Terence O'Rourke, Gentleman Adventurer
days since for the provinces, or for Italy, or for Germany, or perhaps for a trip around the world. The concierge did not know and doggedly asserted that he did not care—that is to say, his demeanor continued surly enough and altogether annoying until O'Rourke happened to mention his own name.
Thereupon a distinct change was noticeable in the demeanor of that concierge. He prefaced all things by demanding mysteriously the name of O'Rourke's valet, and the color of that person's hair, which having been pronounced respectively to be Danny and red, the concierge with alacrity invited O'Rourke to ascend to Monsieur Chambret's apartments, at the same time declaring himself to be possessed of a letter intrusted to him for delivery to O'Rourke upon his arrival in Paris.
Accordingly, O'Rourke and Danny mounted five flights of steps and were admitted to the apartments, and, the gas having been lighted by the concierge, O'Rourke was permitted to peruse the communication. Being translated, it ran somewhat to the following effect:
My Dear Colonel: Nothing could have been more opportune than the receipt of your note. Only the previous day I had received a call from a trusted servant of madame's, who gave me a message which madame had not deemed wise to trust to paper; together with the little packet, herewith inclosed, which I was requested to forward to you. I did not then know your whereabouts. To me there is something wonderful in the fact that I now do know.
This will be left with the concierge, who has instructions not to deliver it into any hands save those of Colonel Terence O'Rourke, whose valet is a red-headed Irishman named Danny. I take these precautions for reasons which you will readily understand, as you read on.
By the time this is handed you, I shall be at Montbar, whither I trust you will follow me at your earliest convenience. Nay, I[ 350 ]
