The New Orleans Democrat., 1876-06-04
CHAPTER KY.
TUE JESTER

| The cG"at If the occurrence lust detailed was
4 visible in The altered complexion and demeauOr
/ Of The damos. aud it required NIL the galantry
4 and attention pf the ravHiers In any degree tu
restore thOr Raiatp. Conversation however
soon became more free and djseursive. Each
galliard bpastcs in his turu Of his prowess in
arms--of hiA rNterlty IN hnfscmanship-of his
unerring a 4wth tie pistol Of his fatal stroke
with tho pnignard-of his ability with tho rapior
LIN short Ut his perfect aruualntenee with the
whole tbeorie and practice ~ the duello-a a sub
Ioct which nose4sarily involved the discussion
of Criehton'i approaching combat. The dis
course began to take very animated turn many
speculati aus being hazarded rs to the rank and
name Of the challenger a subject upon which the
DANES appeared einguinrfv curious and even
Esclairmonde manifested anxiety; when. rs If
brought thlther to crafty their wishes the sable
mask suddenly presented himself at the en-
trance Of the banquet chamber.
Henri instantly commanded admittance to be
given to him. and the mask was. in consequence
ushered to the scat which Marguerite de Va ois
had abandoned thus bringing him into immedi-
atc contact wit n his ndyersaryC Their sit
uatlon appeared To Ice aEreeableto neither party
but It was now too late TO remedy the mistake
could.
Nothing can be further from my intention
than to interrupt the harmony of your maIesty's
table" said the mask, In roply 90 the kings
apology. and ! trust shall not incur the cen
SURE OF your brave gentlemen, by Offering
second otfense toione whom have already dcfed
10 the combat am no faith breaker. sire. Bur
| crave your pardon for trespasslng on your pa
tience. | came not hither Join your revels
Fore Heaven, then, mon GOuSlnV3 replied
Henri. regarding the mask with some astonish-
ment II not 70 festivity unto what hath your
visit relation
The mask looked with SOM anxiety toward
Crichton. The Scot instantly rose.
Il am Ia the way sire" he said. Your eoun-
sels will be- moro securely carried on If | quit
the banquet
mo. by our ladyl" eried Henri. rising. and
with great courtesy mptinning Criehton To
sumo his scat-'this shall never be. If any one
must suffer ineonvenience ii shall be oursGIf |
uypn ,fll tt-f
heed say you have chosen a strange season for
an audience.
towards IN cmbraSUrp-
'Chieot' ho said. in an undcrtone, as he
passed. do thpu assume our scat for the uon"c.
We must not attend to tle interests If others to
the entire exclusion ot Uar oWn-nnd hark ye,
gossip us you value your cars. suiIcr not a syl
latlH - pass betwecn Crirhten and our mig
nouue. Fsclajrmondo-v understaHdf'
With mork dignity. infinitely diyerting Ia
the guests. thicot instantly installed himself in
iienri's vacant chair; his first proceeding being
to place his marottp between the lovers which
he laughing termed His Ambassadors sword
whereby they wero 10 understand they could
only speak by. proxy His next. was to call
ingly have declined the jaster's invitation but
the voices Of the jewellers were against him. and
he was neecssitated TO promise compliance.
Fool" muttered Crnhton. sternly, who had
already taken advantage Of the kings absence
e hazard whisps 10 Esclairmonde-"w wilt
thou mar this opportunity afforded us. by
should she not fly now? | alone will withstand
every attempt at pursuit.
And who will then be the fool?" replied
Chicot. Mono. my addle-pate hath hatched |
a scheme worth two Of yours Set yourself at
ease. Borrow sarbacane from the Vcomte de !
Joyeuse; and meanwhile suffor the 'lawgver Of
Parnassus.' as his flattcrers term him. to pro-
ceed with his roundeay Soc you not that it di- |
verts the attention Of the guests, and leaves us
at liberty?-Fool. 1uotha recant that appella
ton. brother.
Il cry thee mercy. gossip rojoined Crichton:
,hou art indeed. n very miracle Of wit. yoyeuse,"
be added, addressing the vicomte, Il prithee,
TO dispatch "A billet to some distant fair one
IN the outer banquet hall; ah! gaiilard; here
the long tubo of chased silver resting by his
side. to the Scot
Konsard. meanwhile commenced his song,
luring the progress Of which the lester had not
idle. Amidst a thousand absurd
zrimaces. intended for tho amusement of the
company, he had contriyed in various ways to
ng Esclairmonde's deliverance to Crichton.
and the latter, struck, apparently. with the
easlbility Of his plan. traced hurried
which he took from pile OF confectIOn-
sry before him. and then applying the sarba-
'ane to his lips. winged with d, xterous aim the
Torgni. This incident, if it attracted any no.
ice at all. passed for mere piece Of gallantry,
isuppositlon abundantly confirmed by the con
iuct OF the fair Florentine. whose sparkling
eyes and throbbing bosom, as she perused the
paper. as we'll as her nod Of acquiescence white
she finally crushed it within her hands sufli-
.iently attested the nature of her feelings.
who was her neighbor hemmed sig
nficantly Torigni crimsoned to the temples
1ut nothing more passed upon the matter
"BravOr' exclaimed Crichton, who. flushed
With the anticipated success Of his scheme had
low entirely recovered his spirits, and joined
in the applauses bestowed upon
Ronsard's performance; though it may be sus-
oected from the warmth of his praises, that not
word of the song had reached his ears.
And to fp ia nd tha
We would willingly serve you in this enleve-
nent Of the Gelosa.' said Henri continuing a