第2部分(第1/7 页)

hy　cast　of　countenance。

〃Good　evening；〃　said　the　stranger。　〃Your　master　is　within？〃

〃The　master　is　here；　but　he　does　not　see　chance　visitors　at　this　time　of　night；〃　growled　the　other。

〃I　think　he　will　see　me。　Tell　him　that　his　friend　M。　le　Marquis　is　here。〃

The　man　opened　the　door　a　little　wider　and　allowed　the　visitor　to　enter。

The　man　who　gave　his　name　as　M。　le　Marquis　had　shielded　his　face　with　his　hand　as　he　spoke。　When　the　man…servant　returned　with　the　information　that　M。　Papopolous　would　be　pleased　to　receive　the　visitor　a　further　change　had　taken　place　in　the　stranger's　appearance。　The　man…servant　must　have　been　very　unobservant　or　very　well　trained　for　he　betrayed　no　surprise　at　the　small　black　satin　mask　which　hid　the　other's　features。

Leading　the　way　to　a　door　at　the　end　of　the　hall；　he　opened　it　and　announced　in　a　respectful　murmur：　〃M。　le　Marquis。〃

The　figure　which　rose　to　receive　this　strange　guest　was　an　imposing　one。　There　was　something　venerable　and　patriarchal　about　M。　Papopolous。　He　had　a　high　domed　forehead　and　a　beautiful　white　beard。　His　manner　had　in　it　something　ecclesiastical　and　benign。

〃My　dear　friend；〃　said　M。　Papopolous。　He　spoke　in　French　and　his　tones　were　rich　and　unctuous。

〃I　must　apologize；〃　said　the　visitor；　〃for　the　lateness　of　the　hour。〃

〃Not　at　all。　Not　at　all；〃　said　M。　Papopolous　…　〃an　interesting　time　of　night。　You　have　had；　perhaps；　an　interesting　evening？〃

〃Not　personally；〃　said　M。　Le　Marquis。

〃Not　personally；〃　repeated　M。　Papopolous；　〃no；　no；　of　course　not。　And　there　is　news；　eh？〃

He　cast　a　sharp　glance　sideways　at　the　other；　a　glance　that　was　not　ecclesiastical　or　benign　in　the　least。

〃There　is　no　news。　The　attempt　failed。　I　ha