LITMIR.BIZ

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Alfred Varin. He came to see me once on some matter of business....I forget what it was."

      "Where does he live?"

      "The two brothers live together—rue de Provence, I think."

      "Do you know any reason why he should commit suicide?"

      "None."

      "He held a card in his hand. It was your card with your address."

      "I do not understand that. It must have been there by some chance that will be disclosed by the investigation."

      A very strange chance, I thought; and I felt that the others entertained the same impression.

      I discovered the same impression in the papers next day, and amongst all my friends with whom I discussed the affair. Amid the mysteries that enveloped it, after the double discovery of the seven of hearts pierced with seven holes, after the two inscrutable events that had happened in my house, that visiting card promised to throw some light on the affair. Through it, the truth may be revealed. But, contrary to our expectations, Mon. Andermatt furnished no explanation. He said:

      "I have told you all I know. What more can I do? I am greatly surprised that my card should be found in such a place, and I sincerely hope the point will be cleared up."

      It was not. The official investigation established that the Varin brothers were of Swiss origin, had led a shifting life under various names, frequenting gambling resorts, associating with a band of foreigners who had been dispersed by the police after a series of robberies in which their participation was established only by their flight. At number 24 rue de Provence, where the Varin brothers had lived six years before, no one knew what had become of them.

      I confess that, for my part, the case seemed to me so complicated and so mysterious that I did not think the problem would ever be solved, so I concluded to waste no more time upon it. But Jean Daspry, whom I frequently met at that period, became more and more interested in it each day. It was he who pointed out to me that item from a foreign newspaper which was reproduced and commented upon by the entire press. It was as follows:

      "The first trial of a new model of submarine boat, which is expected to revolutionize naval warfare, will be given in presence of the former Emperor at a place that will be kept secret until the last minute. An indiscretion has revealed its name; it is called `The Seven-of-Hearts.'"

      The Seven-of-Hearts! That presented a new problem. Could a connection be established between the name of the sub-marine and the incidents which we have related? But a connection of what nature? What had happened here could have no possible relation with the sub-marine.

      "What do you know about it?" said Daspry to me. "The most diverse effects often proceed from the same cause."

      Two days later, the following foreign news item was received and published:

      "It is said that the plans of the new sub-marine `Seven-of-Hearts' were prepared by French engineers, who, having sought, in vain, the support of their compatriots, subsequently entered into negotiations with the British Admiralty, without success."

      I do not wish to give undue publicity to certain delicate matters which once provoked considerable excitement. Yet, since all danger of injury therefrom has now come to an end, I must speak of the article that appeared in the `Echo de France,' which aroused so much comment at that time, and which threw considerable light upon the mystery of the Seven-of-Hearts. This is the article as it was published over the signature of Salvator:

      "THE AFFAIR OF THE SEVEN-OF-HEARTS.

       "A CORNER OF THE VEIL RAISED.

      "We will be brief. Ten years ago, a young mining engineer, Louis

       Lacombe, wishing to devote his time and fortune to certain studies,

       resigned his position he then held, and rented number 102 boulevard

       Maillot, a small house that had been recently built and decorated

       for an Italian count. Through the agency of the Varin brothers of

       Lausanne, one of whom assisted in the preliminary experiments and

       the other acted as financial agent, the young engineer was

       introduced to Georges Andermatt, the founder of the Metal Exchange.

       "After several interviews, he succeeded in interesting the banker

       in a sub-marine boat on which he was working, and it was agreed

       that as soon as the invention was perfected, Mon. Andermatt would

       use his influence with the Minister of Marine to obtain a series of

       trials under the direction of the government. For two years, Louis

       Lacombe was a frequent visitor at Andermatt's house, and he

       submitted to the banker the various improvements he made upon his

       original plans, until one day, being satisfied with the perfection

       of his work, he asked Mon. Andermatt to communicate with the

       Minister of Marine. That day, Louis Lacombe dined at Mon.

       Andermatt's house. He left there about half-past eleven at night.

       He has not been seen since.

       "A perusal of the newspapers of that date will show that the

       young man's family caused every possible inquiry to be made, but

       without success; and it was the general opinion that Louis Lacombe—

       who was known as an original and visionary youth—had quietly left

       for parts unknown.

       "Let us accept that theory—improbable, though it be,—and let us

       consider another question, which is a most important one for our

       country: What has become of the plans of the sub-marine? Did Louis

       Lacombe carry them away? Are they destroyed?

       "After making a thorough investigation, we are able to assert,

       positively, that the plans are in existence, and are now in the

       possession of the two brothers Varin. How did they acquire such a

       possession? That is a question not yet determined; nor do we know

       why they have not tried to sell them at an earlier date. Did they

       fear that their title to them would be called in question? If so,

       they have lost that fear, and we can announce definitely, that the

       plans of Louis Lacombe are now the property of foreign power, and

       we are in a position to publish the correspondence that passed

       between the Varin brothers and the representative of that power.

       The `Seven-of-Hearts' invented by Louis Lacombe has been actually

       constructed by our neighbor.

       "Will the invention fulfill the optimistic expectations of those

       who were concerned in that treacherous act?"

      And a post-script adds:

      "Later.—Our special correspondent informs us that the preliminary

       trial of the `Seven-of-Hearts' has not been satisfactory. It is

       quite likely that the plans sold and delivered by the Varin

       brothers did not include the final document carried by Louis

       Lacombe to Mon. Andermatt on the day of his disappearance, a

       document that was indispensable to a thorough understanding of the

       invention. It contained a summary of the final conclusions of the

       inventor, and estimates and figures not contained in

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