The Icelandic Canadian - 01.06.1967, Síða 119

THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
117
what he meant, and he motioned me
to come with him into his cabin. There
he unfolded the whole story.
He said that several years ago he had
taken into his service the son of a
friend from Copenhagen, who was of
a good family but who had become
indigent through disorderliness and
gambling. This gifted young man,
about 16 or 17 years of age, gradually
worked his way into favor so that he
was trusted with the accounts and the
monies of the business. One fall, as on
previous occasions, the merchant sent
this clerk, providing him with a loose-
ly worded power of attorney and
proper credentials, -to take the last ship
that season to Copenhagen. When the
pilot boat returned, the merchant
received greetings from the clerk who
had absconded with $2,000 from the
business.
Arriving in Copenhagen he had
deceived the merchant’s business as
sociates. His deception lasted right up
to the time when the first mail arrived
from Iceland and his whole story fell
apart; at this point he disappeared
and was not heard of for many ye-1
Finally, about three years ago the me-
diant thought he recognized him in
Reykjavik among passengers disem-
barking from a mail ship. Short1-
thereafter the “count” accosted the
merchant, spoke with him and received
his word that he would not reveal his
identity. He barely had passage money,
so nothing could have been extracted
from him. In any event, the merchant
had been extremely -fond of him ir
days gone by.
According to his story the “count”
had lived for a long time among the
French of Canada and the mercham
understood that he was wanted by the
authorities in several other places be-
sides Iceland. After this occasion,
whenever he was aware of his presence,
the merchant avoided talking to him.
More than once, while on his business
trips to and from Iceland he either
saw him or heard -his name mentioned.
It was his opinion that the “count”
sought refuge in Iceland, from time
to -time, after having committed crim
abroad, and he liked neither the icl e
of his going free nor that of being the
one to turn him in. Then came tb
time I referred to. It probably seemed
to the “count” that his old master, the
merchant, had looked at him as though
-he was fed up with the whole affair.
But when the merchant saw the
“count’s” evil glance as we walked
there together, he came to the con-
clusion that he should no longer keep
the secret of the “count’s” identity.
For this reason he told me the whole
story and on the very same day inform-
ed the “count” of what he had done.
The merchant being a gentleman, and
having retained some affection for his
former clerk, requested that I 'tell no
one about the past of this reprehens-
ible fellow. I agreed upon condition
that I might reveal his identity if I
became aware that anyone was about
to be harmed by him. I consider that
under the present conditions it would
be a default on my part to remain
silent as to who this so-called count
really is.”
All had listened silently to the story
of the Engishman, the count no less
than the others. It was apparent that
he nuderstood most of what was said,
but he didn’t let a muscle quiver, nor
did he show in any way that he was
alarmed. When the Englishman had
finished, the “count” went to a win-
dow that looked out on the courtyard
and called in a loud clear voice: “Miss
Valdai! You are requested to be so
kind as to come out. We have guests
who have news for you.”
Sara came directly. She was dressed