This etext was transcribed by Les Bowler
THE
WOMAN OF MYSTERY
BY
GEORGES OHNET
AUTHOR OF“THE IRONMASTER,” “DOCTOR RAMEAU,”ETC.
TRANSLATED BY FRED. ROTHWELL,B.A.
A NEWEDITION
LONDON
CHATTO & WINDUS
1904
p. iiPRINTEDBY
WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS,LIMITED,
LONDON AND BECCLES.
p.iiiCONTENTS
PAGE | |
PART I | |
PART II | |
PART III |
p. 1PARTI
CHAPTER I
In his study, situated in the RueSaint-Dominique, the Minister of War was walking to and fro. Infurious fashion he twisted his moustache, which seemed evenredder than usual, as he nervously fingered his eyeglass, in amanner which promised anything but a cordial welcome to any whoentered his presence. Doubtless, his officers were wellacquainted with the reasons of his ill-humour, for a profoundsilence reigned all around, and the great man’s solitudewas undisturbed save by the querulous twitterings of the birds inthe garden. A minute later, he seemed to lose all patience, and,marching to the mantelpiece, he pressed an electric bell. Anusher, with anxious mien, at once approached.
“Has Colonel Vallenot returned?” exclaimed theMinister, in fierce tones.
The servant shrunk away, as though he would have liked theearth to open and swallow him; then he stammered,faintly—
“I do not think so, sir—I willask—”
The General became purple with rage. An oath burstp. 2forth from hislips like a bombshell, then a second, the third was useless. Thedoor was again closed, the servant had vanished.
“What can Vallenot be doing all the time he has beengone?” muttered the Minister, as he resumed his pacingabout the room. “Ah! This is the way I amserved!”
Before he could finish, the usher had opened the door, andannounced—
“Colonel Vallenot.”
A man of fifty years of age, tall and thin, with blue eyes andlight moustache, marched briskly into the room, and, aftersaluting his superior in friendly wise, said—
“You seem to have lost all patience, General. I found anofficer waiting for me at the very door of the War Office. Thefact is, this has been anything but a small matter.