AN ENEMY HATH DONE THIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15535, 17 February 1914, Page 4

AN ENEMY HATH DONE THIS.

A NOVEL BY JOSEPH HOCKING, Author of " All Men Are Liars." " The Scarlet Woman." etc., etc. COPYRIGHT. PART 11. CHAPTER XVI. I had my plans carefully made. In the papers which Avenel had taken from the safe at Mountleven, and which I retained in my possession, several names were mentioned. I did not attach much importance to them, as I concluded the whole thing to be a forgery. Still, I dared leave no point unexamined ; I felt that everything must be probed to the bottom. On my return to the house I carefully read them all again, noting everything that could, as I thought, possibly help me. A copy of these same papers was in Avemel's possession ; I had copied them at her own request while we were at Mr. Wise's house. Upon the basis of the information here afforded, as well as upon what Count Fanfarre had told me, I commenced my investigations. I was somewhat handicapped, as some patients came to me whose claims I could 1 not ignore. Still, I gave as much time as I could to tho search upon which I had engaged. It may be I ought to have employed a detective, for I was sure I was in constant danger. I knew, too, that I was watched and followed, but I took every possible precaution, and was careful never to endanger my liberty in any way. 1 found on inquiry that Leonard Mountleven remained in London, went in societv, and to all appearance lived the life of "a man of fashion. I had half-expected him to call on me, but he never did so, neither did he seem to be cognisant of my existence. Nevertheless I was sure he was active. I had a feeling that every step I took had been anticipated and prepared for. He was not acting on the offensive, but on the defensive. Whether he knew that Avenel had taken the papers from the safe at Mountleven 1 did not know, but I know that all my inquiries did not help me to incriminate him. He seemed to have covered his tracks completely, and while I was sure that it was he, and net General Mountleven, who was guilty of treason to his country, there was no proof of it. More and more I saw plainly the plan he had adopted. He had wormed himself into the general's confidence, gained admission to his rooms, and then by stealth had not only taken the documents he desired, but dad left forged papers which deeply incriminated his brother. But there was no proof of it. In spite of what Avenel had found in the safe at Mountleven, I was powerless. Indeed, as matters stood, I dared not bring them to light. Nine out of ten would have doubtless declared that they incriminated the woman who in her foolishness had signed them. Count Fanfarre left London the night after he had been at my house. He wrote me a letter telling me that he had had another interview with Leonard Mountleven, but that he had never once mentioned my name or referred to mb in any way. He also told me that he, the count, had pleaded with him to give up all thoughts of marrying his daughter, but that he had not only absolutely refused, but threatened exposure if the "count did not fulfil his part of their bargain. In addition to this, Imla Jordan paid me another visit, and he swore that since our last interview he had neither seen nor heard of the man he knew as Trideaux. As may be imagined, I questioned him closely, but could learn nothing. linla was much better, and 1 saw that I had not only diagnosed his case correctly, but that my treatment was curing him of his trouble. A healthier colour had come into his cheeks, while his strength was daily increasing. " If he will only let mc alone, doctor,*' he said again and again. " But he won't. One of these days he'll spring upon mc and kill me. Sometimes I wake up of a night all of a shiver ; I feel as though he's near me."

" He knows where you are living at St. Mabyn':" b " He knows everything—everything, I tell you."'

" My own impression is that you'll never sue the man Pndeaux again." "If I could only believe that! Whyyes. I know I shall have to give up all thoughts about Avenel, although if she came in here now I should be ready to fall down and worship her; but there, that's hopeless. Still, I'm a young man. doctor, and I'll say that for him, he paid me handsome, handsome!"

A week passed away, and although I left no stone unturned I got no nearer the goal of my desires. Even with the papers Avenel had found, and the information Count Fanfarre had given me, I had no proof of General Mountleven's innocence. Neither was Mrs. Mountleven in a position to n.ake any claim on her husband's estates. By so doing she would expose herself to all sorts of dangers, from which both she as well as Avenel instinctively shrank. Even yet Leonard Mountleven held the master key to the whole situation, and he remained in a stronghold from which we could not remove him.

Avenel wrote me twice during that week, but she did not ask me to come and see her, neither did her letters give me the slightest clue of her thoughts or feelings. They were little more than acknowledgments of the epistles I had written to her giving an account of my doings. She did inform me, however, that Mr. Wise had returned to Cornwall, and that her mother's health continued to improve. Beyond this nothing. I felt as I read them that a barrier had risen between us. and that she seemed nearer to me when she was immured in the lonely old Cornish house than she did now.

At the end of the week I received a letter from Dr. Duprez, who, under my instructions, was attending Mademoiselle de Fanfarre, asking me to come to the chateau at once. There was, he said, a change in mademoiselle's condition which he could not understand, and he did not like to take any further responsibility alonfj. He added that the count was also very anxious, and was writing to me. The count's letter came by the same post; he urged me most strongly to come to their help with all speed. I wrote a long letter to Avenel before going. I assured her of my hope that a further talk with the count might be of service to me, and told her that I should never rest until the desire of her heart wag realised. I besought her to remain in Kensington, and on no account to expose herself to danger, as I felt sure that Leonard .Mountleven was constantly on the alert and that any false step on our. part would strengthen his hands. I also repeated the declaration of my undying love which made me rejoice in anything 1 could do to serve her. It was late at night when I reached the Chateau de Fanfarre, but found both the count and Dr. Duprez eagerly awaiting me. I was immediately shown into mademoiselle's room, and soon saw that they had grave reasons for sending for me. The patient had not maintained the improvement which had at first resulted from my treatment, and during the last three days symptoms had appeared which had altogether baffled the young French doctor. As may be imagined, I made a very careful examination, and had long consultations, not only with Dr. Duprez, but with the count.

It was far past midnight when the young doctor left the chateau.

" I am afraid I shall have to remain a day or two, doctor," I said. "Will you come to-morrow about noon ? I hope we shall arrive at something more definite by that time."

After he had gone I went to bed, but could not sleep. For the moment everything sank into the background in comparison with what seemed to me the mystery of mademoiselle's condition. I could not understand it. That which had happened was in direct opposition to all my theories and investigations. 1 had closely questioned Dr. Duprez, and I was convinced that he had followed my instructions to the minutest detail. The patient ought to have been much better,

but she was -worse, and more than that, I could not understand the development of the case.

Not being able to sleep, I rose at daybreak and took a walk in the park. I thought the keen morning air would clear my brain, but in spite of everything I could not see my way through the mystery. All through my professional career I had left as little as possible to chance; I would leave nothing to chance now. I would try no blind experiments. I would understand everything before making any change of treatment. And yet, as it seems to me now, it was largely by chance that light came.

I had just come up to the house after my morning walk when the postman appeared, who left a locked leather bag containing the morning letters for the chateau. It was placed on a table in the room where I happened to be. A servant had just finished dusting the furniture.

" 1 am expecting letters," I said to the servant. "Do you send the bag up to the count's room?"

'' Sometimes, monsieur, but I think not this morning. The count will have his breakfast with monsieur downstairs. When he has his breakfast in his room the count's valet fetches the letter-bag. The count allows no one to open the letter-bag but himself.''

Tho servant left the room, while I sat in a large armchair, and took up a morning newspaper. I had barely done so when I heard stealthy steps, and the nurse who attended mademoiselle entered. She held a key in her hand, and going straight to the bag proceeded to unlock it. " You attend to the count's correspondence, 1 see?" I remarked. The woman gave a scream, and the look in her eyes was full of terror and guilt. " I thought that—you see, I expected a —that is, you —mademoiselle expected—" Here she stopped, and seemed to be unable to conclude the sentence. "How is mademoiselle this morning?" I asked, deciding to take no apparent notice of her confusion.

" Better—that is, Monsieur le Docteur will soon go and see her himself, doubtless," she added, and then without another word she left the room, leaving the bag still unlocked. The incident set me thinking, with the result that I decided to be present when the count opened his letter-bag. I had not long to wait. In about ten minutes he appeared. " Ha, you are an early bird," he said. "I hear that Adele has had a good night. I think your very presence does her good. I hope you have slept well yourself? " He proceeded to unlock the bag, and sort the letters. Presently he gave a start.

"A letter from Mountleven!" he cried. "I think it will be interesting," I said, "and will you excuse me, count, if I ask whether there are any for mademoiselle or the nurse who attends her? " He looked at me keenly, but spoke no word. I saw, however, that he was examining each letter carefully. " There are none for mademoiselle, but one for the nurse," he said. "May I look at it? " I asked. I saw at a glance that it was from England. It was also rather bulkv. "You say you have a letter from" Mounteven.' I said; "does he write anything like this?" J b

The two letters were evidently written by the same hand, although that addressed to the nurse wa6 somewhat disguised. "What is the meaning of this?" he gasped. '• But, ah yes, she knows him! 1 have seen them talking together!" "Read your own letter, count," I said, "I think it will throw light on the situation. '

The letter was very short, It besought him not to allow me to attend mademoiselle any longer. I was only an ignorant bungler, he said, and would of a certainty kill his daughter. On the other hand, he would undertake to send a doctor who had made a special study of such cases, and would certainly cure "her He would stake his life on the truth of his words.

This is almost the first clumsy thing I have known him do." I said, whereupon I told him of the incident of the nurse coming : n, and attempting to unlock me bag.

" But this is infamous!" he cried. " I never allow anyone to touch letters until I have first examined them. I keep tue key very carefully." " She had a key which evidently fitted the lock. May I suggest that you call her in and examine her in my presence?" " Immediately," cried the* old man, and rang for a servant,

A few minutes later the servant returned, saying that the nurse could not be found.

The count and I stood looking steadily at each other.

" I expect we have arrived at the same conclusions," he said presently. "I think I see the explanation of mademoiselle's state of health, too. There is one way of being certain." " And that, doctor?" "Open the letter which the nurse was so eager to get without your knowledge. " "Certainly I will, he replied. "j.-e circumstances justify it." The envelope contained a packet of greyish powder, and a piece of paper on which were the 'following words : " This should be enough. Use as before. Be careful not to arouse English doctor's sus picious; if you do you are lost." "I think everything is plain." I remarked, after a few seconds of intense silence.

I could see he was thinking deeply. Once or twice he seemed on the point of speaking, but no word escaped him. A servant came in and announced breakfast. 'Dr. Launceston," said the count, 'we must have a long talk presently. I did not leave the Chateau de Fanfarre until the next day. I had an interview with Count Montefort and his son Henri, a further consultation with Dr. Duprez, besides which I spent several hours with Count Fanfarre in his library, during which the count of his own acco'rd showed me some documents bearing on the Mountleven business. Concerning these I cannot enter into particulars, but after reading them I felt that I was nearing the time when I should be in a position to try and force Leonard Mountleven's hand. (To be continued daily.)