CHINA MAIL
FRIDAY SUPPLEMENT, JULY 15, 1938
Pierre Dulac looked across the top of the dusty, document-strewn desk into the ancient blue eyes of the notary Vidoq.
"My dear Pierre," said Vidoq, with his usual grin, “have you hot discovered by now that everything seems strange-that is everything · that we do not, understand. To you the will of your old-time par- tner Etienne Tinestin seems ex- traordinary; to me it seems quite normal.
"Consider your stories-both of
you.
You were partners together -illusionists, magicians; conjur- ers. You were a very practical and logical young man, Etienne was not. He believed in the occult, in mysterious forces. Off the stage, whenever
you were not
giving a performance or preparing some new trick, the pair of you argued and quarrelled like a pair of dogs. It was only because you were necessary to each other in your profession that you had not split up long before you did.
**Then, at a crucial moment, for
had grown to dislike each you other intensely, Yvonne appeared; and of course, it was necessary, just to make matters worse, that you should both fall in love with her.
"But for some
reason-and women are strange creatures- Yvonne decided to marry Etienne. This was the end, so far as you were concerned, and off you went ! in a huff.
"Now, Etienne is dead and you -have come back. You have re- ceived and read the note that he left in my keeping for you, and you think that it is strange.
"Personally, I do not. I believe that before he died--and you must know that Etienne knew that the hand of death was approaching for two years before he passed away of the slow disease that kill- ed-him-he-realised two things. The first that you two had parted over Yvonne, who he had discover- ed since his marriage was in love with you, and who had married him in a fit of pique after a lover's quarrel with you, and secondly that before her appearance your" main disagreement in life had been in his belief, and your dia- belief, in the occult.
"Well, to anyone who did not know Etienne that letter which you hold in your hand might seem strange. But to us who knew him who were aware of the strange-.. ness of his mind, it seems quite the sort of thing that he would do. However, it is for you to c and it is also my duty to
"THE ROBE”
the notary as he bent over hig desk...
Outside the busy day sounds of the little-French town began to die away as the shadows of the evening deepened....
If seems to Pierro Dulac as he bent over the letter-the last letter of his old time partner and read the meticulous handwriting which had so often amused him, that he could almost “hear quiet and steely voice of Tinestin echoing through the dusty. office:
cheerful and in order You will open the door with the key which“ Vidoq will hand you and you will go to the library.
-
"In the library, in the corner, you will find a safe Unlock it Vidoq will give you the key-and inside you will find a letter from me giving you some further in- structions. Obey these. Then, having done so, leave the house. thewith my best wishes, and next day present yourself to Vidoq once more, who will hand you the sum of one hundred thousand. francs, which will enable you and Yvonne to whom, in the mean- time, I have left just enough money to keep her going to be married and live happily ever after.
"My Dear Pierre,” he read. “Al- though, as you read these words, I shall be lying quietly (I hope) in the little cemetery on the other side of the hill, I believe that I shall be able to see you. You will have gone to. Vidoq's office în re- sponse to the letter which, on my instructions he will have written to you, and you will probably be seated in front of his desk reading this and listening to the scratching of that execrable quill pen of his. "Let me tell you, first of all,
Short Story
that. I am sorry we ever quarrell- ed. Anger is such a waste of energy, and, had I not wasted so much in argument with you it is possible that I might have lived longer.
:
"But, let me warn you, my friend and old-time partner, you will both hear me and possibly see me in the house the House of Mys- - tery the peasants insist on calling it-and if you do, even you will admit that at long last I have
By Jasper Maskelyne
proved my argument and convinc ed you that occult forces do exist; that they must exist, inasmuch as I shall have spoken, to you after I am dead!
"Au revoir, Pierre, until
Your departed friend,
Etienne Tinestin." Dulac looked up.. Vidoq laid down his pen and grinned across the desk.
"Well," he said. Do you agree to the terms 2"
"When I knew that I was going· · "night - ** to die, I realised that the right thing for me to do was to arrange that you should benefit by my death. I knew too that I should tell you that I have known for some time that it was you that Yvonne loved, although, in a fit of temper, she married me. When you have finished this letter go: and see her; make things right with her, and, next spring, when the flowers are beginning to bud, and I am merely a memory, you two can be married.
"Now, let us get down to business. You know that I al- ways loved a little joke, and here is my last effort at humour. Apart from Yvonne our main difference of opinion was over occult mat- ters. I believed in all sorts of things that made you shudder, whilst you, with your intensely
you that if you do not agh practical and logical mind,” ́ ́ only
to do
what he asks then you may find yourself the loser. What are you going to do? Will you give me your decision, now, or wait until a little later in the evening? You realise that if you are going to agree his wishes must be carried out to-night?
Dulac nodded
"I will give you, my decision In a few minutes," he said.
"But first of all I think that I would- like to read his letter again....
“Right,” said Vidog, Whilst you are doing so I will sign, my letters."
Dulac, opening the letter, which was folded in his hand, commenced to read. The silence of the gas. Iit office was only broken by the scratch, scratch of the quill pen c
believed in those things which you could see and understand.
"With your permission we will have one final argument. Vidoq will tell you that I have left you a sum of one hundred thousand
Dulác laughed.
"Of course," he said. "It's won- derful one hundred thousand francs-and the woman I love! Merely for giving old Etienne an- other chance to be proved wrong!”.
Vidog rose from his chair and. walked across to a drawer let into the office wall. He unlocked and took out two keys. He hand- ed them to Pierre.
the of
"Here are the keys," he said. "One for the front door of house, and the other for library safe. Under the terms the will the fact that you produce to me the letter of instructions,
SOLVED
which Etienne ha
the safe,
that you have arried
is lying
this
wishes, and to-morrow. I shall have the money here for you..
know
Dulac nodded. what is in that letter ?" he asked.
Vidoq shook his head. No-one knows, he "Only Etienne. He wrote the let ter and placed it in the safe him- self on the day he died.
replied.
As the neighbouring church clock struck midnight Pierre Dulac took an affectionate farewell of Yvonne at the gate of her little house.
"Till to-morrow, my dearest, he said. "How wonderful it is to think that after then nothing shall ever part us, and how much more wonderful to think that this is. possible only through the gener- osity of Etienne. Really he was not such a bad sort after all. I am almost beginning - to think pleasantly about his strange ways and fearful rages.
She put her hand on his arm. "Pierre," "she said.
must
نور
I've
tell you. I'm frightened. always been afraid of Etienne, and I still in these occult theories of his, or is there the possibility that he may still have the power to harm-us? The years I spent with him were so very unhappy, that I cannot bring myself to bes lieve that he means us well:"-
Dulac laughed.
What can he do?” he said com fortingly. He is dead and buried. have merely to enter his house, open the safe, read his letter and do what he asks. Then to-morrow
win you and fortune." She shuddered.
"I do not like that house of his," she whispered. For months before he died he went there each day. No-one, except the old woman who keeps the place clean, was ever allowed to go there."
She shuddered again.
“The night air is cold, Pierre,” she said, "and you must be going If you have made up your mind to -do as he has asked. But I have
a favour to a ask you. You will
do it for me? Very well it is this. Inside I have a robe.. It is a holy robe; it belonged to a monk a good and kindly man, who spent his life in good deeds.• Take this robe with you, and when you get into the house wear it. I shall feel safer, and in any event it will keep you warm.
Dulac smiled.
(Continued on Page
IS THE PROBLEM OF HOW TO TRAVEL LIGHT MODERN TRAVELLING VISIT OUR LUGGAGE, DEPT.
1st FLOOR
Wardrobe Trunks
Vardrobe Suite Cases
Cabin Trunks Suit Cases Attache Cases
francs on the following, condition. FOR
"To-night that is the 30th November, the day on which have instructed Videq to hand you this letter-you will go, after you have left his office, and see Yvon- ne. You will tell her about this letter and that I only wish for You two your joint happiness, will have much to say to each other and the time will, I know, pass very quickly,
will
hen, at midnight, you make your way to my house on the out will find that
the wood. You
has been kept
Hat Cases
From
50 32.59
27
10:50
2.95 6.50
WHITEAWAY, LAIDLAW & CO., LTD.