condensed novels-第7部分

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know　it。　　Constance　must　not　arrive。　　Burke　the　Slogger　must　attend
to　that。

〃Ha！　here　he　is！　　Well？〃

These　words　were　addressed　to　a　ruffian　in　a　slouched　hat；　who
suddenly　appeared　from　Guy's　Keep。

〃I　be's　here；　measter；〃　said　the　villain；　with　a　disgracefully　low
accent　and　complete　disregard　of　grammatical　rules。

〃It　is　well。　　Listen：　I'm　in　possession　of　facts　that　will　send　you
to　the　gallows。　　I　know　of　the　murder　of　Bill　Smithers；　the　robbery
of　the　tollgate…keeper；　and　the　making　away　of　the　youngest
daughter　of　Sir　Reginald　de　Walton。　　A　word　from　me；　and　the
officers　of　justice　are　on　your　track。〃

Burke　the　Slogger　trembled。

〃Hark　ye！　serve　my　purpose；　and　I　may　yet　save　you。　　The　5。30　train
from　Clapham　will　be　due　at　Sloperton　at　9。25。　　IT　MUST　NOT
ARRIVE！〃

The　villain's　eyes　sparkled　as　he　nodded　at　Edgardo。

〃Enough；you　understand；　leave　me！〃


CHAPTER　IV。


About　half　a　mile　from　Sloperton　Station　the　South　Clapham　and
Medway　line　crossed　a　bridge　over　Sloperton…on…Trent。　　As　the
shades　of　evening　were　closing；　a　man　in　a　slouched　hat　might　have
been　seen　carrying　a　saw　and　axe　under　his　arm；　hanging　about　the
bridge。　　From　time　to　time　he　disappeared　in　the　shadow　of　its
abutments；　but　the　sound　of　a　saw　and　axe　still　betrayed　his
vicinity。　　At　exactly　nine　o'clock　he　reappeared；　and；　crossing　to
the　Sloperton　side；　rested　his　shoulder　against　the　abutment　and
gave　a　shove。　　The　bridge　swayed　a　moment；　and　then　fell　with　a
splash　into　the　water；　leaving　a　space　of　one　hundred　feet　between
the　two　banks。　　This　done；　Burke　the　Slogger；for　it　was　he；with
a　fiendish　chuckle　seated　himself　on　the　divided　railway　track　and
awaited　the　coming　of　the　train。

A　shriek　from　the　woods　announced　its　approach。　　For　an　instant
Burke　the　Slogger　saw　the　glaring　of　a　red　lamp。　　The　ground
trembled。　　The　train　was　going　with　fearful　rapidity。　　Another
second　and　it　had　reached　the　bank。　　Burke　the　Slogger　uttered　a
fiendish　laugh。　　But　the　next　moment　the　train　leaped　across　the
chasm；　striking　the　rails　exactly　even；　and；　dashing　out　the　life
of　Burke　the　Slogger；　sped　away　to　Sloperton。

The　first　object　that　greeted　Edgardo；　as　he　rode　up　to　the　station
on　the　arrival　of　the　train；　was　the　body　of　Burke　the　Slogger
hanging　on　the　cow…catcher；　the　second　was　the　face　of　his　deserted
wife　looking　from　the　windows　of　a　second…class　carriage。


CHAPTER　V。


A　nameless　terror　seemed　to　have　taken　possession　of　Clarissa；　Lady
Selina's　maid；　as　she　rushed　into　the　presence　of　her　mistress。

〃O　my　lady；　such　news！〃

〃Explain　yourself；〃　said　her　mistress；　rising。

〃An　accident　has　happened　on　the　railway；　and　a　man　has　been
killed。〃

〃Whatnot　Edgardo！〃　almost　screamed　Selina。

〃No；　Burke　the　Slogger！〃　your　ladyship。

〃My　first　husband！〃　said　Lady　Selina；　sinking　on　her　knees。　　〃Just
Heaven；　I　thank　thee！〃


CHAPTER　VI。


The　morning　of　the　seventeenth　dawned　brightly　over　Sloperton。　　〃A
fine　day　for　the　wedding；〃　said　the　sexton　to　Swipes；　the　butler　of
Sloperton　Grange。　　The　aged　retainer　shook　his　head　sadly。　　〃Alas！
there's　no　trusting　in　signs！〃　he　continued。　　〃Seventy…five　years
ago；　on　a　day　like　this；　my　young　mistress〃　　But　he　was　cut　short
by　the　appearance　of　a　stranger。

〃I　would　see　Sir　Edgardo；〃　said　the　new…comer；　impatiently。

The　bridegroom；　who；　with　the　rest　of　the　wedding…train；　was　about
stepping　into　the　carriage　to　proceed　to　the　parish　church；　drew
the　stranger　aside。

〃It's　done！〃　said　the　stranger；　in　a　hoarse　whisper。

〃Ah！　and　you　buried　her？〃

〃With　the　others！〃

〃Enough。　　No　more　at　present。　　Meet　me　after　the　ceremony；　and　you
shall　have　your　reward。〃

The　stranger　shuffled　away；　and　Edgardo　returned　to　his　bride。　　〃A
trifling　matter　of　business　I　had　forgotten；　my　dear　Selina；　let　us
proceed。〃　　And　the　young　man　pressed　the　timid　hand　of　his　blushing
bride　as　he　handed　her　into　the　carriage。　　The　cavalcade　rode　out
of　the　court…yard。　　At　the　same　moment；　the　deep　bell　on　Guy's　Keep
tolled　ominously。


CHAPTER　VII。


Scarcely　had　the　wedding…train　left　the　Grange；　than　Alice　Sedilia；
youngest　daughter　of　Lady　Selina；　made　her　escape　from　the　western
tower；　owing　to　a　lack　of　watchfulness　on　the　part　of　Clarissa。
The　innocent　child；　freed　from　restraint；　rambled　through　the
lonely　corridors；　and　finally；　opening　a　door；　found　herself　in　her
mother's　boudoir。　　For　some　time　she　amused　herself　by　examining
the　various　ornaments　and　elegant　trifles　with　which　it　was　filled。
Then；　in　pursuance　of　a　childish　freak；　she　dressed　herself　in　her
mother's　laces　and　ribbons。　　In　this　occupation　she　chanced　to
touch　a　peg　which　proved　to　be　a　spring　that　opened　a　secret　panel
in　the　wall。　　Alice　uttered　a　cry　of　delight　as　she　noticed　what；
to　her　childish　fancy；　appeared　to　be　the　slow…match　of　a　fire…
work。　　Taking　a　lucifer　match　in　her　hand　she　approached　the　fuse。
She　hesitated　a　moment。　　What　would　her　mother　and　her　nurse　say？

Suddenly　the　ringing　of　the　chimes　of　Sloperton　parish　church　met
her　ear。　　Alice　knew　that　the　sound　signified　that　the　marriage
party　had　entered　the　church；　and　that　she　was　secure　from
interruption。　　With　a　childish　smile　upon　her　lips；　Alice　Sedilia
touched　off　the　slow…match。


CHAPTER　VIII。


At　exactly　two　o'clock　on　the　seventeenth；　Rupert　Sedilia；　who　had
just　returned　from　India；　was　thoughtfully　descending　the　hill
toward　Sloperton　manor。　　〃If　I　can　prove　that　my　aunt　Lady　Selina
was　married　before　my　father　died；　I　can　establish　my　claim　to
Sloperton　Grange；〃　he　uttered；　half　aloud。　　He　paused；　for　a　sudden
trembling　of　the　earth　beneath　his　feet；　and　a　terrific　explosion；
as　of　a　park　of　artillery；　arrested　his　progress。　　At　the　same
moment　he　beheld　a　dense　cloud　of　smoke　envelop　the　churchyard　of
Sloperton；　and　the　western　tower　of　the　Grange　seemed　to　be　lifted
bodily　from　its　foundation。　　The　air　seemed　filled　with　falling
fragments；　and　two　dark　objects　struck　the　earth　close　at　his　feet。
Rupert　picked　them　up。　　One　seemed　to　be　a　heavy　volume　bound　in
brass。

A　cry　burst　from　his　lips。

〃The　Parish　Records。〃　　He　opened　the　volume　hastily。　　It　contained
the　marriage　of　Lady　Selina　to　〃Burke　the　Slogger。〃

The　second　object　proved　to　be　a　piece　of　parchment。　　He　tore　it
open　with　trembling　fingers。　　It　was　the　missing　will　of　Sir　James
Sedilia！


CHAPTER　IX。


When　the　bells　again　rang　on　the　new　parish　church　of　Sloperton　it
was　for　the　marriage　of　Sir　Rupert　Sedilia　and　his　cousin；　the　only
remaining　members　of　the　family。

Five　more　ghosts　were　added　to　the　supernatural　population　of
Sloperton　Grange。　　Perhaps　this　was　the　reason　why　Sir　Rupert　sold
the　property　shortly　afterward；　and　that　for　many　years　a　dark
shadow　seemed　to　hang　over　the　ruins　of　Sloperton　Grange。



THE　NINETY…NINE　GUARDSMEN。

BY　ALXDR　DMS


CHAPTER　I。

SHOWING　THE　QUALITY　OF　THE　CUSTOMERS　OF　THE　INNKEEPER　OF　PROVINS。


Twenty　years　after；　the　gigantic　innkeeper　of　Provins　stood　looking
at　a　cloud　of　dust　on　the　highway。

This　cloud　of　dust　betokened　the　approach　of　a　traveller。
Travellers　had　been　rare　that　season　on　the　highway　between　Paris
and　Provins。

The　heart　of　the　innkeeper　rejoiced。　　Turning　to　Dame　Perigord；　his
wife；　he　said；　stroking　his　white　apron：

〃St。　Denis！　make　haste　and　spread　the　cloth。　　Add　a　bottle　of
Charlevoix　to　the　table。　　This　traveller；　who　rides　so　fast；　by　his
pace　must　be　a　Monseigneur。〃

Truly　the　traveller；　clad　in　the　uniform　of　a　musketeer；　as　he　drew
up　to　the　door　of　the　hostelry；　did　not　seem　to　have　spared　his
horse。　　Throwing　his　reins　to　the　landlord；　he　leaped　lightly　to
the　ground。　　He　was　a　young　man　of　four…and…twenty；　and　spoke　with
a　slight　Gascon　accent。

〃I　am　hungry；　Morbleu！　　I　wish　to　dine！〃

The　gigantic　innkeeper　bowed　and　led　the　way　to　a　neat　apartment；
where　a　table　stood　covered　with　tempting　viands。　　The　musketeer　at
once　set　to　work。　　Fowls；　fish；　and　pates　disappeared　before　him。
Perigord　sighed　as　he　witnessed　the　devastations。　　Only　once　the
stranger　paused。

〃Wine！〃　　Perigord　brought　wine。　　The　stranger　drank　a　dozen
bottles。　　Finally　he　rose　to　depart。　　Turning　to　the　expectant
landlord；　he　said：

〃Charge　it。〃

〃To　whom；　your　highness？〃　said　Perigord；　anxiously。

〃To　his　Eminence！〃

〃Mazarin！〃　ejaculated　the　innkeeper。

〃The　same。　　Bring　me　my　horse；〃　and　the　musketeer；　remounting　his
favorite　animal；　rode　away。

The　innkeeper　slowly　turned　back　into　the　inn。　　Scarcely　had　he
reached　the　courtyard　before　the　clatter　of　hoofs　again　called　him
to　the　doorway。　　A　young　musketeer　of　a　light　and　graceful　figure
rode　up。

〃Parbleu；　my　dear　Perigord；　I　am　famishing。　　What　have　you　got　for
dinner？〃

〃Venison；　capons；　larks；　and　pigeons；　your　excellency；〃　replied　the
obsequious　landlord；　bowing　to　the　ground。

〃Enough！〃　　The　young　musketeer　dismounted　and　entered　the　inn。
Seating　himself　at　the　table　replenished　by　the　careful　Perigord；
he　speedily　swept　it　as　clean　as　the　first　comer。

〃Some　wine；　my　brave　Perigord；〃　said　the　graceful　young　musketeer；
as　soon　as　he　could　find　utterance。

Perigord　brought　three　dozen　of　Charlevoix。　　The　young　man　emptied
them　almost　at　a　draught。

〃By…by；　Perigord；〃　he　said　lightly；　waving　his　hand；　as；　preceding
the　astonished　landlord；　he　slowly　withdrew。

〃But；　your　highness；the　bill；〃　said　the　astounded　Perigord。

〃Ah；　the　bill。　　Charge　it！〃

〃To　whom？〃

〃The　Queen！〃

〃What；　Madame？〃

〃The　same。　　Adieu；　my　good　Perigord。〃　　And　the　graceful　stranger
rode　away。　　An　interval　of　quiet　succeeded；　in　which　the　innkeeper
gazed　wofully　at　his　wife。　　Suddenly　he　was　startled　by　a　clatter
of　hoofs；　and　an　aristocratic　figure　stood　in　the　doorway。

〃Ah；〃　said　the　courtier　good…naturedly。　　〃What；　do　my　eyes　deceive
me？　　No；　it　is　the　festive　and　luxurious　Perigord。　　Perigord；
listen。　　I　famish。　　I　languish。　　I　would　dine。〃

The　innkeeper　again　covered　the　table　with　viands。　　Again　it　was
swept　clean　as　the　fields　of　Egypt　before　the　miraculous　swarm　of
locusts。　　The　stranger　looked　up。

〃Bring　me　another　fowl；　my　Perigord。〃

〃Impossible；　your