

' She ought to be here now. Ah ! there is a ring ab bhe bell. Ib must be Philetus.' A moment later the door opened, and the butler ushered in a lady. She wore a simple black costume, and was closely veiled. ' I have come aa I promised,' she said, removing her veil, and taking a seat beside tho table. 1 Como as you promised, and I hope with the intention of telling me tho truth.' His tone was stern, and his evil eyes flashed angrily. 'Come to tell the truth—and hear the truth.' Her tone was cold and haughty, and her face pale but determined. •What?' • I am going to ask you a few questions.' ' You ask me questions ?' ' Yes.' Unbounded astonishment was depicted on his face. • I suppose you think I am very bold,' ' I bhink you are presumptious.' •Am I ? Well, perhaps I am.' ' And what may be the nature of your inquiries, madam ?' He asked the question with an ugly sneer. ' I wpnb to know what sickness my mother died of?' Redcliff started. 'Enesta has been talking,' he said briefly. •She has.' • Where is she V ' No matter.' He looked thunderstruck. ' What has como over you ?' • Nothing.' • How dare you »oeak to me in thab tone ?' •I dare m^e than you think.' ' Philetus, I have no wish to waste any time with you. You are bold, and your boldness may succeed with others; ib is useless to try it on me.' • Very well; lot us come to business. You want to know where Gustave is ?' 'I do.' 'He is Count de Severne ; he is in France.' Rodclifl's evil face brightened. ' When did he come into his inheritance?' 'On the thirteenth of last December.' • Good ; I am glad to hear it.' • I knew you would be.' 'Now, do you see your folly in refusing to obey mo when I ordered you to marry him?' ' Yes, I see ib now.' Sho spoke in a dreary tone. ' Whab do you wish me to do before I go to Europe ?' •Nothing.' Why, I thought you wished me to rid you of Enesta?' ' Ido not wish it any longer.' ' What has changed you ?' ' Never mind.' ' Well, I leave New York immediately.' •I know you do.1 ' A peculiar light shone from her magnificent eyes. • Yes. Igo to Europe.'

• Before you go, tell me havo you any of the Egyptian poison in your poaaession ?' ' I have.' ' Are you certain V ' Of course I am.' 11 think you are misbaken.' ' Whab do you mean ?' • You have boon robbed. Nob one drop of bhab poison is in your posaeaßion ab thia moment.' Redcliif Btartod.

' Noiißenso !' he said, rising and drawing a key from his pocket, ' What pub such a bhing in your head ?' ' I dreamed you wero robbed of ib.' ' Dreamed ! what folly bo balk of dreama.' Ho unlocked the cabinet and threw ib open. Quick aa a flaah, while hia back waa burned, Philetus drow a flask from under her cloak.

It was not the original bottlo that contained the drug, bub a smaller ono into which she had poured a small quantity. Removing the atoppor of the wine decanter noiselessly, she poured the contents of the flask into the wine and replaced the stopper. ' Do you see ?' asked Redcliff, triumphantly, pointing to the bottle of colourless liquid Enesta had pub in the place of the flask of poison. ' Yea; my dream was nob true,' she answered, carelessly. ' Ha! ha 1' ho laughed, hoarsely. ' You beliove in dreams and visions like your old grandmother, the old Ye/idee.' ' I believe in somo dreams.'

• Well, I don't. Here is whab I believe in.' He poured oub a gobleb of wine and held it up. ' You believe in that ?' ' Yes ; I drink a safe journey to myself.' 'You will have a safe journey.' Sho spoke calmly, and a smile parted hor lips. ' And a health. I propose tho health of your patron saint and mine I' ' The devil ?' •Yos, Lucifer! The fallon angel. The powerful ! Tho grand ! Here is his health, and may he be Bpeedily restored.' He lifted the glass to hia lips as ho spoke the fearful, impious words. ' I'll leavo you now,' said Philotus, and she replaced her veil. 'Go, and farewell. I starb on a long journey. May Lucifer take care of you ; he iagood to hia own.' A harsh, grating laugh rang out as she closed the door.

Sho presßod her hand to her broaßb. • I don't think Mr Norton is very well tonight,' sho 3aid, as the servant opened tho door.

' Not well, madam ? He seemed well at dinner.'

' I think ho seems unlike himself. Good night.' ' Good-night, madam.' The old man closed the door after hor. 'So ho's sick, is he?'—and a good job. I wish ho was dead !'

He did nob trouble himself to go to the room to inquire ftfter his health, for he cordially detested this ovil looking man, who had come to rule in tho homo of his old mastor.

To be Continued