Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-10-21
RAlElea, A0R7H al

made my bow, then stood before her, waitingI
until she should think proper to address me.
With a stern look on her face, and with q
loud, clear, steady voice. she asked me-. be-
fore the Marquis, and before three other men.
who were also in the gallery, for the packet
which she had confided to my care. As she
moved back q few PAGES, while the third, the
captain of her guard, advanced rather near
er to her. handed her back the packet
She looked at it thoughtfully for q little
while then opened it, and took out the let
ters and written papers which Il contained,
handed them to the Marquis Monaldesch1
and insisted on his reading them. When he
had obeyed, she asked. him, with the same
stern look and the same steady voice, wheth4
.er be bad any kneEledge Of tha-aaeanp@~s
which he had just been reading. The Mar
quis turned deadly pale, and answered, that
he had now read the papers referred to for
the first time.
DO you deny all knowledge ofthem? p said
the Queen. ANSWER me plainly, sir. Yes
or no.
The Marquis turned paler still. I deny
all knowledge of Them he said, in faint tones,
with his eye on the ground.
DO you deny all knowledge of these too?'
b%AA OhS HoNSh1 uAuOdlI plOAASIhA "a CONOAAA
packet of manuscript from under her dress,
and thrusting it in the Marquis's face.
He started, drew back a little, and answer
ed not a word. The packet which the Queen
had given to me contained copies only. The
original papers were those which she had
just thrust in the Marquis face.
DO you deny your W seal and your own
handwriting P she asked.
He murmured a few words, acknowled ging
both the seal and the handwriting to be his
own, and added some phrases of excuse, in
which he endeavored to cast the blame that
attached to the writing of the, letters on the
shoulders of other persons. While he was
speaking, the three men in attendance ON the
Queen silently closed around him.
Her Majesty heard him to the end. 'You
are a traitor she said, and turned her back
on him.
The three men, as she spoke those words,
drew their swords.
The Marquis heard the clash of the blades
against the scabbards, and, looking quickly
round, saw the drawn swords behind him.
He caught the Queen by the arm immediate
ly, and drew her away with him, first int
one corner of the gallery, then into another.
entreating her in the, most moving terms tt
listen to him, and to believe in the sincerity
of his repentance. The Queen let him g
on talking, without showing the least sign o
anger or Impotence. Her color new r chan
ged the stern look never left her counte
nance. There was something awful in thu
clear, cold, deadly resolution VIII Oh her eye,
expressed while they rested on the Marquis
face.
AT last she shook herself free from hi
grasp, still without betraying the slightes
irritation. The three men with the drawn
swords, who had followed the Marquis 81
lently as he led the Queen from corner tt
corner Of the gallery, now closed round hin
again as soon as he was left standing alone
There was perfect silence for a minute o
more. Then the Queen addressed herself t.
me.
Father she said, I charge you to bea
witness that l treat this man with the strict
est impartiality.' She pointed, while sh
spoke, to the Marquis Monaleschi with a lii
tie ebony riding whip which she carried i
her hand. L offer that worthless traitor a
the time he has any right to ask for-to III
tify himself if he cam
The Marquis, hearing these words, too
t some letters from a place of concealment i
3 his dress and gave them to the Queer
1 along with a a small bunch of keys Z
} suatched these last from his pocket so quic
1yS bLldU LO OIOW Oub WlG1 6lcLu d 10" IND
silver COINS which fell to the floor. AS |
addressed himself to the Queen again, 81
made a sign with her ebony riding-whip
the men with the drawn swords, and tn
| retired towards one of the windows of Il
L gallery. l, on my side, withdrew out
n hearing. The conference which ensued b
tween the Queen and the Marquis last,
nearly an hour. When it was over, her NJ
jesty beckoned the men back again with Il
whip, and then approached the place whe
I was standing.
Father she said, in her clear, ringin
r~esolute tones, there is no need for me
remain here any longer. leave that maj
6 she pointed to the Marquis again, to 20
care. Do all that you can for the good
his soul. He has failed to justify himse
and I doom him to de-
III had heard sentence pronounced agar
d myself. l could hardly have been more ter
fed, than l was when the Queen uttered the
last words. The Marquis heard them whe
he was standing, and flung himself at
to feet. l dropped on my knees by his ST
entreated her to pardon him, or at least
visit his offence with some milder puniI
Id ment than the punishment of death.
10 CONCLUSION NEXT WEEK.
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