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Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

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5 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

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CAUGHT AT LAST; ] OR, THE FELON'S BRAND. (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.] CHAPTEM. XXX.-( Continued). During the time of Kleckser's absence upon his foray into the enemy's territory, the enemy made himself as amiable as bearded foreign gentlemen well could be. He talked incessantly to his young friends, be gave them excellent advice, he told them agree- able stories with such excellent effect, that Whiffles at last laid down his pen in despair, and told him he Could write no more. « Good, my son," returned M. Parlandet, compos- ing his features to a look of sober gravity, we will be serious and get on with our task. But, pee, dear Vhiffle, I at least can laugh and work as Well. Look. There is M. Kleckser's Hamburg letter, beautifully inscribed in that delightful Ger- -111an character that looks as if an intoxicated spider bad bathed himself in the ink and crawled all 0 ver the paper-done, finished. Here I put the last stroke to the letters I took from you-also done, finished. But my hungry fingers itch for more. More work, my Vhiffle, plenty more. I am insatiable this afternoon." Well, I'm sure, I don't know what more to give you, Mr. Parlandy, unless- Hulloa, there's the govenor's whistle. Whiffles disappeared to Van Flewker's summons, returning presently in a tremendous hurry. « Well, it is lucky you're here this afternoon, Mr. lparlan dy he exclaimed. The governor wants me to go down to Wapping directly, and I shall be away at least an hour and a half. Look here, will you just take up this letter to Bombay, and finish it according to these directions ?" Rely upon me, my son, rely upon your faithful Parlandet!" exclaimed that gentleman joyously, and Whiffles went his way. This was an unexpected stroke of good fortune. It afforded an opportunity for a little more judicious tampering, which Pari was not the man to leave Unused. Gwillim had taken little part in the conversation that afternoon. The presence of M. Parlandet op- pressed him. Ever since their memorable conversa- tion, he had expected something to occur bearing upon the hints there thrown out. An uneasy feeling hung about him of his somehow being a tool in Par- landet's skilful hands; although he was unable to see precisely in what manner he was being used. His 4esire to obtain a more lucrative position fought daily battles with his reverence for Van Flewker and his instinctive distrust of Pari, until the Welshman's powers of reasor;.ing-1Iever very acute or vivid-were en- tangled in a hopeless maze. "Veil, my dear Gwillim," said M. Parlandet, ad- dressing his young colleague directly for the first time that afternoon, have you been to the opera again, lately?" N-n-not since that evening, M. Parlandet," re- plied the clerk, with a significant glance at his ques- tioner. "But you enjoyed yourself upon that occasion, I think, my friend," pursued Pari, with much in- terest. 64 Ye-yes; oh, yes. Up-p-p-pon the whole, very m-m-much," answered Gwillim. "Delighted to hear it, my young friend," returned Pari, paternally. Have you, perhaps, reflect a little now and then upon our conversation after the per- formance, eh ?" I've n-n-not forgotten it," said the young man, with an uneasy wriggle. Nor I, my friend, nor 1. That evening stands out in my memory as distinguished from many other pvenings. Then it was I enjoyed the felicity of your agreeable society. I was entranced by your delight- fully innocent and refreshing belief in the goodness Of humankind. I felt myself listening to you, quite young again Pity, great pity that your childlike trust in a certain person should have beeh so thoroughly misplaced. I did think so, if you re- member, at the time. New, I hold the proofs of that person's criminality in my hands. Aha what you say to that ?" ..G.g-gl-good Heavens, M. Parlandet, you don't may so ?" ejaculated Gwillim, starting bolt upright, with horror upon his stool. Ha-ha-have you di-di- fti-di-di-discovered anything fresh ?" "Ilush!" whispered Pari, laying a warning grip upon the young man's arm. Caution, my Gvillim, Caution The pear is not yet ripe. We must not shake him from the tree before the proper time. Discover anything ? you ask Ah, would that I had not! Would that the anguish of bringing to light the secret crime of one whom I have loved, respected, almost worshipped, had fallen into other hands! But what is to be done ? Friendship and gratitude joust yield to justice. And M. Parlandet blew his nose sonorously. Startled and almost terrified as Gwillim felt, to find that progress was actually being made towards the great convulsion which he dreaded while he de- sired, yet the hope of advantage to himself which rart had known so skilfully how to call into life, asserted itself more powerfully than sorrow for his patron's coming fall. "Then if m-m-mat-matters turn out as you f-S-say, M. Parlandet," he hesitatingly stammered, MI sup-p-p-pose I may reckon upon your not f-f-for- aetting the p-p-promise——" "My promise that your talents should not be overlooked, as now?" completed Parl. "Depend Upon me, my Gvillim, they shall not. Rely firmly jraon me. Naturally, however," he added, with an pjr of indifference, any little assistance it may be jp your power to give—always, of course, in the Interests of society-will be freely rendered." Oh I c-c-camt be of any use in the m-m-matter, I'm sure!" exclaimed Gwillim, appalled at the pros- r!t of open rebellion. I don't know anything about M. Parlandet." U Dear Gwillim," observed Parl, mildly, U reflect. Be sure, first, I shall ask-ør rather the interests of fodety, so important and essential, shall ask- nothing that you cannot easily perform. Next, re- fnember that where a man does net sow he cannot expect to reap." chap 30 The question was assuming a very distasteful fppect, and Gwillim hardly dared to think of the position in which he would find himself if M. Par- landet's enterprise failed. He reflected, however, that Part's stake upon success was even greater thaa his own. He was dazzled by that artful schemer's Jjjrilljajit promisesand f -wtnvatrmwes

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