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SECOND PART.
NOW F1KST
ASERIESOFSHOET STORIES
By J. Marsden Sutcliffe,
ENTITLED
THE BOMMOE OF M INSURANCE OFFICE,
Being Passages in ths Experience op Ms. AUGUSTUS WILLIAM "WEB
BER, Formerly General Manager of the Universal Insurance Company.
ALL SIGHTS RESERVED.
in.
DB. JAQUET'S SEOBET.
VI.
Sir. Doggett's home lay among a wilder
ness of houses bordering upon the unfash
ionable and unpicturesque neighborhood of
the Old Kent road. He had a long stretch
to walk from Notting hill before he reached
his place by the chimney corner, but he
forgot all sense of weariness in his self
absorption over .the discovery he bad just
made.
Just as it had not occurred to Mr. "Web
ber to connect Madam Jaquet's runaway
hnsband with the eminent specialist, so it
had never entered Doggett's mind to imagine
that a relationship might exist between the
great "West End practitioner and the young
clerk at the Universal with whom he had a
bowing acquaintance. There was nothing
in the circumstances of the case except the
mere identity of name, to connect them to
gether In anyone's mind, and an identity of
name offers a very precarious foundation on
which to erect a sensational hypothesis.
But Mr. Docgett had gleaned enough
from Madam Jaquet's diary to know that
she had recognized her husband in the Har-ley-street
physician, and in this capacity
had been in the habit of receiving him at '
her apartments in Cornwall road. Here-,
quired an opportunity to adjust the focus of
his mental vision to the facts he had discov
ered, and his long walk home provided him
with the opportunity.
Theory after theory presented itself to his
mind, by which the long separation that
had occurred between husband and wife,
and Madam Jaquet's sudden death, might
be explained in a manner perfectly com
patible with Dr. Jaquet's good faith, though
the trained instinct of the detective, who
was too sadly familiar with the seamy side
of life, prompted him to a different conclu
sion. It was just this very tendency to
think the worst of mankind that induced,
him to beat about for some probable ex
planation of the facts he was investigating
that would accord with the great physician's
innocence.
But though he turned the matter over thi
way and that, exhausting every possibility
in turn, by the time that his feet were
planted on the steps leading to the front
door he had mentally determined in his
own phraseology that Dr. Jaquet was "a
bad lot." But this was a point which, he
anticipated, a further acquaintance with
Madam Jaquet's diaries would set at rest.
His daughter Jessie, in whose education
he had taken a great pride, would soon en
able him to decide the question Jessie,
who was a good linguist, as he proudly re
membered, and who knew French and Ger
man like a native. Accordingly, when the
door was opened by a bright-eyed, comely
girl of 20, who threw her arms round his
neck, and kissing him affectionately led
him forward into the room half sitting
room and half kitchen where his supper
was spread waiting for him, he laid Madam
Jaquet's diaries down on the table, and
broached the matter 'that was on his mind
without delay.
"Some French for you, my dear. You
can begin and read it while I have my sup
per," the detective said, after he had em
braced his wife, who sat in the chimney
corner knitting.
"Not to-night, dad!" exclaimed Jessie.
"Well, not all of it to-night," replied
Mr. Doggett, looking doubtfully at the four
MS. volumes, which, if small and portable,
were nevertheless bulky. "But, at any rate,
we can make a beginning, Jessie."
There was a boiled leg of pickled pork
and peas pudding, cold, a Qish to which
Mr. Doggett was particularly partial, and
while the detective regaled himself on these
dainties Jessie began the story of Madam
Jaquet's life, as told by herself, from the
time of her husband's flight
The narrative, whichjset forth its painful
facts with artless pathos, proved so interest
ing that long after Doggett had finished his
meal Jessie bad grown so deeply fascinated
that she read on and on, while her father
sat smoking and her mother continued knit
ting, all of them unmindful of the flight of
time. It was the small hours of the morn
ing before Jessie had finished her task, and
though wearied with the exercise she de
clared she was not in the least bit sleepy.
"That's what I call really exciting,"
said Jessie, as she laid the 'last volume
down. "Beads like a novel, doesn't it
dad?"
The diary had been commenced by Mad
am Jaquet after her arrival in England,on
the day that she commenced her search for
her missing husband. It began with a sim
ple recital of the facts of her married life
down to the eventful days of the coup d'
etat, and the various conjectures discussed
between herself and M. Benoit (her father)
to account for Felix Jaquet's disappear
ance, including a narrative of her reasons
for coming to England in quest of her hus
band. Then it went on to describe the search
conducted by the firm of private inquiry
agents in her behalf, and the more pathetio
and heartrending struggles to find him
which she conducted single-handed. But
the passages that had the most interest for
Mr. Doggett were contained in the later
pages, that recounted Madame Jaquet's ac
cidental recognition of Dr. Jaquet in the
park, and of their subsequent interviews at
Cornwall road.
Many passages lu the earlier portion of
the story were deeply affecting in the
strains of tenderness and sadness with
which the pentle-h,earted lady had mourned
the inexplicable riddle of her husband's
absence. It was absolutely pitiful to read
some sentences in which the writer ex
pressed herself in alternate hope and fear,
as her quest seemed approaching an end, or
receded further into the distance. Her joy
when they met at last, and when, as she de
clared, she found her darling all that she
dared to hope, with an explanation ready
that would prevent the son being ashamed
of his father, was depicted in bright glow
ing colors- Thenceforward, though each
day had its own little chronicle of Dr.
Jaquet's daily visits, the entries grew
shorter.and shorter. It seemed as if the
woman's heart was too full of love and joy
over her restoration to her husband's society
to find expression. The notes such as
they were were mainly confined to the
bare record of Dr. Jaquet's visits, her own
pleasure in them, how she thought her
husband looking, Kid the stage at which
the negotiations rbr the disposal of the
house in Harley street, preparatory to their
return to Paris, had arrived.
There was not a sign of any flaw in her
perfect trust in the husband of her youth.
Just as through the long dark years that
had followed their separation her self-com-munings
exhibited a settled resolve not to
face the possibility that her husband was
faithless and had deserted her (save only in
the reticence she observed to her son), so,
after they had met, the suspicion that her
husband might be playing her false; and
was alluring her to rest with entire confi
dence in him, by specious promises that he
never meant to lnlfil, did notappear to have
crossed her mind? To Doggett, however,
who sat ruminating over the story after his
daughter had locked the volumes up in his
bureau, and mother and daughter had re
hired to rest, it seemed only too clear that
"" . Jaquet had simply been playing a part
ai the time came when it would be con
THE
PUBLIbHED.3
venient to him to throw off the mask and
expose his hand.
An affectionate husband, such as Madam
Jaquet believed her husband to be the
detective argued would have carried his
wile to his own home straight away. What
if she was delicate! There are invalid car
riages to be had, and a man who had been
separated from his wife by the chapter of
accidents, as Madam Jaquet believed, wonld
have had an invalid carriage round in an
honr. It was only a trustful, loving woman
who could be fooled by a plausible tongue
as Dr. Jaquet had fooled his wife. What
could be the motive? be asked himself, for
this extraordinary procedure.
Doggett's common sense brushed aside
the fond delusion to which the unfortunate
woman had clung for the last 16 years of
her life. Where Madam Jaquet, had seen
a hurried flight for dear life, Doggett saw
a premeditated plan of escape, in which
Madam Jaquet was not intended to share,
although passports had been taken out in
their joint names. Dr. Jaquet had fled
with some woman, intending to keep the
place of his retreat secret. Who was this
woman? Where was she now? If she were
alive, or if Dr. Jaquet had contracted a sec
ond alliance, Doggett could see that those
daily visits to Cornwall road, and the long
confabs by the couch of the invalid, indi
cated something like an orderly plan, de
vised to keep his wife in ignorance ot the
real truth, lest she should burst the bnbble
of his respectability, and expose him to the
world. A divorce suit, or a snit for a resto
ration of conjugal rights, would be an awk
ward matter for the great West End physi
cian, who, it might be supposed, had pre
sented some other lady to society as his
wife.
But Doggett was still far from fathoming,
to his own satisfaction, Dr. Jaquet's motives
for the deception be practised on his wife.
In the nature ot things a systematic course
of deceit must come to an end some time or
other. What purpose could Dr. Jaquet
have had in view, unless he believed that
his wife's death was inevitable, sooner or
later, from the disease that she was laboring
under? But that explanation could not be
entertained in the lace of Dr. Crosby's clear
testimony. In the end, Doggett found him
self shut up to the conclusion that Dr.
Jaquet had decided, possibly from the first,
to sweep from his path the "only being who
knew the secret of his life, and that his
daily visits were a mere mast to cover his
dark design.
The sudden cessation of these visits from
the day of his wife's death grew black with
significance. Why had he not kept up the
farce a little longer? There was but one
answer Dr. Jaquet had not dared to put in
a further appearance at Cornwall road, be
cause be knew that his wife was dead, and
that his appearance might lead to awkward
questions; and he could not have known of
her death unless she had died in his
presence, or, less likely, unless he had left
her in a dying state. The strict injunctions
that he left behind him that madam was
sleeping, and must not be disturbed, agreed
with the theory that was slowly growing up
in Doggett's mind. His caution to the maid
servant that madam was-not to be disturbed
was in all probability amere blind to cover
his retreat, and give the date when it came
to be discovered a natural appearance.
Having arrived thus far Doggett went to
bed. The grey light of dawn was struggling
against the darkness in the East, as he drew
up his blind to look out. That never-ending
roar of street traffic, which keeps Lon
don for ever an unquiet city, like the turbu
lent sea that will not rest, was beginning to
acquire volume. There was time to snatch
a few hours.' sleep before he began to run his
man to earth.
The detective rose and had breakfasted
soon after 9, by which time his ideas were
settled and his plans had assumed a definite
shape.
Before the hour ot noon had struck a
friendly chat with a policeman going his
rounds in Harley street had obtained for
him all the information he could expect to
learn from that quarter.
"Married?" said the policeman in answer
to his inquiries, "I should think so. Very
much married. You should see his wife.
My eye, ain't she a spanker? Oh, dear no,
not at all!
"Children, do you ask? Heaps on 'em;
place reg'ler swarms wi' 'em."
"They tell me he is giving up his house,"
said Doggett musingly; "going back to his
own country."
"Don't you believe that," replied the
officer, "he's doing too well in this country
to think of any other."
Doggett, who was satisfied with the result
of his inquiries thus far, signaled a passing
hansom, und then began atourof estate-agent
offices. "It's not much good I'm afraid,"
he said to himself reflectively, "but it is
better to be on the safe side, and have clear
proof that he stuffed that poor woman with
all manner of lies." It was not the first
time in his experience that he, had been
driven to the same expedient, and he had
come provided with all the leading firms
acting as agents, with properties to let and
to sell, and though he grew weary with the
monotonous answers he received to his ques
tion, "Whether Dr. Jaquet's house was in the
market as reported," he persevered until he
had exhausted the list When he had com
pleted tbis task, and run this particular
falsehood to earth, he decided to set about
tracing Dr. Jaquet's movements since his
arrival in England.
This task proved to be easier than might
have been expected. A copy of "The Nota
bilities of To-day," that trumpet ol cotem
porary fame, supplied all the information
sought after,with a fulness of detail that left
nothing to be desired.
Turning to the letter "J," Mr. Doggett
soon, discovered tpe name of the West End
physician Jaquet, Felix.
Under this head he found a biography in
brief of Dr. Jaquet, which, after describing
his "blushing honors" and brilliant services
to suffering humanity, informed the world
that, "having had the good fortune to escape
the horrors of the coup d' etat, he settled in
London, having married Lucie St. Hillaire,
daughter of Adolphe St. Hillaire, of the
Opera Comique, at the Church of St. Faith,
Cherwell-by-the-Sea, on the 5th of Mav,
1852."
"Hoi hoi so our friend is a bigamist,"
murmured Doggett softly to himself; "and
why not a murderer, too?" The detective
rapidly penciled down full particulars,
mentally chuckling that Dr. Jaquet's am
bition to shine among the upper ten thou
sand had left a clear and indisputable trail
behind him, snch as would forbid any diffi
culty arising if the question of identity
arose hereafter.
This done, be turned his steps in the direc
tion of the old Kent road, well satisfied
with his day's work.
TIL
It was the third day after the detective
had left Philippe Jaquet, and still he had
sent no message and given no sign how he
was succeeding in his quest.
Philippe's nerves, already strung to ex
treme tension, were threatening to collapse
outright, although the task assigned to him
of hunting for the missing volume of his
mother's diary which the detective had car
ried away in his pocket, and the examina
tion of her papers, found him in plenty of
occupation.
The atmosphere of suspicion in which he
I
PITTSBURG
was now living was contrary both to his
mother's teaching who had ever held be
fore him a high moral ideal and the whole
habits ot his life. He felt that It was not
impossible that the entire bent of his
character might receive a new direction, if
the ghastly suspicions, which he perceived
clearly were in Doggett's mind, came to be
confirmed. His disposition was like his
mother's in affectionateness and truthful
ness though, being a man, he was not so
predisposed as his mother had been, to en
dure wrong patiently; still less so when the
wrong had been aimed at that precious life.
He found himself vowing the most undying
hate, and girding his mind to the most im
placable vengeance on the man who had
wrecked her happiness, if such guilt were
traced home to him.
But as he made search among his mother's
papers, and discovered many indications of
the fond affection that she bad borne to her
husband, and her absolute faith in him,
which their long-continued separation did
nothing to disturb, he felt his wrath re
buked. Could this man, he asked, so pas
sionately loved, so implicitly trusted, by
one of the noblest and purest of her sex, be
the wretch of his suspicious fancies? It
seemed so incredible that he began to find a
mournful pleasure in weaving fanciful pic
tures of his father that would correspond
with his mother's ideal, and which, if they
served no other purpose, assisted to relieve
the mental strain that was upon him. Images
of masculine strength and devotion, of pa
triotic self-sacrifice and suffering were chas
ing each other through his brain, when
later in the evening Mr. Doggett arrived
and was shown into the room.
Philippe greeted the deteotive heartily.
"Now this long suspense is ended," he
cried. "You have discovered something."
"Don't be too sanguine," replied the de
tective. " 'I will a round unvarnish'd tale de
liver,' but again I repeat, don't be too san
guine. First thing, however, you may open
your mother's letter"."
Philippe went to the cabinet and drew
forth the letter with trembling hands.
He was strongly moved, and it was with
eyes blinded with tears that he read the last
message from the dead. Such words are
almost sacramental. After he had mastered
its contents, he spoke slowly, and, only with
a manifest effort contriving to control his
emotion.
"I do notsee that it will assist our inquiry
much," he said; "but you shall hear. It is
written in French, of course, so I had better
translate it for you."
"If you please," said Doggett, who, with
out the aid of Jessie, would have been
puzzled to know what to do with the docu
ment if it had been handed to him in its
original state.
The letter, which was dated- in the early
part of the year, and might be taken as rep
resenting both Madame Jaquet's mature
thoughts and the embodiment of her latest
decision, she had probably neglected to de
stroy, in consequence of. her illness, which
supervened upon the discovery of her hus
band. It read as follows:
My Dearest Child:
If those whose love is pure and strong are
ever permitted to revisit the scenes of earth,
I shall be with you when you read these
lines, traced by a trembling hand that will
be cold in death when you learn the last
wishes of your mother.
You are21 to-dav. After much hesitation
I have decided that you shall know the
great trouble of my life, upon wfyich my
lips have kept silence so long. I have come
to a determination not to destroy my papers,
among which this secret lies hidden, but to
leave vou to discover all that I have not
strength to say.
I had some idea of this in my mind when
many years ago I began to write down an
account ot the mystery (so far as I could un
ravel it) of your poor papa's disappearance
during those terrible December days of
which we have often spoken together, and
which are burnt into the memory of every
true son of France.
But if I deemed it possible that you would
let your mother's last words fall to the
ground, and uuder some fanciful idea of
avenging my wrongs, would continue to
prosecute my search, I would destroy every
thing that could aid you in a design so ab
horrent to all my feelings. You will un
derstand, that I have left my memoranda as
a trust; you have no option but to be the
trustee of my wishes.
Why do I speak of my wrongs? I am
not conscious of any. I have never doubted
that some inscrutable fatality that he could
not resist prevented yonr father making me
the companion of his flight, and that the
same fates have prevented our meeting
again. To believe otherwise would kill me.
In this faith I shall die, as T have, lived.
Only from his lips could I believe in his
dishonor.
But I have often wondered whether my
child would share my opinions.
You have not known your father, and
cannot conceive how great, how wise, how
brrive, how noble he is. To'you the story
may seem susceptible of another interpreta
tion. Do not entertain it. But if you
must, and it should come to light that I
have labored under a delusion (which lean
not for a moment believe), I charge you to
forgive him. So strongly do I lay this com
mand upon you who have never grieved
me by disobedience that were it possible
that my death were traced to your father's
hand (how ridiculous!), I must still com,
mandyou to forgive him. On no pretence
must yoa venture to interfere to avenge
what you think to be my wrongs.
Why do I write thus? Listen! Yester
day I had a dream. It was not an ordinary
dream, for I was awake, I fell into a rev
erie, and then my senses seemed to be
closed, and I saw you taking up my search
with bitter, black thoughts working in
your mind. I have sought your father for
love's sake. You were seeking him in hate,
and misery came of it; misery to you both.
Now I, your mother, stand between the
two who have had my whole heart, and I
forbid it. You shall not injure one hair of
his had.
You willbey me, my child, and on your
obedience will rest the blessing of your
mother, whose love neither time nor death
can kill.
A thousand burning kisses I press upon
your lips now, while I hold you to my breast
in a last embrace.
If time proves my vision false, and you
meet my Felix, tell him that your mother
loved him to the last, and died in the faith
that we should meet again in happiness.
May God and the Holy Mother and all
His holy angels have you in their keeping
until you are reunited with
Your mother,
Claims.
Soraejaoments passed in silence.
Philippe was incapable of speaking, and
Doggett's mind was too buiy considering
his next step to care to break through the
silence. The solemn hush, of a great awe
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PITTSBURG, SATURDAY, APBIL
was left on the spirits of both men by that
message from the dead.
It appeared to Doggett that a tremendous
responsibility rested ou his shoulders.
Should he speak or be silent? It lay wtnin
his power to enforce obedience to the dead
woman's commands. The diary that be had
taken away, without Philippe's knowledge;
contained the clue without which Philippe
would seek to unravel the mystery in vain.
He had but to keep up the deception by re
storing the three volumes that would whet
Philippe's curiosity, and withhold the
fourth volume that could alone satisfy it,
and Madame Jaquet's dying wishes would
be observed. ,.
Never had he been placed in a situation
so perplexing. He was filled with bitter re
gret that he had arrested Philippe's move
ment at the commencement of the Bearoh,
when he wished to open his mother's letter.
Had the young -man been allowed to take
the course that nature and affection
prompted, he might have been induced to
abandon the quest, lest its pursuit should
lay him open to the temptation to disregard
the wishes of the dead, and Doggett would
have been saved the dilemma that now con
fronted him. Was it possible now, at the
eleventh hour, to persuade him to adopt
this plan? It was worth making the at
tempt, the detective thought, and after a
long silencehe spoke,
"Your mother's wishes commands,
rather, I ought to say will be respected, of
course?"
"Why do yon ask?." said Philippe, eye
ing the detective keenly.
"Perhaps you will hear my views,' said
Doggett diffidently, noticing in the haggard
expression that began to steal over Philippe s
face the sign-manual of a keen mental
struggle. "'If that letter had been written
to me, I should draw the conclusion that
the vision-of which my mother wrote was
what the Scotch people call second sight.
It is said that it is given to those who are
about to die to obtain a glimpse into futuri
ty. It was given to her. and though in her
waking moments she did not believe that
her husband was not all that was good and
true, she saw you believing differently and
seeking out your father to avenge her.
"WelU" cried Philippe suspioiously, as
the detective paused.
"I would trust the vision, ana swp "
oritVi tht HmH hr abandoning the search.'
"I see," exclaimed Philippe, "you know
something which you are keeping back.'
"Keep to the letter," responded Doggett
firmly. "Is it to be obeyed? I say it
ought"
"My mother's wishes are sacred to me,
but I must be the judge of my own actions,"
Phillippe replied. "She does not bid
me forgive blindly neither will L Tell me
what you have discovered."
"Better not," answered Doggett, "Your
mother was wrong in her faith. Ask no
more. Burn everything. Forget that you
had a father, and cherish the image ot that
saint whom you have lost"
The counsel was kindly meant, but Phil
lippe was not in the mood to bear opposi
tion. Some impulse was hurrying him on
that refused to be stayed. Doggett argued
.and expostulated without effect, except to
goad Phillippe into excitability. He was
fully resolved to penetrate the hateful secret
that the detective was endeavoring to keep
back, and his resolution grew with the oppo
sition, and a last bore everything before it,
as the hurrying flood, checked by the bar
riers, gathers strength to bear down the re
sistance and sweep onward In its wild ca
reer. i
"If you will know," said Doggett, at
last, "you shall, but upon one condition."
"You can make a dozen, if you like," said
Philippe, excitedly.
"No, one will do," said the detective,
coolly. And then he added, quaintly,
"One condition has a better chance of beipg
kept."
"Your mother forbids you to injure one
hair of your father's head. Consent"
After a further struggle, Philippe gave
the required promise.
"Write it down, and sign it with your
name."
Philippe complied.
Then Doggett produced from the ca
pacious bag that he had brought with him a
bundle of notes written on foolscap.
"These," he said, "are the proofs of the
statement I have to make. When you have
heard the statement, I will hand you the
papers for your perusal."
"Go on," said Philippe, hoarsely; "I sus
pect it all."
"The earliest date at which your father's
presence in England can be traced is the
month of May, 1852. In 'that month he
married Mile. St Hillaire, an actress of
the Opera Comfque, Paris. This lady, you
will remember, was reported as missing
during the coup d'etat, and Madam was
asked whether it was possible that she was
the companion of Dr. Jaquet's flight."
"I remember," said Phillippe, with a
gloomy brow. "She declared that it was
impossible."
"Exactly," said Doggett. "The passports
taken out by Dr. Jacquet, in the names of
himself and his wiie, were employed to
enable this lady to quit France under his
protection. Their marriage took place in
England here, shortly before he settled
down in practice in Harley street Au ac
cidental recognition in the park led your
mother to invite JDr. Jaquet to visit her
here. He came, as Madam's diary will
show, expecting to meet a patient a Mrs.
Johnson. He found his wife, who recog
nized her husband in the Harley street phy
sician. Your father was your mother's
mysterious visitor, who continued his visits
down to the day of her death."
"And then suddenly ceased them," re
plied Philippe. "Ah! the perfidious wretch.
I see it all. Go on!"
"That is all," replied Doggett.
"But her death; how did he kill her?"
Philippe exclaimed fiercely. "Tell me
everything."
"I have no evidence that he did kill her.
Bemember what. Dr. Crosby said. She died
from exhaustion in her sleep,"
"Pshawl" cried Philippe. "That expla
nation might serve when we had nothing to
gnide us to a different conclusion, but it will
not do now. Can you not see the whole
villainous plot?
"What plot?" asked the detective cau
tiously. "When he came here and discovered that
his patient was my mother, he lied to her,
and kept hope alive in her breast by prom
ises as false as his hearths black; and when
the time came to make ,good hls-word, or
drop the mask of deceit, he took the life
that his brutal abandonment had made,
worthless to her. Give me the proofs of
which you spoke."
Doggett handed to Philippe the copious
extracts from his mother's diary that Jessie
had made under his directions, and when
Philippe had finished Iheirerusal, he gave
him In turn the account of the operation
that Dr. Jaquet had performed at St
DISPATCH.
13, 1889.
George's with Madam Jaquet's indorsement,
and the extract from "The Notabilities of
To-day," containing particulars of Dr.
Jaquet's history.
When Philippe had concluded reading
them, he rose from his seat and flung up his
arms in despair, and there went through the
room an exceeding bitter cry a cry of heart
broken sorrow and of baffled vengeance.
"Oh! mother, mother," he exclaimed,
"what is this you have done? This villain
must go freel"
And' then he sank back into his chair,
bowed his head and wept.
VIII.
The next afternoon Mr. Doggett directed
his course once more to Cornwall road by
appointment
Philippe -Jaquet, in the depth of his
misery, when the whole meaning of the
secret that had been so long kept trom him
burst on his mind with appalling distinct
ness, grew too prostrate to think. It was as
if a hideous darkness had descended upon
his spirit and blotted out the light utterly.
The detective, after much difficulty, suc
ceeded in calming him, and after obtaining
a promise that he would take no step with
out consulting him. took his leave.
"Feel my hands,'" saidPhilippe, as Dog
gett was shown in the room, "they are like
burning coals now, but I have myself under
command. You will see. I want yon to
come with me." ' ,
"Where to?" asked the detective warily.
"To Harley street, of course," Philippe
replied. "No, don't attempt to divert me
from my purpose," he continued, as Mr.
Doggett made as though he would speak.
"Nothing can do that, but I want you to see
that I respect my promise. I will not in
jure one hair of his head. Those were the
words I think."
The detective, satisfied with the renewal
of the promise, took the bag containing the
papers, and set out with Philippe for Har
ley street
As they came within sight of the house a
Victoria drove past them rapidly. The oc
cupants were Dr. Jaquet and the woman,
for whose sake he had steeped himself in
wrong and worked bitterest misery to his
wife and first-born son.
A silent pressure on Philippe's arm, as
the carriage drew up before the house and
discharged its occupants, helped him to
divine the identity of the pair who tripped
lightly up the steps. A few paces more
and he and Doggett were standing before
the sjrill open door. "
"Dr. Jaquet sees no one at this hour,"
said the footman in reply to Philippe's re
quest for au interview; but on receiving
this response, he pushed past the footman.
"I must see Dr. Jaquet immediately," he
said, "my business with him is one of life
and death, and will not wait"
"Step this way," said Dr. Jaquet, who
was at that moment ascending the staircase,
and had been arrested in his progress by
the commotion, as Philippe, closely fol
lowed by Doggett, forced his way into the
hall. So saying, Dr. Jaquet led the way
into his consulting room.
For the first time after the lapse of years,
father and son stood face to face, while
Doggett felt his heart thumping against the
walls of his chest at the dramatic situation
hose ending he could not foresee. Dr.
aquet, smiling and debonnair as usual.
'was the first to. speak.
"Your case is one of great urgency?" he
said.
"Very great urgenoy, indeed," answered
Philippe. "Look at me. Do you not know
me?"
Dr. Jaquet turned a steady gaze on his
inquisitor, and smiled significantly, as
though a suspicion had crossed his mind
that the young man had takeil leave of his
senses. He cast a second look at Doggett,
and found his suspicions confirmed. His
visitor (whose excitement, though repressed,
was visible to the practised eye of the
physician) was no doubt some yonng luna
tic, and the elderly man who accompanied
him was his keeper.
' "Poor young man!" he said softly, with a
commiserating air, "has he been long in
this condition?"
"Don't prevaricate. Answer my ques
tions, sir," cried Philippe hotly. "I am as
sane as you are. Aga,in, I ask, do you know
me?"
"No, I never saw you before," was the re
sponse -unhesitatingly given.
"You lie," cried Philippe, passionately,
and he laughed a bitter strident laugh.
"This is not the place for language of that
kind," said Dr. Jaquet, who remained
sheathed in impenetrable armor, though
the color that dyed his pallid skin, and the
angry glitter in his eyes, showed that his
composure was only maintained by the ex
ercise of great self-restraint.
"Who am I?" returned Philippe, "lam
you son, Philippe Jaquet"
Dr. Jaqnet, who had remained standing
since his visitors had ignored his invitation
to be seated, fell back a step as if he had
been struck a sudden blow. For a mo
ment his self-possession seemed to have
deserted him, but he quickly recovered his
imperturbable manner.
"I do not know any person who has the
right to call himself Philippe Jaquet."
"It is not a family name of the Jaquets,"
replied Philippe sarcastically. "I wa3
named after my grandfather, M. Benoit, the
avocat of Lille."
"That may be correct," said Dr, Jaquet
with great saag froid, "but these particulars
of your family history are of no interest to
me. '
"We will see about that," said Philippe,
imitating his father's calm, though inward
ly raging. "Now listen. I am here under
a solemn pledge to my mother that.not.&
hair of your head shall be injured. Bnt you
trespass on my patience too far. I mean lo
accomplish my erf and; you can hear or re
fuse to lisfen. But another word of dis
claimer of the truth of my story, and I shall
hold myself free from my oath, and will call
a policeman and give you in charge for the
murder of his wife Claire Jaquet"
Dr. Jaquet measured his visitor from head
to foot, and sank slowly back into his chair,
assuming an air of attention.
"I am at the mercy of a madman, or a
couple of them for there are two I see so
I must needs hear you; but do not make
the story too long."
"What an out and out villain the chap
is!" was Doggett's mental exclamation.
Philippe took the bag that Doggett had
brought with him, and drawing forth the
documents, he selected the certificate of his
mother's marriage and his own birth, and
spread them out-on the table.
"You need not say whether you recognize
them or not," he began. "My business is
not to ask questions, but to convince you
that everything is known and can be
proved."
Dr. Jaquet scrutinized the documents
with care and collapsed!
He knew that the game of indifference,
and well-acted ignorance was over, and
trom this moment Philippe had the man
agement of the interview in his own hands.
The natural pallor of Dr. Jaquet's counten
ance deepened by several shades, and thick
drops ot perspiration collected on his brow.
One by one Philippe placed each article of
evidence, including extracts from his moth
er's diary, betore him, 'and. a farmidable
body of praof it grew under his hands.
"Into the question of my mother's death,"
he said, after he had broken down the guilty
man's last line of defense, "I do not care
to enter.- Whether I go further into that
question, beyond accusing you of her mur
der which I do explicitly depends upon
your compliance withTny conditions."
Dr. Jaquet sat in his chair humbled and
crestfallen. As he' made no reply, and re
mained buried in thought it is doubtful if
he had heard Philippe's terrible accusation.
"Shall I state the terms on which mr for
bearance depends?" Philippe asked after a
pause.
Dr. Jaquet roused himself and made an
assenting gesture.
"There is forgiveness for you, so far as
legal proceedings are concerned, if the only
justice possible now is done to my mother's
memory. The woman who has usurped her
place must taste the sorrow she has inflicted.
She must quit the house in which her very
presence is a crime, and abandon the name
she has no right to wear. Let her remove
herself to France. She takes her illegiti
mate offspring with her you can make what
provision you like for them and you sign
a confession of your crimes, which will be
used against you if you see them or hold
communication with them again. ,
"And if I refuse?" said Dr. Jaquet, with
a return of his old manner.
"Then I am free from my oath," answered
Fhilipne"and you will have only Yourself
to blame when the facts that your own con
science testifies to are sworn to in open
court."
"And how do I know that when I have
been coerced into taking the course you in
sist upon, that you will not still pursue me
with your malice?"
"Because I have given you my word,"
said Philippe, proudly drawmg-himself up
to his full height, "and because I am the
son or Claire Benoit"
And at that answer Dr. Jaquet shrank
back in his chair, cowed and shivering be
neath the resolute glance of his son, in
whose eye he read no trace of pity.
"I must have time to think," he re
marked. Philippe would have refused to make
any concession, but as he felt Doggett's
touch on his arm, it exercised a humanizing
influence.
"How long do yon want?"
"Give me a week," was the reply.
"Too long; I wili give you a day."
"Then call in four-and-twenty hours and
you shall have my decision."
Madame Jaquet to give Lucie St Hil
laire the title by which she was known in
the West End society of which she was
reckoned one of the ornaments wondered
what was keeping her husband, that he had
not come upstairs to dress. She had heard,
the bell of the consulting room ring when
Philippe and "Mr. Doggett took their leave,
and though more than an hour had elapsed
since then, there was no sign of his appear
ance. A dinner party was arranged for
that evening, her own toilet was completed,
and only a few moments were left before the
guests would begin to arrive.
She sailed down the broad staircase in her
sweeping. robes, which clung gracefully
. round her superb form, her diamond neck
lace flashing forth its tremulous light, as it
rose and fell on the ivory whiteness of her
breast, and passed into the consulting room.
Suddenly there rang through the house
the piercing shriek of a horror-struck and
terrified woman. The servants rushed into
the room and found Dr. Jaquet lying pros
trate on the floor, with their mistress in a
dead swoon by his side. They raised her
and carried her to a couch, while Hobson,
the butler, bent down over the body of the
physician. An odor of bitter almonds still
hung round the dead man's mouth, and
Hobson, rising with grave face, pronounced
two words with significant emphasis.
Thosetwo words were: Prussie acid.
The suicide of the great physician created
au enormous' sensation and provoked much
speculation. None of the witnesses exam
ined at the inquest could throw any light
upon the matter. Dr. Jaqnet was known
to be in good health and affluent circum
stances. He had not exhibited any signs of
care. The clew to his inexplicable suicide
was known only to "three men Philippe
Jaquet, Mr. Doggett and Dr. Crosby who
sat in Philippe's" sitting room in Cornwall
road, gravely discussing the matter after
the inquest had closed.
"Well, I have kept my oath," Philippe
was saying. "I have not injured him. I
only insisted that he should give up his
guilty paramour who had usurped my
mother's name. Less than that would have
been less than was dne to my mother's
memory and her love."
"And Dr. Jaquet has kept his secret,"
said Doggett, who was disappointed that
the pleasure of reading Dr. Jaquet's con
cession, to which he had looked forward,
had been frustrated by the physician's un
timely end.
"I am not-so sure of that," said Dr.
Crosby. "In the light of the facts you have
been good enough to communicate I revoke
my former opinion. I should say that some
agent was employed to terminate Madame
Jaquet's life.
"And that agent was chloroform," Phil
ippe remarked.
"Quite impossible to say without a post
mortem," was the abrnpt reply.
Philippe frowned darkly at this sugges
tion and the subject dropped.
From the time that Philippe learnt the
secret that overshadowed his mother's life,
a subtle change began to creep over him
which became more manifest as the days
.passed by. He became morose, silent, cyni
cal, with much brooding over the dark 'fate
of his parents. He was troubled, too. that
that he had pressed his father so closely. He
had kept the letter ef his promise, but he
was not satisfied that he had been true to its
spirit
. "But what troubled him most was the
Secret that Dr. Jaquet had carried with
him. In the mazes of differing conjectures
that were open to him, he lost all sure foot
hold. He was never able to rid himself ot
the feeling that the air he breathed in his
rooms at Cornwall road was tainted with
the ghostly memories of the by-gone crime.
But the secret of Madame Jaquet's
death was burled in the grave of the sui
cide, i
Philippe left England soon afterward,
broken in health and hope, with mind and
spirit diseased by exclusive meditation on
the secret that he was never to fathom.
Whenever his name is mentioned in Mr.
Webber's hearing, that gentleman always
shakes his head sadly as he remarks, "Ah,
he was a fine fellow,but spoiled by a burden
that was too heavy for him. He is an illus
tration of the old saying: 'The fathers have
eaten sour grapes and their children's teeth
are set on edge.'"
The End. .
Next Week:
"Canght In His Own Trap."
j1
Oil PARPQ Tb-morrovfs issue o THE
M rHUCO. DISPATCHwill contain to
paga. ThU triple number will form a com
plete magazine of choice reading, together with
all the news o the whole world.
It is good business for every one having
a cold, to treat it promptly and, properly
until it is gotten rid of intelligent experi
ence fortunately presenting in Dr. Jayne's
Expectorant a curative thoroughly adapted
to cure speedily all coughs and colds, and
to allay any exciting inflammation of the
throat or lungs.
The Housekeeper's Guide.
A monthlypublication of interest to every
housekeeper. Gives the price of eyery ar
ticle we carry in stock, interesting reading
matter, household recipes, etc. April num
ber now ready. Mailed dn application. .
t Wm. Haslaoe & Son;
Select Family Grocers, 18 Diamond, Mar
ket square, Pittsburg.
Bargains In Handkerchiefs.
300 doz. fine linen hemstitched 9c", worth
20c; 50 dozen embroidered hemstitched 25c,
worth 50c, at Bosenbaum & Co.'s.
Smoke the best La PerladelFumar clear
Havana Key West cigars. Three for 25o.
G. W. Schmidt, 95 and 97 Fifth ave.
Fob parlor, bedroom, dining or kitchen
fnrniture call on Dain & Daschbach, 111
Smithfield street Prices guaranteed to be
the'Ibwest in the city for first-class goods.
The Largest Assortment of Easter Cards,
Books and Novelties
Ever exhibited in the city has been placed
on sale by Jos. Eichbaum & Co., 48 Fifth
avenue.
Ohio rivergas field. For control of it,
attention is called to the advertisement
beaded "Capitalists! Investors ! "
LooKatthekidgloTe bargains to-day at
Bosenbaum & Co's,
PAGES 9 TO 12.
if '
FARMER GOWENAT'IT,
.
Is tbe Eminent Opponent of the P.K.
R. Arranging a Checkmate,
THROUGH THE HOLES IN GROUND?
A Prominent lawyer Tells How it May
Emily ha Effected.
EIGHTS OP WAI EETEET TO FABMEE8
There was some speculation yesterday u
to the cause of Mr. Franklin B. Gowen'a
visit to Pittsburg. One of the xadst frequent
suppositions was that, before leaving, he
would consult with certain manufacturer!
and local capitalists about reviving the
route of the South Penn, if not to build a
new line, then to see if a hold could not be
got upon the old one. Mr. Gowen, however,
was understood to deny this.
"X could tell you something on that
point," said a prominent lawyer to a Dis
fatoh reporter yesterday; "but, like a
good many other people, do not wish my
name quoted, as I have some business con
nections which would make it undesirable
that I should be interviewed. However,
the question has arisen, what will become
of the South Penn road? You have ob
served that an attempt is being made at
Harrisburg to extend the time for the con
struction of that road for ten years yet X
have not seen the charter, but have been
told that the time for building the line has
expired, or is about to expire, and that by
reason of its non-construction the charter
will soon be about forfeitable for what the
lawyers call non-user.
THE HOLES TVOETH A GOOD BIT.
"Now this raises a very interesting ques
tion, to whom would this property which
-President Bobe'ris, of the Pennsylvania
line, designated as a 'lot of holes in , the
ground,' belong? The actual purchaser in
the late dicker is kept in the shade. Os
tensibly the YanderbilU own it; the idea
has been that the Pennsylvania Bailroad
were the real buyers. Mr. Carnegie has
mentioned that the Pennsylvania Bailroad
already has appropriated $1,000,000, he in
fers, from its last annual report, for this
purchase. The Pittsburg stockholders have
got out of the enterprise the disappointment
of failure and 60 per cent of the money they
paid in. But they may not in the end turn
out so badly as the buyers of their stock,
supposing this charter has become liable to
forfeiture on motion of the State authorities.
An immense lot of grading has been done;
millions of dollars worth of work has been
put npon the line, and yet it is practically
abandoned.
WrlX THEY DEMAND IT.
"But the people who gave rights of way,
the farmers through whose ground the line
E asses, and over whom eminent domain
as been asserted, have a right unquestion
ably to claim back their own. The objects
for which privileges were extorted from them
are no longer to be carried out
"Whoever bought the South Penn Bail
road feels that so little claim to publio sym
pathy can be made, that they have endeav
ored to ger the extension of their charter in
the disguise of an amendment to a copy
right bill. This was detected some time
ago, and the amendment is not yet smug
gled through. Now, if it is not successful,
and the charter is declared null and void,
the buyers of the South Penn have a queer
'pig in the poke.
"I venture to say that Mr. Gowen's visit
is not wholly without knowledge on this
point. Should the farmers set 'the holes in
the ground', by way of reversion, they
could afford to sell them very cheap. It
would not take much of the 60 per cent
which was paid to Pittsburgers to control
them. At any rate, there is an interesting
question here, and not a bit of doubt that if
the State Legislature and officials do their
duty the attempt of the big moneyed cor
porations to trample on toe Constitution of
the State would yet prove abortive.' "
Hirer Hen in Conrt-
Judee Acheson has awarded David A.
McDonald $250 salvage for catching the
steamboat Besolute while floating down
stream. The suit of the owners of the J. P.
Thorn against the Pennsylvania Natural
Gas Company, for damages caused by an
explosion, was argued yesterday. No de
cision was reached.
Wants One of HI Children.
Colonel Church, of Columbus, who has
gained some notoriety on account of the
sensational divorce proceedings against
him, was in the city yesterday. He refuted
the statement credited to him that he was
hot against Judge Pngh, but said be would
try and get control of one of his children.
Somebody's Carelessness.
Venerable Jane S. McConoughy has en
tered suit against the Allegheny County
and the East End Electric Light Company
for $5,000. She stumbled over a lot of tools
belonging to the company and broke her
arm and collar bone.
Salt Agnfnst the A. O. V. W.
A. O. Little and wife yesterday entered
suit against the A. O. TJ.' W. to recover
$2,000 on a life insurance policy held by
George Hoffman, the deceased husband of
the present Mrs. Little, who died in 1863.
They Bo Not Want It. r.
Coal operators are expecting a slight rise
in the river, but they say that they do not
want it, because there is not enough coal in
the river.
MONTE CARLO SiftSSEaSS
in the gambling hell are graphically detaribed
in tomorrow's DISPATCH.
J. G. BENNETT Sc CO.,
Comer Wood Street and Fifth Arenas,
Are agents for the following celebrated
makes of American anH English stiff hats:
AMEEICAN.
Touman, Fifth avenue, New York.
Dunlap & Co., Fifth avenue, New York.
Stetson & Co., Fifth avenue, New York.
ENGLISH.
Heath & Co., London.
Christy & Co., London.
Lincoln, Bennett & Co., London.
Harman & Co., London.
Yotx can't get the good of your electric;
light unless you have proper shades or
globes. The most complete assortment and
newest designs are to be found at Craig
head's Lamp Store, 615 Smithfield st S
HEAL ESTATE SAVINGS BANK. LTJ&,
401 Smithfield Street, cor. Fourth ATenae.
Capital, $100,000. Surplus, $38,000.
Deposits of $1 and upward received and
interest allowed at 4 per cent ITS
Maht causes induce gray hair but Par
kers Hair Balsam brings theyouthful color.
Parker's Ginger Tonic cures inward pains.
Persons wishing to improve their
memories or strengthen their power of at
tention should send to Prof. Loisette, 237
Fifth ave., N. Y;, for his prospectus post
free, as advertised in another column.
Ohio river gas field. For control of it.
attention is called to the advertlKmest
headed "Capitalists! Investors 1 J"
J-
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