FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163  
164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187   188   >>   >|  
e Society is unalterable. But a million--you know!" "You understand," repeated Vellebri, "it is a million that is demanded?" "Yes, I know. Grant me a little time." "We give you five days, as I said, at the end of which time the proposition I have named must be presented to the Chamber of Peers." "I will present it." "But the Society will not permit you to interfere until you have given the required guarantee. And now, good-morning, sir." In vain did Fongereues petition the Italian to remain, but Fernando bowed coldly and departed. Fongereues sank back in his chair, utterly crushed. For a few moments he had indulged in the hope of a proud future, and now, knowing that he could not raise a million, he felt that he was in deeper perplexity than ever. Cyprien now appeared. "You made a mistake, sir, in hesitating for a moment. Write to the Society that before five days have elapsed you will have fulfilled the conditions imposed." "That would be folly!" "Is not Fanfar in prison?" "What of that? He will not be condemned." "By the judges, possibly not--but by us." Fongereues held himself more erect. "Tell me what you mean, Cyprien?" he asked. The lacquey laughed. "I mean simply, that I will kill this Fanfar!" CHAPTER XXXVII. THE TRIAL. Political trials are all much alike, and this of Fanfar was no exception. On the day that it was to take place the pretended assassin and his pretended accomplice (that is to say Fanfar), were led to the court-room, where the magistrates, in their red robes and ermine, were seated. The newspapers, while attacking Fanfar furiously, had not omitted to mention that the accused was excessively handsome. This naturally brought a large number of women to the trial, and when the prisoner appeared, there was a low hum of admiration and surprise. Fanfar's companion, the man of whom Fanfar had made, it was said, a tool, excited neither admiration nor sympathy. Fanfar looked at him once and turned away in disgust. It is now the proper time to say that this man, whom Cyprien had chosen to play the part of regicide, was none other than Fanfar's former enemy, Robeccal himself, who had been found in the closet and liberated by Cyprien. This man had fallen so low that it mattered little to him what he did. The lacquey Cyprien profited by this mood, and in a short time obtained the result he desired. To the declaration of the accused, who had been fo
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157   158   159   160   161   162   163  
164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   183   184   185   186   187   188   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Fanfar
 

Cyprien

 

Society

 

million

 

Fongereues

 
accused
 
admiration
 

pretended

 
appeared
 

lacquey


omitted

 

attacking

 
excessively
 

handsome

 
mention
 

furiously

 
assassin
 
naturally
 

exception

 

accomplice


ermine

 

seated

 

newspapers

 

magistrates

 

excited

 

Robeccal

 

closet

 

liberated

 

regicide

 

fallen


desired

 
declaration
 

result

 

obtained

 

mattered

 
profited
 

chosen

 
surprise
 

companion

 
prisoner

number
 

trials

 
disgust
 
proper
 

turned

 

sympathy

 
looked
 

brought

 
petition
 

Italian