Part 11 (2/2)

”Now heaven be praised for that!” he exclaih it is hard to believe, Jason, that anything could make you better than you are It was kind of you not to keep my son and me apart”

My father ca the man opposite His last words seemed to make a doubtful impression on my uncle He looked quickly across at me, but what he saw hed ”It has been too long, George, too long since I have tasted of it It quite ree--with the dances, and the races and the ladies Ah, George, how they would smile on you--and even today, I'll warrant! Ah, if I only had the receipt that keeps you young”

”Indeed? You care to know it?” My father quite suddenly leaned forward and tapped hiesture startled him, my uncle drew hastily back And stillwhich I did not understand The silence in the rooain

”Lead a life of disrepute,” he said gravely ”I cannot think of a better cose!” cried my uncle in quick remonstrance ”Remember your son is with you?”

”And seely able, Jason

Have you not found it so?”

”Thank heaven, yes!” he laughed, and glanced hastily athiently into place, and then said:

”Surely, Jason, you did not come here to discuss the past”

”Perhaps not,” Uncle Jason replied with another laugh, which seehtly out of tune in the silence that surrounded him, ”but how can I not be reminded of it? This roos e, and yet--” he paused to favor lance--”he has his mother's eyes”

My father flicked a speck of dust froested, ”we leave your sister out of the discussion Let us come down to practical matters and leave the dead alone”

It was the first time he had an inary wrinkle

”You understand ently after a second's pause ”Pray remember, Jason, I have only two cheeks, and I can recall no biblical law to follow if you should strike again”

”God bless asped my uncle in blank amazement ”I did not come here to quarrel I came because you are in trouble I came as soon as I had heard of it, because you need ained his cordial eloquence froht his eye moistened and his voice quavered, ”because blood is thicker than water, George”

At the last words ravely, and wasan adequate reply

”I thought you would come,” he said slowly ”In fact, I depended upon it before I set sail from France Ha! That relieves you, does it not, Jason?”

Yet for some reason the statement seemed to have an opposite effect My uncle's heavy brows knitted together, and his mouth moved uneasily

”See,to me with a pleasant smile ”And all we needed was a hero Who will it be I wonder, you or your uncle?”

But ain Instead, he squared his shoulders and his e,” he said ominously ”Don't you understand what you have done? But you cannot know, or else you would not be here You cannot know that the house is watched!”

If he had expected to surprise nant disappointment; but perhaps he knew that surprise was a sentiment he seldom permitted

”I know,” replied my father, ”that sinceattentions But why are you concerned, Jason? I have broken no law of the land I have merely mixed myself up in French politics”

Uncle Jason esture

”You have mixed yourself up in such an important affair, in such a ridiculous way, that every secret agent that France has in this country will be in this town in the next twelve hours That's all you have done, George”