Strongly suspecting Natalie de Santos, yet he knows her revenge
struck through meaner hands than her own.
He has no proof. Not a clue. Villa Rocca is to him unknown. He
fears to talk.
He hobbles forth to his vocation, and dares not even visit Marie's
grave.
Spies may track him as on that fatal night. And even Leroyne's bank
may be watched.
He must take this risk, for his only reward lies in that mysterious
address.
Jules, in workman's blouse, spends an hour with the grave-faced
banker of the Rue Vivienne.
When he emerges, he has ten one-thousand-franc notes in his
waist-lining and the promise of more.
The banker knows the whole story of Jules' broken hopes; of the
promised reward; the double crime.
He directs Jules Tessier to further await orders at the cafe, and
to ignore the whole affair.
A significant hint about going forth at night makes Jules shudder.
And the cipher cablegram gives Hardin the disjointed facts of
Marie's death! His one ally gone. Her lips sealed forever.
Musing in his library, Hardin's clear head unravels this intrigue.
The Paris police know not the past history of the actors in this
drama. Jules is simply greedy and thick-headed. Leroyne & Co.
Pages:
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514