THE CITY OF MYSTERY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 212, 5 September 1903, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE CITY OF MYSTERY.

By ARCH-BALD CLAVSRINQ GUMTER, Author of « Mr. Barnes of New York," " The Fighting Troubadour, 1 * "The Empty Hotel," Etc., Etc ■' ) f

BOOK HI

THE AGENT OF D'ARGENSON. CHAPTER XU. "WHERE IS A MAN AS DESPERATE AS li" It came upon me sudden as a clap of thunder. I was shown, into Monsieur Law's private office. The great financier received me with his usual unreadable .countenance. But everyone being gone fron. the room except ourselves, a curious smile rippled his face, aud he paralysed me by saying affably but abruptly: ''Sit down, Monsieur Boucher, and tell iue all about the conspiracy in which your wife is engaged." "Monsieur Boucher!" I stammered, and sank into a seat. Then gazing at him, I knew this man, who called himself financier, though be was master of all accomplishments, this mathematical card-player and diviner of combinations and chances, had discovered my secret. "You did not suppose that I would accept as my agent, without some further investigation, a gentleman who appeared before me almost in the role of a blackmailer, and nearly drove my five senses out of me by revelations that I thought came from a dead man," •he laughed. "You were sufficiently prominent, my dear Boucher, as one of" the fermiers-generaux for me to be quite well acquainted with your methods of finance and your wonderful erudition on the best means of squeezing the last penny out of the tax payers. I investigated;' I discovered!" "How?" I gasped.

"You were indiscreet enough to AVnte a letter of*gratitude, and place it in the post-bag "of my bank, to one Zamet el Moro, a Moorish physician at Naples, enclosing to him a bill of exchange for five thousand livres!"

"Mordieu!"

"That letter I took the liberty to pervse," continued Law. "In it, gratitude, getting the best of your pen, you told to one who is a shrewd gue_._er your secret. Do not be frightened at my discovery. Some superstitious people might think you uncanny; I believe in tbe natural sciences. You are simply a ■wonderful regeneration by Nature, who ■Used the heated crucible of Vesuvius for her work," Then his tone, though pleasant, grew business-like: "Now tell me all you have discovered in the Rue de Bourbon. I want everything, though it discloses domestic secrets. Your wlie is about to commit a little innocent bigamy, eh? The Spanish match made lor her By her mother."

"Ah, then you 'know everything?" 1 faltered.

"Not at all. I guess some things. 1 whnt to know everything. Tell me £11 you have discovered, and remember" — here the financier became commanding _—"that I must have complete frankness." s Thereupon I told him everything, ■wisely divining that Claire's best chance of escape would be through Monsieur Law's great influence with the Regent of France. I had no sooner finished my tale than Law start, d me by remarking, "Quite light; you must now, immediately give •this information to D'Argenson." "The head of police?" I shiveied. "Certainly. A political plot is a police matter,' not a financial one, though, diable! how it would have destroyed the stock of tbe Occidental Company, likewise our hope—our joint hope of the Banque Royale, of which you are to be a prominent officer." "But my wife —my beloved wife!" {The sweat of anguish was on my brow. \ "Ma foi! you have gone back to your lost love." Law gazed at me a. moment, then continued, a tinge of sadness in his voice: "Her only hope is Monsieur d'Argensoh's mercy." But, noting my -trembling knees, he added, quite confidently: "I think I have influence enough to gain her pardon from the head of police."

"But you and D'Argenson are enemies," I said, downheartediy. "Yes, enemies in dividing and apportioning the finances of the Government, but tn upholding France, D'Argenson and I are very much together." "Besides," went on Law, rapidly, "D'Argenson knows a good deal about this plot of Cellamare already. Don't for a moment suppose the Comte Philaxnon de Savigny, who is nearly as cunning as his master, Abbe Dubois, didn't guess what 'to-morrow' meant in that paper you showed him last night." "Impossible!" I cried out, startled. "Savigny appeared full of chagrin and j;age. at not being able to divine it." "That was to throw pepper in your eyes. In fact, I almost guess what 'to-morrow' means myself- That is 'to-day 1' We must act at once." Then he horrified me by saying: "Jump into my carriage with me. Monsieur d'Argenson is already at my house expecting us. It would not be wise for the Chevalier de Vesuvius to be seen at the public offices of the Minister of Police after having become the man of affairs tf ■ the Comtesse de Champsmieux in the Rue de Bourbon. Dv Maine and his .action have doubtless spies as well as ,ive."

"But how did you guess you would "have me to take to D'Argenson?"

■ "Ah, I knew" —the financier's smile was almost a laugh—"that you would not dare to be a traitor to me. My interests are now your interests. That is the great safety of a man with many tools and with many adherents." While he was speaking we had gone out to his carriage and were driving towards the Place Louis le Grand.

"Monsieur D'Argenson was to come to my house by the back way," remarked Monsieur Law. "And permit be to Jrir>t to you: Dont trifle with, this great policeman. You must know from your c:.yeriences as the late Boucher," the financier chuckled, "that D'Argenson is a good friend, but a very bad enemy. Furthermore"—here he nearly drove me tfist.actcd—-"D'Argenson has derived your late identity."

"What makes you think that?"

"A few words he uttered to. me an "hour ago when I made this appointment for you."

During this we had reached the Place Louis, le Grand. With faltering footsteps T- followed the groat financier into the portals of his nj-tgni-icent house.

(AH Bights Reserved.)

This was not at this time crowded, as it became a year or two afterwards by everyone in Paris begging for shares in his Mississippi stock and the opportunity to become rich. Therefore we were quietly admitted. A moment after I stood in a little private place well guarded from prying ears and observation, in the presence of March Rene, le Marquis d'Argenson, Lieutenant-General of Police. This marvellous policeman, though he was now Keeper of the Seals and Minister of the General Government, still held Paris in a mediaeval grip by his spies, sergeants de ville and exempts! Of this I had almost immediate,proof. With a peculiar cold set smile upon his face the great officer de surete, who had been pacing the, apartment impatiently, placed his steely, penetrating greyish, eyes on me and gave me what trembling culprits called his look damne. Inspecting me from head to foot, he said cheerr ily: "Very much altered for the better, Boucher. 'Nature has done great things for you." "Ah, Monsieur, you know—" I faltered. "Peste, don't be afraid. I shall not claim you as a product of the Black Art." grinned the great policeman. "Fifty years ago you might have been broken on the wheel for having been made too beautiful. in the crucible of Nature. Now, though we sometimes punish people for sorcery, it is not because we believe them diaboles." "How did—did you discover?" I §tam-. mered. I had not recovered my equilibrium. "That an unknown vagabond calling himself the Chevalier de Vesuvius had made his entrance into Paris was, of course, reported to me. But it gave me no concern; should the vagrant go to stealing, my subordinates would take care of him. But when the Chevalier de Vesuvius became a gentleman of fashion and a financier connected w'th my friend, Monsieur Law, I was sufficiently interested in him to discover who this Monsieur de Vesuvius was."' The policeman favoured me with a grin of horrible acuteness. "It was soon reported to me that this Chevalier de Vesuvius couid not keep his footsteps away from the Bue de Bourbon; that he would patrol day and night in front of the house of" the pretty Bame Boucher, whose mother and herself were already under my surveillance as closely connected with the Due dv Maine, aj prince who might become a disturbing element in politics. By exactly the same methods as- my friend, Monsieur Law, I put my mind into the gentleman's past, and discovered under the rine J feathers and handsome face of the. Chevalier de Vesuvius the ugly features and distorted neck of the commonplace Boucher, a departed, low-born ferxaiergeneral, whose soul had o*n!y been in trade and taxes and a pretty wife who despised him because he had made her, by marrying her, one of the populace like himself." "Diable," gasped Monsieur Law, "How did you guess I knew?" "Oh, there was a letter from Vesuvius to Zamet el' Moro, a rather curious address, entrusted to the Italian postebag of the Banque.. I had no j a man of your shrewdness opened and read it I thought it wise to peruse that epi3tle myself. Your mail/Monsieur Law, is not always in the hands of: those who do not fear me. Besides, this j very forenoon, Sancerre, the stockbrck-| er, was at me, suggesting that the Chevalier de Vesuvius had knowledge of the Black Art, and should be burnt at the stake for a wizard, having told him secrets-of tbe late Boucher that no one but the dead man or a sorcerer could know." During this I imagined Law himself had some uneasy moments: He feared D'Argenson had guessed why he had taken me into his employ and perhaps suspected the coming of the Banque Roy-ale. If D'Argenson did, the astute policeman never indicated it. He went on, turning to me brusquely: "Tell me everything, Boucher!" Whereupon, with my heart in my mouth, I told him everything, I knew it would be impossible to avoid complete frankness. Furthermore, by a happy guess, I divined that Claire's best chance of safety was in my unveiling everything. My story was once or twice interrupted by remarks from my auditor, which gave me extreme surprise, such as: "Yes, that was wdiat Dubois told me he suspected!" or "Diable, quite right, though Savigoy guessed what 'to-morrow' meant better'than you did." These told me I had been wise in not attempting to de- ■ ceive him. As I closed be addressed me as fol- ' lows: "From now on, you are tbe Chevalier de Vesuvius. Don't forget ; that. I myself have forgotten Boucher. • As the heart-breaker Vesuvius you must | discover when the Spanish Ambassador, '• Cellamare, sends his packet of the eon- < spiraey to Alberoni in Madrid, the doeu- ] ment that conveys the information so i that the Spanish troops may act in con- 1 junction with the faction of the Due dv i Maine and the Paris - Parliament. Mor-

bleu, that is our danger, the Paris Parliament! De Mesmes, its President, hopes, by putting up you, Monsieur Law, as a scapegoat, to create a popular tumult against the Regent. But now I am warned, there is no danger of outbreak. What I wish to obtain is the packet despatched to Alberoni in Madrid. That will give us the proofs against those who are so high in blood and rank we dare not seize them without evidence convincing to D'Orleans. As for the rabble, they are gone already!" He snapped his fingers. Fearing he included Claire in that ig-, noble term, I said appealingly; "But my wife?" "Oh, Dame Boucher!" he jeered; then went on sharply to me in cold tones that drove me to despair: "Think no moi*e of her. Haven't I told you, you are no more the tax gatherer? You are the Chevalier-dc Vesuvius. Ycj -have now, from what you say, all. the property of the late Boucher in your hands. If you have any of the grasping spirit of that defunct money-grabber in you, you'll cling to it. Parbleu, the conspiring widow of the Rue de Bourbon will not claim it from you. I shall, when the time comes, hand her ovel to my Exempt, Pomereu. In his secret prison, Dame Boucher, who is now a woman of

tne people and without the privileges of the noblesse, shall be well but privately punished and—forgotten!" But I break forth: "For God's sake, Monsieur le Marquis, her innocence oi the world and trust in her mother have brought her to this strait. I love her. I, the Chevalier de Vesuvius, love that woman still, and —and would save her."/: '"Diable; then let me ten you, Chevalier, she will be only spared by my'favour to you,'" be returned gru_dy, "and that will depend entirely upon/ yoftk adroitness and success .in . discovering who journeys with the packet _iO_u Cellamare addressed to Alberoni; when, these couriers leave Paris, and. in addition, obtaining that document for in.." "But tbe /dispatches the Spanish Embassy are sacred under the laws of nations," I sajd in downcast tones. ''Not when the Spanish Embassy is made the cradle of a conspiracy against France!" answered D'Argenson, who, like all great men, obliterated precedent in grand emergencies. "Will you save Dame Boucher by getting that packet, or shall I find other means?" There was an awful menace in his voice. "I will save her! By my love for her I will get that packet!" I half.moaned. r . "Morbleu, I believe you will!" remark;ed the great policeman. "You have tbe kind of desperate face I like for desperiate measures." "Very well,"' said Monsieur Law, who had sat listening to us intently. "I will leave you together t<. uiscuss the means," and, to my astonishment, he rose and went away. Oh, man of wonderful a.ut.neas! He knew what was jin D'Argenson's head, though D'ArgenIson did not like to speak it before him, ' and that;- in this matter, his interests

. were the same as D'Argerison's. .. As soon as Law had left tne room tHe ' great policeman, who, apparently, in his exultation as Minister of France had j not fc-gotten the minutiae of his trade, 3 stepped rapidly to the only door of the . apartment, and producing his snuff-box, j took a few pinches from it and tossed „j them into the keyhole.■" "That," he. . laughed, "is the surest way of detecting an eaves-dropper. As they use the keyy ..ole, a sue ze is certain to announce i them." Then he immediately addressed f me. "I shall be very frank with you — c I am with most of my agents. Should a ; l'Abbe Dubois, who has discovered this a conspiracy, obtain the names of those a connected with it. it would be a hold a upon those very high in France that 7 would make him too powerful. The sly 7 puss woulflu't give them to the Regent, 3 but would levy a blackmail upon the '■' purses and politics of compromised peers c of France and upon even the virtue of 0 some very great intriguing princesses.. a Therefore, I must have that packet for , Alberoni first. Take your own way of getting it. God knows you are adroit enough; besides, you have knowledge of house in the Rue de Bourbon no .other man possesses. To you a carte . blanche! Beware how you. use it, if you r wprdd save Dame Boucher!" ji "1.1 save her. By my life, I'll _aye - her," I said grimly. "Very well. 'You'll have to risk your _ life to do it. Select your own agents. ;, Good evening." For the night had come . upon us. "Report to me to-morrow i morning. No, the moment you have the - information, day or night. I work wh ni ever necessary. If you are ready,, come ) to me again this evening. After twelve > o'clock, I shall be at —you had better i not approach the Jlo.el d Argenson. Oome to me at—they'will scarcely think » you will visit me there —at the prison of tl." Exempt, Pomereu." ! Noting inquiry in my eyes, he laughed grimly: "P'st.e, you don't know where ' .that is. Most of those who have ,visi ted pit like to forget it. It is in the Rue de la Tixeranderie . But you had better en- . ter it from an alley leading from the '< Rue d« la Verricre. A lamp burns over ; \ its back portal all night.- Mention to the !jhuissieur in waiting the word 'Bourbon,' and you will be led to me." As I made my bow and turned to go, he called me back and said: "Apropos of Dame Boucher, you said the cousin, young Mademoiselle Gabrielle de Vieuxpont, carried notes also for these conspirators." "But innocently," I broke out. "Spare her! She is but a convent school girl." "Bah, even children are punished when they do wrong," he answered grimly. "Think of your, own part of the affair,' Mdnsieur de Vesuvius/" "Will you add the immunity of the child, Gabrielle, if I get the packet?" I broke in'appealingly but boldly. "Diable, yesP be grinned. "What are the lives of two fopli-b women in France? But a_k n© more, Ohevalier." Under these cirfiiunstances I did not deem it wise to request amnesty for my intriguing old mother-in-law. "Good evening.'' He bowed to me formally as I left him and went out into the night. "- As I walked along the streets towards my apartments in the Rue St. Honore, certain considerations from njy knowledge of the situation forced themselves upon me. The Prince de Gonti, D'Argenson, Dubois and Law, and their adherents, were one and together in their support of the Regent, who gave them the prey they loved, the finances and the taxes of.France. But like a pack of hounds, haying hunted down the . prey, they snarl at each other over the picking of his bpnes, D*Argenson and Law "aave even got to. regard me as one o,f the pack, perhaps the mpst insignificant cur in it, but still, that's my safety while i buxiij; with themj my success \will also make the salvatien of the woman I love. How to fulfil thi3 desperate mission?

Bow to get another man to hunt with me the packet for Alberoni. Where is another wretch as desperate as, I in .all France? ..... I walked into my apartments in the Rue St. Hon ore. A youthful voice came to my ears. It said.savagely to Antoine: "When will that damned scoundrel, the Chevalier de Vesuvius, be at home?" To myself I muttered: "By Heaven, I have found him!" For into my mind flew these patent facts: Young D'Aubigne, the Mousquetaire NoiT, a boy as daring as the corps of the uniform he wore, loves Gabrielle de Vieuxpont. and her safety, as well "as that of my -wife, depends upon my seizin* tk«t fiaeket forwarded by Cellamare to "Madrid. • s Raoiil shall be mv comrade in this adventure! (To be continued Wednesday next.) j