Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 54: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

680 ster. His real name does not matter. Lan- gouste tease me all the time for money. I give, a little’ When he has made a good haul, and has money for himself, I do not see him. But one night he is caught in a church, stealing the sacred vessels; and then his avocat send for me that he has no money to pay his defense; and I refuse to help. For, regardez, monsieur; my brother is wicked; a blasphemer. Soon or late, he is sure to kill some one; and then he shall go to hell! It is better he be put where he can do no more wickedness. He is sent to Cayenne, and his last message to me is a curse so terrible that I dream about it ‘many times. . “A few nights ago, when I come home, I find Langouste crouching by my door. He has escape two years ago from Cayenne, and finally has come back to Paris. He needs money. I refuse. He threaten. We have a terrible scene, and finally he strike me twice, and drive me out into the street, warning me if I tell the police he or one of his mob will kill me. I have only the clothes I wear, and my portemonnaie; not even my poor Djinn, my chat noir, will he permit me to take. I go to a tiny room near here, and to Count Vaudreuil I tell my trouble. For, attend, monsieur; my bank books are hidden there, and while Langouste cannot use them if he finds them, neither can I while he is there; not to speak of all my little possessions.” George opened his mouth to ask a ques- tion; but the voluble little lady was not to be interrupted. “ Wait! I shall tell you. I will not ad- vise the prefet of the escape, for I surely shall be killed if I do. I dare not go back for my things, since Langouste is an ani- mal, a beast who would make nothing of striking down his own mother, rest her soul! But Edouard, he propose to me that he shall take Ugichi this very night, and with me they will go to my house in the Marais, and stand guard while I take what I need —my bank books, my black cat, my clothes and what needs for my toilet, ”’est-ce-pas? The rest, the chairs and tables and the stove, Langouste may keep until it pleases him to go away. And so, when you tell me that Madame la Comtesse has carry away = ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. le pauvre Edouard, I am very much dis- tract, me!” George drew a deep breath. He had known for some time now, ever since the fish course at least, and he suspected that it dated back to the hour he first met her, that he was in love. And for some millions of years, the approved and satisfying man- ner in which the young male evinces his love for the female of his species -is by going out and swatting something or some- body who annoys her. He forgot his penniless condition. He wanted to offer up a little prayer of thanks for this opportunity. He glowed with gratitude toward the little countess for re- ‘moving the philandering Edouard from the vicinity. He almost loved Mme. Volon- tiers’s wicked brother! ‘“‘T don’t see,” he began quietly enough, ““why I am not just as good a protector as Count Vaudreuil! What difference does it make, so long as you get back your things?” The deep violet eyes widened. “ But, M. Georges, with Edouard it was different! We are old sweethearts. You, I have seen but twice. I have no claim upon you—” “Nonsense! You have this claim on me; that you are the only friend I have in Paris. The only one I have had as hostess; twice, you will recall. And also—you are the most beautiful, glorious, dearest—”’ He paused as Mme. Volontiers half rose, @ warning look in her eyes. “Is it that you, monsieur, would take advantage of my misfortunes to make vio- lent love to me—” He seized her hand, starting to speak. ‘In a public place, a café?” she con- cluded, settling back onto her seat as grace- fully as a bird upon its nest. “Tt must not be, mon Georges,” she shook her head decidedly. ‘ You must not be brought into this, my affair.” “Then I shall go all alone,” he threat- ened. ‘Crash into the place, crown the ‘ lobster,’ gather up all your stuff I can find and carry, and bring it back.” She laughed at his pugnacious mien. “My George, I yield! See, it makes dark. You shall go and get Ugichi, and EOMmicbooks. Eo im