United States or Kuwait ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
It was not until they were sitting out in the winter garden, taking their coffee and liqueurs, that the object of their meeting was referred to. Then Monsieur de Founcelles drew Violet a little away from the others, and the Marquis, with a meaning smile, took Peter Ruff's arm and led him on one side. Monsieur de Founcelles wasted no words at all.
"I cannot explain to you its exact nature, but it is in connection with the most wonderful organization of its sort which the world has ever known." "The 'Double-Four," she murmured. "Attached to the post is a princely salary and but one condition," Monsieur de Founcelles said, watching the girl's face. "The condition is that Mr. Ruff remains a bachelor." Violet nodded.
"At your request I have told Monsieur de Founcelles that we were engaged. Incidentally, I have refused two hundred and fifty thousand francs and, I believe, an admirer, for your sake. I declared that I was going to marry you, and I must keep my word." Peter Ruff began to feel giddy. "Look here, Violet," he said, "you know very well that we arranged all that between ourselves."
"That is exactly my price," she declared. "For giving up Peter Ruff?" he gasped. She looked at her employer thoughtfully. "He doesn't look worth it, does he?" she said, with a queer little smile. "I happen to care for him, though that's all." Monsieur de Founcelles shrugged his shoulders. He knew men and women, and for the present he accepted defeat. He sighed heavily.
Ruff, which we do not know," Monsieur de Founcelles answered. "There are points about your career which we have marked with admiration. Your work over here was rapid and comprehensive. We know all about your checkmating the Count von Hern and the Comtesse de Pilitz. We have appealed to you for aid once only your response was prompt and brilliant. You have all the qualifications we desire.
"She is a young person of good birth and some means," Peter Ruff declared. "She is, in a small way, an actress; she has also been my secretary from the first." Monsieur de Founcelles nodded his head thoughtfully. "Ah!" he said. "She knows your secrets, then, I presume?" "She does," Peter Ruff assented. "She knows a great deal!"
"Peter's told me all this," she remarked. "He wants me to give him up." Monsieur de Founcelles drew a little closer to his companion. There was a peculiar smile upon his lips. "My dear young lady," he said softly, "forgive me if I point out to you that with your appearance and gifts a marriage with our excellent friend is surely not the summit of your ambitions!
The affair was arranged some months ago, and the young lady is even now in Paris, purchasing her trousseau." Monsieur de Founcelles, with a wave of the hand, commanded silence. There was probably a way out. In any case, one must be found.
Peter Ruff drove through the gray dawn to his hotel, in the splendid automobile of Monsieur de Founcelles, whose homeward route lay in that direction. It was four o'clock when he accepted his key from a sleepy-looking clerk, and turned towards the staircase. The hotel was wrapped in semi-gloom. Sweepers and cleaners were at work. The palms had been turned out into the courtyard.
You are still young, physically you are sound, you speak all languages, and you are unmarried." "I am what?" Peter Ruff asked, with a start. "A bachelor," Monsieur de Founcelles answered. "We who have made crime and its detection a life-long study, have reduced many matters concerning it to almost mathematical exactitude.
Word Of The Day