“Go!” he said. “I will protect you once, in return for the many times you have protected me. For all that appearances are against you, I will trust you.”
“And you shall never have cause to regret it,” assured the Mystery, as he departed.
CHAPTER XXI.
THE TURN OF THE TIDE.
It was impossible to tell when a Dreyfus agitation would break out in France during those anxious months. The day following the events just related, one took place. The courts were in session, and the friends of Dreyfus sprang a surprise by having a new feature of the case called up, and an attempt made to reopen the whole affair. Then, in a most amazing manner, a great array of evidence in favor of the prisoner of Devil’s Island piled up. It fairly took away the breath of his enemies.
English and American newspapers printed the report that a steamer had been sent to Devil’s Island, with a strong military guard, for the purpose of taking Dreyfus off, and bringing him back to France, where he would have a new trial. These reports were cabled to Paris without delay. Everybody sought confirmation of them, and then a prominent French paper came out with the assertion that it was absolutely true, and that Dreyfus was on his way to France even then!
All Paris seemed to be hushed in waiting for some great thing that must follow.
Jack Diamond was the first to get hold of the paper that printed the cabled reports from the English and American papers, and announced beneath that it was absolutely true that Dreyfus was on his way to France. Diamond had tried to keep Frank Merriwell in the hotel while the excitement was going on in the streets, but had not been successful. Frank had persisted in venturing out to witness “the sport,” although Jack had warned him that he was taking his life in his hand. Nothing had happened to Merry, however.
Diamond came rushing into the hotel with the newspaper, and placed it before Frank, pointing out the report mentioned. Frank read it, and his face flushed with satisfaction.
“Frank!” warned Jack.