Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-01-23

CuNlu VI ~ COnbltuits
Welcome, good sousin, to Bourges ~ cried
Charles. IL have already hoard what has taken
place at st. jacques de Benvfon. The wicked
%traitorsl But what brings you to me-, worthy
cousin II
If I'm come, SIRE" answered the count, ito re.
turn to you my sword of Office, rs it is no longer
able to restore the los. condition OF France"
Not SO hasty, cousin - cried Charles, knitting
his brows. at is not my fault that the cowardly
mercenuries have left u.s."
at is not mine, sire" ans cred the constable,
proudly with emphasis. =
Il know, ] know" said the king. "You are a
faithful servant The count bowed coldly.
when [ received the constable's sword from
your majesty" said lie, land assembled an army
to Protect your throne, | did so upon one condi.
ton l proposed to support the troops at my own
cost during n period Of four wooks, at the end Of
which time they were to We paid by your majesty,
and you promised to send me q hundred thousand
dollars for that purpose"
Very true cousin"
-Four months have elapsed since then l kept
my promise, but the money did not arrive. The
troops refused to serve any longer without pay. l
entreated and threatened. but without avail; the
traitors deserted secretly. 1t would not have hap.
rcned; sir, if you had kept your word as well as
l kept mine, and had sent the money as you
promised.
What" cried Charles, rising from his seat,
and pale with rage II did not send the money %
mo, sire"
"No? And the money has been collected from
the country for the purpose! What has become
of it?"
ASK the Marquis de Giac, your majesty per-
haps he knows" answered the constable colby.
The marquis, who had hitherto listened to the
conversation in u state Of the greatest anxiety,
replied to the kings question:
Sire" said he, "out of the hundred thousand
dollars, the Chevalier DANCE va, paid the bet
he laid with your majesty and the rest | took in
part payment for the three horses had brought
from Burgundy"
$50 the money has gone for a bet and three
horses !"cried the constable, angrily turning 10
The marquis; "you are truly an excellent trea'
surer!"
Whether | AMI 80 or not" answered tho mar.
quis, scornfully, lit is not your business to de.
eide" The constable bit his lip without making
any reply, and then fell on ono knee before the
king, and presented his sword.
Here, sire," said he, is my sword back
again"
mo, my cousin, we will not accept it," cried
Charles for we know none more worthy to whom
we can confde it," Tho constable appeared to
consider for q minute, and then, with a side glance
at the marquis:
"Since you command il, sire" said he, II will
retain my sword, hoping long to wear it to the hon.
or of my king and France; but l must make one
condition, which | hope you will grant me-"
Most willingly, cousin! !"
Gas constable of France" continued the count,
II exercise the highest jurisdiction within the
provinces confled to me, as well as in the district
Of the town OF BOurges."
Right"
"Allow me then, sire, to make use of this power
and permit that the same obedience may be
shown to me that would be shown to
yourself" Charles appeared for a moment en-
Darrassed, and then, with q side-look at his visibly
anxious favorite at shall be so, cousin" said he
"but one stipulation you must answer to me
with your honor for the safety Of the head of the
Marquis de Giac."
81 answer FOR his life, SIRE" said the constable
Then turning to the marquis:
My lord marquis" said he, "you are my pris
Oner.
A few hours after the visit of the constable t.
King Charles, the Marquis dc Gao was a pri,onel
in Bourges on the charge of having squandered thu
money belonging to the royal treasury. This, Al
least, was the form under which the constable haC
proposed to retaliete upon the marquis for a lonI
list of offences be had been for some time commit
ting with IMMUNITY, feeling himself safe under the
especial protection of the king. The prisoner wa.
fully aware Of the danger of the position in which
be was placed, although the word of the king, q,
well as that of the constable. was undoubted &c
curity for his life. But arc there no punishment,
infinitely moro painful than death ? Are there
not tortures insufficient to destroy the thread
of life, yet in comparison to which, death would
be a boon And what was there to hope from the
protection of a weak and frivolous king, at the
time when the will Of the constable was Of greater
weight than that Of his master?
Giving himself up 10 these reflections, his head
resting on his two hands, the marquis sat in 4 cor
ner of his dark and dismal prison, awaiting the
arrival Of the messenger who was to make known
to him his fate for in those days no heightened
. process was necessary for the condemnation Of one
who had fallen under the displeasure of the cos
stable. 1t was, therefore, that same evening thai
the door of the prison opened, and the mayOr OF
Baurges attended by two sherifs, appeared before
the marquis. A long roll of paper i'll the hand Of
O. the former announced to him that bis fate was de
cided.
. : MY Lord Marquis de Giac," said the mayor
after clearing his th:oat. AID unrolliug the paper
draw near, and hear the sentence which the COCO
city of Bourges. according 10 right aud conscience
!. passes upon YOU"
n The prisoner, by nature not timid, and endowed
+ with q certain strength OF soul which enabled
. him to meet yith inevitable evils, arose courage
r ously, and walking up to the mayor almost with az
e air Of pride:
Let me hear it !! said he. But, pray, use no
e many words"
y "As you command" replied the mayor bovine
low as he spoke and then lie proceeded to read
II with all the pomposity Of his office as follows
d 1.-The supreme administrator of she laws of til,
8 good and true city Of Bourges DEGREES according t.
right and conscience, that Arthur Phnbus Charlie,
Marquis de Giac, be held guilty of having improp
erly aud frandulently squandered the royal treas
ure, that he be accordingly sttaintsd of high treas
on, and condemned to suffer death by the sword. )
"How2 Death :" cried the prisoner, more il
anger than in terror.
"Allow me to proceed. my lord MARQUIS
| have not yet DONE" said the mayor and h,
read on 'ln consideration, however, of its bay
a ing pleased his majssty, our most gracious kin,
and master, TO pardon with his royal word the sal,
Marquis de Giac, and TO grant him his life. s.
shall the sentence pronounced upon him DO com
muted and changed to a penanGe; which com
I, mutation, however, can only be obtained by til,
le condemned declaring in his own handwriting tina
N he is willing to undergo the senteuce Of death, an,
to rcnounce the favor Of the pardon offered him"
"And what is the penance which l an to prefs
to death-in what does it consist 2" asked ia,
prisoner turning pale.
" at is "A fOlloyeO said tho . ,n.a;.