THE DUKE OF ARCANUM.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 284, 1 December 1898, Page 6

THE DUKE OF ARCANUM.

By CARLETON LONG.

CHAPTER XXIII. (Continued).

Morton uodding assent, Chloe proceeded: 'Maiicel Tewkes was murdered four years ag-o. Coulter came to the house— I moan to Madame Renaud's—and plotted with, her and two others—Pintard and Vitellius, to commit the crime. I did not know of it, until the evening ot! the murder, after it had been committed, and they had all returned to the house. Suspecting that something -was going on I put, my ear to the key-hole and listened to" what was said. They were quarrelling about the spoils, or rather, because nothing was found upon the victim. Madame Renaud was furious, and threatened to kill Coulter right there. But Pintard and Vitellius interceded and calmed her. Thou the police entered the house, aud hearing the confusion I gave the alarm, at which all disappeared in an instant, except Madame Renaud, who turned around, faced the officers and laughed them to scorn.' 'But what became of the three men?' asked Morton. 'They tied into the tunnel, sir.' •What tunnel? I don't understand.' 'I don't know much. about it myself, only there was some sort of subterranean resort, tinder the house, into which they always fled when threatened with danger. They called it a tunnel. Well, my curiosity being aroused. I wa. determined to find out more about the matter. By listening to conversations, and by eavesdropping-, I became acquainted witsh the facts, although none of them suspected that t knew anything of the crime'

•Why did you not go to the police then and tell all you knew, and thus say Edseumb's life?'

The reason was because Coulter had such a strong- hold upon me. I was so infatuated with him that I would willin-rlv have sacrificed my life for him: "and as for the others, I was afraid of them: Vitellius and Pintard are such desperate fellows.' •But- Pintard was in gaol before the -' Morton saw that he had thoughtlessly permitted a slip, and abruptly cheeked himself. •Yes, Pintard was in gaol before the trial: but how were you aware of it?' •Why, did you not state so justnow?' 'Not that I remember, perhaps I did.' "Weil. I must have imagined it then,' said Morton, showing some confusion. Chloe, however, was so interested in her story that she did not appear to notice anything unusual. She continued: 'When the trial came on Coulter came to the house and had a talk with Madame Renaud. Then she went to the gaol and saw Pintard who testified at the trial. Then Coulter came to me and told me that I must cut off my hair, don male attire, and give some false evidence. He gave me to understand that it was wholly to oblige Madame Renaud, but I knew better. I would never have consented to do it to oblige her, but I was willing to do anything for him. He brought me a suit of clothes, a hat, and a false moustache; told me how to disguise my voice, and then instructed me what to say. I was to testify that I had been a roommate of a certain James Kye, who it seems would have been an important witness for the defence, but who had disappeared. I was terribly nervous about it and dreaded to go. I said to Coulter: "What if Kye should turn up again?" but he only smiled and remarked, ''You needn't be afi-aid of that; he'll never give you any trouble." Nerving myself to the task I did as I was bidden and Coulter was cruel enough to tell me that same night that my evidence had convicted Edgeumb, and that if he was ever hung I would be responsible for it. Oh, I have never done anything in my life that I regretted as _xn:ch as that.'

"And well should you regret it. It's a terrible thing to swear a man's life away,' replied Morton seriously. 'I know it. sir; and Coulter has told me that T can be hung for it.'

Tt is a very serious matter; but you might get off with a long term ol imprisonment. There is one way, however, by "which you might escape any penalty whatever.' 'How is that?' Do tell me, sir,' asked CMoe. excitedly.

'By giving state's evidence against them: but we will talk of that latei on. Now, if you have reached that part of your story, tell me who the third victim was. I am greatly interested in tliis shocking affair.'

T have nearly come to it. I will resume by saying that after the fire I did not see Coulter for some time, and when I found him he used me very badly. He wished to cast me off and talked very roughly to me. At last I became desperate, and one night we had a scene. I told him then, for the first time, of my knowledge of- the murder, .and that tinless he consented to marry me I idiould expose him. He was terribly frightened. I never Saw him wince at anything before. We compromised by his promising to support me, he asserting that it would ruin him to marry me; that he would lose his position and friends, and all such nonsense. Well, he furnished a room forme; then for awhile he was companionable; but a few months since his indifference returned, and now he seldom comes to see me, and gives me nothing for my support. He desires to get rid of me, and Pintard says he wouldn't hesitate to kill me if he can't do it. any other way.' j

'No doubt of it at all. He is a dangerous man, f should think. You mentioned Pintard's name; do you see anything of him?'

'Yes, occasionally, lie came to my room one night after Coulter had left, and told me he knew of something by -which I. could terrify him and make him give up all his money. He

proposed to teß me what it was if I would promise to do so and divide what I succeeded in wringing from him. I was curious to know his secret, but I disbked the method of obtaining it. I suspected that it was the Maneel Tewkes affair. Having plenty of wine in the closet, I brought out a bottle, thinking to limber up his tongue, for he had been drinking before he came in. Weß, I was so successful that he relieved himseH of the secret without knowing it; and later he became so stupefied from the effects of the wine he fell fast asleep in his chair. He doesn't know, to this day that I am in possession of his secret. Every little while he comes around and tries to persuade me into a conspiracy, but I say to him, "No, Pintard, I am hot quite ready yet." '

'You are very shrewd,' remarked Morton. 'But what was the secret?'

'I will tell you and then you will have my story. You remember that I spoke of a person by the name of James Eye, who disappeared?' 'Yes, distinctly,' returned Morton. 'Well Coulter was afraid of this ■witness, so he and Viteßius abducted him one night. They brought him to Madame Renaud's house and confined him in the tunnel. I remember well of hearing strange- sounds when I went into the little room from which this subterranean place was entered, but I did not know that they came from, a human being beneath the house. They kept him for many months in that terrible dungeon, and when the fire came he perished. I don't know whether they left him there purposely to die such a terrible death, or whether they forgot him in the excitement.'

Chloe remarked, an unusual pallor upon Morton's face. Sitting with his elbow resting upon the chair, and shading his eyes with his hand, he seemed to be struggling with some emotion which betrayed itself outwardly in spite of his attempts to conceal it. 'Is anything the matter, Mr Morton? You look ill," she asked, somewhat startled by his appearance. 'No, nothing at all; but such shocking crimes are so revolting to me that I become, as you see, visibly affected by them,' Morton answered, without removing his hand from his brow.

T am sorry that I have disturbed you by relating them.'

'Never mind; you need not regret it. The effect wall only be temporary. On the other hand I am glad that you have told me, for I take a debght in bringing such inhuman devils to justice.' In a few minutes Morton had regained his composure. Chloe did not suspect that anything but the details of her story had affected him. They had indeed to a certain extent, but their effect would have been trivial had anyone else than James Rye been the subject of her terrible revelations. Morton had always feared that something had happened to him at Coulter's hands, or through his instrumentality, but he was unprepared to hear of such a shocking fate, and it completely unnerved him for the time. As soon as he could collect his thoughts he asked, 'Are you willing, Chloe, "to perform the part which I shall assign to you, providing that 1 guarantee- your absolute protection, and in the end restore you to your parents with a comfortable fortune of your own?'

T will do anything you wish, and trust all implicitly to you.'

'Can I depend upon you to follow my instructions to the letter?'

'Perfectly sir; though I am a fallen woman, and have lost my honour in one sense, yet the honour of my word is sacred.'

'Very well, you will have an important part to perform, and you must do it skilfully. Now I wish you to return to your room and live quietly for a time. I will furnish the necessary funds, besides a sum sufficient to pay your indebtedness. Ido not wish to have you see your parents yet awhile, but when the proper time comes I will arrange it, and the reunion shall be a most happy one. In the coitrse of a few days, if you do not see anything of Coulter, I wish you to send for him and tell him that you are the daughter of Mareellus Dunne.'

'He suspects something of the kind now, I am sure.'

'So much the better then. But how did he come to suspect it?' 'On account of my agitation when he related the story of your gift to the org-an-g-rinder, mentioning my father's name. Ido not know he suspects that I am his daughter, but he thinks there is some mysterious connection between us.'

'That will not embarrass my plans. Tell him tha.t you are the daughter of Mareellus Dunne, an only child, and that you will be an heir to a considerable fortune as soon as you consent to abandon the life you have been leading. Coulter will regret that he did not marry you, and will, I think, make a great effort to re-establish himself in your estimation. But he is perfidious, and you must not permit yourself to be controlled by him. You must play the part of a coquette, or a dissembler. Impress upon him the idea that you are inclined to forgive him, that you will keep him on probation for a while—say a few months —and if he succeeds in making himself agreeabel you will then accept him. Can you do this?

'Yes, I can play to perfection.' said Chloe, with a mischievous twinkle in her eye.

'But what I greatly fear is that you will succumb to his influence. I am afraid there is some subtle charm about him which you will be unable to resist. You may think now that you can withstand his blandishments, but I am afraid your good resolutions will take flight when his baneful influence comes to be fully exerted. I hope not, however.'

'Have no fears, Mr Morton, I understand Coulter's disposition as well as any one. I hate him; I detest him;J I loathe him; he lost all power over me long ago.'

'You will never mention my name to him, or any one else?' 'Never. I pi-omise.' 'Remember and keep it; and if any thing comes to tempt you to violate it, remember what I have done for your father, and what I shall yet do for you if you prove faithful to my trust.'

M have no need to recall what you have done for my poor father, Mr Morton; it is ever present in my mind and ever shall be.'

'It may take some time to bring matters to a crisis. J shall move slow ly but surely. Have patience, take matters as they come 7 and do as .1 tell you; you shall want for nothing. There is still another person who requires looking after also. It is the man' Pintard." How often do you see him?' 'Quite frequently; indeed, quite too frequently. He is indefatigable in his efforts to persuade me into his blackmailing scheme.' 'You think, then, you are likely to see him soon?'

- 'I have no doubt of it, sir; he's a perfect pest.'

! 'Such creatures usually are; butyou f can endure it awhile longer, can you not?'

'Dou you wish me to encourage him?'

Exactly; we will whet his appetite a little. When he comes again tell him you have thought the matter over and have concluded to embrace his scheme. You must get the story from him in all its details, and tell him to come again in a few days, when you will inform him of your success. On his next visit tell him that you have frightened Coulter badly; that he has consented to pay you half of his monthly salary, and that you will divide it with him. You cau say that Coulter has lost everything at the card table, and that it w;ia the best you could do. This will keep him near you for future purposes; do you understand?'

'Perfectly, sir; and I will carry it out to the letter.'

Talcing a roll of bills from his pocket, Morton selected a sum and handed it to Chloe, saying: 'There is sufficient, means for yourself and Pintard for awhile. Come again in a month and give me an account of how matters are progressing.'

Chloe took the money, thanked Morton, and departed, promising to obey instructions.

(To be Continued.)