CHAPTER H1(Cont'd) a Derkaps, ton, he does nat be- 6. you will ear aut x hreat," X Tone Yes; these French always * im- ; Rin it is impossible to treat them «dike simple mortals; and that one would not dare to act here as one would in Bt. - Petersburg. But' 1 charge myself with. undeceivin You will get ready the roll- ing prison that serves for these Sransports; and when he sees it all | drawn up he will decide rhaps to speak." Ra "*The question is whether he has really anything to confess," said Vacili, timidly. *Do you doubt it1' Your excellency, I should not allow myself to entertain a differ. ent opinion from my master, but it you will deign to hear iy red- sons--"' "Speak, 1 consent.' "First, is it likely that any one in league. with Nihilists would so easily have fallen into the trap I Iaid for him. The rascals of that sect do not dream of embarking for Amerioa." I have not said he was a regn-| larly enrolled Nihilist. Firstly, he! 48 mot Russian; he ix merely a gimpleton whom one of their infer: na! women has seduced'? "Your excelloncy forgets that he loved the 'danghter of M, Dorger- 2] "Did he not rob me of my papers on 'the very day he' was dismissed by the banker! On that day he listened to the voice of a woman who had been his mistress. She Jromised him her protection in reigniparts, and he was content | with the fifty thousand francs tak: en from the safe.' "Unless it was sent to him as he asserts." {Bah} This person who sudden- 1y remembers an old debt is a very improbable character." . "However it may be, your excel- lency; this 'accomplice of M. de Carnoel it has keen impossible to And." 'Because the search has not been well made. The information I have recently received from the chief of the third section i8 very incom- plete. There are obscure women whom no one has thought of as man- aging and 'arranging these plots. They knew that my casket con- tained the whole plan of my mis- #ion, 'all my correspondence with the general and the minister." 'What is extraordinary is that they should bave been aware of the depositing of the. casket with yous banker." s "Informed by. the secretary, no doubt." ; *Your excellency, 1 have made a minute inquest concerning the life « led by the young man; and it is eertain. that he did not associate' with a single Russian. I have gone #0 far as to obtain information con cerning this Countess: Yalta, who has funds deposited at M. Dorger-| es and I am satisfied that he has never seen. her." : "Oh, the Yalta has no connec- "tion 'with Nihilists. I have points * ed her out to the department. She has been watched very closely, and "itis certain that she is not engaged "io politics. Her father was a kind : of Circassian prince, who sold his principality to 'the emperor for sev-| ig eral millions of rubles. The daugh ter married some other dispossessed Ba; lord, who soon. left She left Russia in ber with embarrassment, still time to have re means you have overlo licve a would be | 3 "Pardon 'me, your excel have reflected much on the si and I' sce no. other means of covering M plices." SHES would be to avenge himself on me: He would enter 'a complaint for arbitrary sequestration.'" 'Your excelleney, 1 do mot be- Peve it. . It "would compel him to citer into explanations which' 'he would rather avoid. Besides, you eould exact '4 promise 'of silence. If hie gave you his word of honor re would keep it." (© : "1 admit 'that he will net com: plain to the authorities, but if he sees Mlle. Dorgerés or writes to ker; which is infinixély probable,' hy will naturally be led to explain [why he' did not 'appear for '= month," "Your excellency, 1 know him; I have studied him. H he promises you silence he will be silent even with Mlle. Dorgeres.'"? 'But you forget there was some one who saw the Frenchman enter this house." "'"Youp 'excellency alludes to the child 'who 'came to ask for him the: day I brought him here. The child's conduct proved that he suspected something; and 1. should have watched him closely, but 1 learned next morning that' vhere wasinos thing more to fear. He wag picked up hali-dead on the "boulevard, What: happened ' to him ds' nob known, but I suspect he was trying to scale the garden wall and fell] What is certain is that he ig an idiot and will never speak of what he knows." "I am not too: sure of that. 'He might get well. And it is very ex-| traordinary that a groom' should] have risked his: neck to ascertain what had become of the banker's ex-secretary. Who knows if this chap badn't something to do with the theft. You ought to have made] an inquest." "Your excellency, it has beea done, and I have ascertained posi! tively that it was a mere chance, | Fortunately he broke his head be- fore he had time to babble, And the proof is that during this fonth| nu atterapt 'has been made to de: liver. M: de Carnoel." eA The door opened and a valet de pied entered; bearing a card on a silver waiter. "Who is it?' asked 'the colonel, with a gesture of impatience. **I] have said 1 should réceive no one."' | "Your excellency, this gentleman insisted, saying that he "came on pressing business." : M. Borisoff tock the card, and read with astonishment. the 'aime! of his visitor. 'Ask him'into the salon?' he said: to the valet d¢ pied. When alone with. his steward Do you know: who asks for me? It is the nephew of the bunker Dorgeres. 0 i What can he want with me?' "Your excellency; perhaps young man was sent to you byl uncle.' Snel Sr «Very likely; but for 'what? singular that he appears' speaki I do mot know himy vg I pres ans of dis-| - de Carnoel's' accom-| "You forget that his frst care] "1-do not kn something 'else 3 This was said 'in so. dry and so serious an air that longl immediately change titude 'and language. i "Then, sir; 'be kind 'enough io explain yourself,'" he said; haugn- yr. pay me a friendly visib, © It seems 1 was mistaken; but I cannot guess what yon have to say to me.' La tone the «v- ued 'I have to ark what has become' of M. de Carnoel,"" replied Max- glia, looking fixedly 'at M. Boris- off. al am It must have been that the colonel was gifted with a sang froid th was' invincible, for he replied with- oul betraying himself: a 'Nou wish to know what has be- come' to. M.. de. Carnoel, who was employed, I beliove, with M. Dox: geres, my banker?" ok "Yes," veplicd Maxime: = 'Well, 1 wish to know why. you address yourself to me, who had ny relations: with: this 'gentleman. I saw him, 1 believe, once in M. Dorgeres' office, and did not speak | Th to him," ig I is possible, but subsequently you wore much' ogoupi with him. ; Ft "Be good enongh to expla self more: clearly." 7 *Willingly." 1 need not M de 'Carnoel Toft "I thought you ' wished 'to ned Montreal and Vain The Bank's growing busi manded the - aeenpation rtant points, and the} a Ee tn BA an ria has in : pestome tha Directors to » and of panyiy spheie of influence in those Provinces. o The Trader now been in a century flourishing oné-of our me specter ficient financial institutions. closes its t 0 iT Bank i ons ¥ ank apparently of the Bank as my. uncle's 'every house the evening the safe was rob: | bed. A casket was taken belong: ing to you, and M. de Carnoel was] accused of the theft." ; "It ig true." But it was agreed that this shonld be kept secret, and I am astonished that M. Dorgeres has related it to yom.' "No matter, T know it; and I know also that you charged yours self with 'discovering "M. de Ca noel'! y 'I 'engaged your uncle not lodge a complaint. It would) offensive 'to me to have my name' bh 'mixed up with 'judicial: ingues| M: Dotgeres yielded to my: vie and begged me to make use of m diplomatic relations for the di ery 'of the wretch who had rob him. "Unfortunately the rescar ended in. nothing. =~ M: de Cu went into. Brittany, and afte return to Paris could not be tr further, 5 Tt is likely he has France. But you know 'all since you are so well informed, F cannot sufficiently express my prise at such Deceding, ole ecommended oe 'branches have bee {tario business and the fact that it} has covered the Ontario field inost thoroughly is shewn in: tho great number 'of branches in the' Prov- ince, Now, however, their opera. of &11 Rorses, broodmares, colts, stallions, "SPOHN THEM? tions | are = vapidly extending. in! : 3 he Tester Canada,' and. Afteon Com: established a Westarn on at territory thus opened "as wel fromthe new offices opened d. other: parts