, 1877-11-04

though no guile or fear OF guile were known to
THOSE within. 4 tall figure OF man, muscular
an,i spare, but little bent. confronted Nlllon-
The head was massive in bulk, but finely sculp-
tured; thu nose blunt at the bottom, but REIN
ing upward to where it joined pair OF strong
AMI homes: eyebrows: the mouth and eyes sur
rounding with delicate markings, and the whole
fave based upon thick white beard, boldly aud
st,,tarely trimmed. Seen as it was BY the
light Of a ticScring hand-lamp: It looked
perhaps nobler than it had any right to do; but
it wa, fine face, honorable rather than lntell-
gent, strong, simple, and righteous.
:. You KNOCK late. sir, said tho Old man IN
resonant, courteous tones.
Tillon crinYeu, aud brought up many serVlle
words OF apology: ut crisis Vi this sort, the
beg.av was uppermost in him, anu the man Of
genius hid his head III confusion.
" You are coii,r repeated the old man, - and
hungry! Well step n.' And he ordered him
1,.tO the house with i noble enough gesture.
Some grand scgneIr," thought 'ilion, US
his host. setting duwn the lamp Oh the Tagged
pavement OF the entry, SHOT the bolts once more
into thclr places.
on will parlon me II I go in 'front.'" he
said, when this WAS done; and he preceded the
puet upstairs into large apartment. warma'l
with i pan of charcoal and lit by j great lamp
hanging from, the ROOT; 1t WIS very oare OF
furniture; only some gold plate OIL sidehoard;
some 1olius: unu stand Of arnor between tho
windows. Some smart tapestry hung upon the
walls, representing the csuc'ixon of our Lord,
il one piecc, and in another scene ot shepherds
aud shcpherucsscS hy rlnulng stream. Over
the chi1uuey was i shield OF arms.
"W'iil YOU seat YOURSELF" said the old man,
s:and forgive mt il leave you! am alone in
my house tonight. and you are to eat must
forage for you myself
No sooner was tus host gone than Villon
icaped frou the chair on which he hnd just
seated himself, and began examining thu; room,
with the stealth and passion Of Il cat. Ho
weighed the gold hagons in his hand, opened
all the oios, au.t the arms upon tne
shield, and the stuff with whicl the seats were
lined III raised the window-cnrtains. and saw
that the windows were set with rich stained
glass in figures, ST lar As he could see, Of mar.
lial import. Then be stood Ill the middle ol
the room, drew long breath. and, retaining it
on his heels, as If to impress every feature u
the apartment on his memory.
"Sryen picccs Of plate" he said. =" Ii there
had peeu ten, would have rssked it. Ann
house, and fine old MASTER, SO help INC all INC
saiuts!"
And lust then. hearing the old mans tread re
turning along the corridor, be stole back to the
char. and began huinbiy teastlng lis wei legs
before the charcoal pan.
His entertainer hail III plate OF Inea. IN ono
hand aud i Jug Of wine In the other. lie SET
down the plate upon tue table, motlonins Villon
to draw iu his CHAIR, aud, goiug to the stcboaEd,
brought back two goblels, which he filled.
II drink to your better fortune," he said,
graycly touching Flllon'S cup with bis Own.
TO uue better acquaintance" said the poet.
grow ing bold. 4 mere man OF the people
would have been awed by the courtesy OF the
old seisneur, but ytllon was hardened in that
matter; he had made mirth for great lords be-
fore now, and found them as black sascais as
himself. And SO he devoted himself to the
yIa,,ds with ravenous glsto, while the OLD
mau, leaning backward, watched him with
stealY curious eyes. =.
@You have blood On your shoulder. my man,
he said.
Montigny must have laid his wet right hand
uoou him as be left the house He cursed Mo0-
II *f1t vas none Of my shedding" he stam-
mered.
IL had not supposed so," returned his host
Quietly. "a brawt!"
s.WelI, something Of that sort, " Vnlon ad-
mittcl with quaver-
.Perhaps fellow murdered?''
uOh no. not murdered" said the poet, more
and more confused. s'1t was all fair play-mur.
dc1ed by accident. / had no hand IN 1t, God
strike nc dead!n he added fervently.
aOne rogue the fewer, dare SAP" observed
the master Of the house.
SYou may dare to say that" agreed Yillon,
infinitely relieved. "As big rogue as there is
between here and Jerusalem. He turned up
bis toes like lamb. But 1t Taa naat7 thing