Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1862-06-09

reflect upon what had escaped his atten-
ton.
Il forgot" he said. 81 lost sight of
my advocateship! An advocate to turn
spy-in a tree! Really that won't do
Come, my dear Messire August, let US see
ifyou can not legally honorab!y and incl
dentally behold these traitors and their do
ings ~
With which words the spy-advocate
commenced running rapidly along by
path, which led in the direction taken BY
the Protestants
He soon issued from the wood, and en-
tered, through the back door, small house |
situated upon the main road, though some
what removed from it. fastening to the
front window, which commanded view of
the highway, be uttered an exclamation of
satisfaction.
Messire Jacques de la Fontaine and Bar
thelemi Dupuy were passing, with locked
arms, in earnest conversation. Ere long
they disappeared in the half light of eve,
ming, still making gestures, and conversing
with animation. The spy-advocate took
out a small look, and with his pencil made
a memorandum.
"Aha! my good Measures ~ he said,
with chuckle Of triumph, a shall give
information presently to Messire the Pro-
cureur du Roi, and, | rather think, shall
be q witness on your trial All, miscre-
ants you reprimanded me for abiuring,
did you, and said that deserved to be de,
graded from the roll, eh Well, we shall
see who gets the better of the present af-
fair, my good Measures Fontaine and Du-
puy. "Yes, we shall see !'
With these words the advocate cluckled
again, and softly lowered the window from
! which he had been gazing.
II.-THE TRIAL OF JACQUES DE LA FoN-
TAME
Our narrative refers mainly to after
events, and we caL not enter into the de-
| tails of what followed the assemblage of
Huguenots in the wood of Chatelars. Still
GU. .s..5uoyr1 oe3aiIa oIrOtstuo is
trial.
He was arrested, with others, on the in
J formation of the man August, and, under
| convoy of troup of archers taken
to the town of Saintes, where, amidst
furious cries Of Hang them hang them!'
from the Catholics, and lamentations from
the Protestants, they were thrown into
prison. Dupuy, for some reason, had moi
been arrested his position in the king:
guardsmen probably exempting him.
Immurcd in the loathsome prison Al
Saintes, Fontaine's courage did not fai
.him, and he preserved an equanimity which
excited the astonishment of his compan-
ions. The poor prisoners regarded him a
their only hope, and he continued inces'
sanity to encourage and confirm them /
their faith, praying, exhorting, and com
forting them.
The trial came at last before the Senes
cha3 of Saintagne, and to the charge
brought against him Fontaine replied wit
a legal acumen and boldness of bearin
which excited in his adversaries mingle
emotions of rage and astonishment. Pusl
ing aside, with naughty gesture, the j
nonainous stool upon which criminals we
forced to seat themselves, he wrung fro
the profigate Judge permission to subje
the testimony against him to rigid GRO:
examination; and this sitting process W
- persevered in, spite of threats, curses, a
fury on the judges part. Instead of awi
hits, this proceeding aroused Fontaine's E
= ! ger ; hau ghtily confronting the Senesch
> he threatened him vita impeachment, a
!, hslf from amazement, half from fear,
demands were complied with.
Under this exhausting examination,
uain witnesses vainly endeavored to sust
themselves. They stammered and foresw
y themselves.
-. "How far was from your house IN ps
ing?" he asked of August.
"About a musket shot"
:. "And yet you swore but now that IT,
' at the dusk of evening"" said Fontaine,
- - tending his hand toward the trembling
gocate. Miserable wretch that you a
y y was it not enough that you should d
~ - your baptism, and renounce your 1eIlg
70 yourself, but YOU must also employ f
% testimony to put temptation in the wa,
10 them whom God has sustained by his gr'
Now look at your own statement and s
'e God the glory"
- "At least I thought it was you !" st
IN mered August, turning pale.
y Write that down. said Fontaine.
d. The Seneschal declared it should not
ly done. "Very weIl," said Fontaine, ct
<; ly; then declare to you that I will
nes sign my conformation"
od Trembling with rage, but yielding to
threat which would have nulli6ed the
'ly tire proceeding, the Seneschal comp
ire "But you held illegal assemble
ng prison" cried the prosecutor.
Is; ! You are ;ong, Sire Avocst,"