The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-25
A GENTLEMAN OF FRANCE.
Being the Memoirs OF CASTOR de Bonne,
Sieur de Marsac
A ROMANCE.
ny STANLEY J. wEYMAN.
Author Of The House of the WOLF" 10.
oorvtoh, 1898. BY sontsy j. Wpmdn
CHAPTER THE SPORT OF Fools.

OF my only patron reouceu me 10 Huoh suene
that the winter OF that year. which saw the
AEino Of Navarro come to spend his Christmas
ht st Joan d'Angely. saw the lowest depth OF
INV fortunes did not know at this time-I
,s,av confess It to-day without shame-whithsr
40 turn for q gold crown or new scabbard.
and neither had nor discerned any hope OF
Semployment The peace. lately patched up at
hlois between the King OF France and the
League, persuaded many OF the Huguenots
lthst their final ruin was ut hand; It could not
V8ll their exhausted TREASURY. or enable them
10 nut fresh troops into the field.
Tho death Of this Prince had left the King OF
Novnrre without rival in the affections OF the
Uuuuenots. tho yiscount OF Turenne. whose
tr,bulont ambition already began to mako
itself felt and NJ. dc Chattllon ranking next to
linn. 1t was my i'll fortune. however. to be
equally unknown to all these leaders. and as
the month OF December which saw me thus
miserably straitened saw me also reach tho
aee OF 40, which regard. differing In that
from many as tho grand climacterio OF
sman's life. It will be believed that had need
kof all tho courage which religion and q CAM
Epaignor's life could supply.
& I Ind been compelled some time before to
Nell all my horses. except the black Sardinian
With tho white spot on the forehead: and I
tnoy found myself obliged to part also with
my valet do chambre and groom. whom l dis
Fwares with the last links Of gold chain left to
me. It was not without grief and dismay that
, I saw myself thus stripped OF the appurte-
hnauces OF man Of birth, and driven to groom
bmy own horse under cover OF night But this
I WINS not the worst My dress. which suffered
somewhat from this mental employment
Ebegan in no long time to bear witness to my
bchange OF circumstances: SO that on the day
E.of the King OF Navarre's entrance into St
II g. vuI nvDyo lynh
/ 10 remark the poverty Of those above them
Ebut was iain to keep within doors and wear
out my patience In the garrett OF tho cutler'o
Ehouse In the Rue do la Coutellerie. which was
sall the lodging could now afford.
r Pardleu. tits strange world Strange the
!,thon, and strange the nowl My reflections on
TINT day. I remember. were most melancholy.
Look at It how would. Icould not butsee that
my LIES spring was oyer. The crows feet were
gathering about my eyes, and my mustachios,
which seemed with each day OF Ill fortune to
stand out more fercely in proportion as my
face grew leaner were already gray. Twas
ont at elbows. with empty pockets. and q
sword which peered through the sheath. Tho
nennest rufler. who with broken feather and
furnished lace staggered at the heels Of Tu-
renne was scarcely to be distinguished from
mo. had STILL 1t Is true. rock and few
barren acres in Brittany. the last romans Of
the family property ouO SuO buoh ouu1e
which the farmers could afford to pay were
sent annually to Paris to my mother. who had
no other dover. And this would not touch.
being minded to die . gentleman. even II
could not live in that estate.
Small rs were my expectations Of success,
since had NO one at tho Kings side to push
my business. nor any friend at court. never
theless did all I could. drew up o petition.
and, lying in wait one day for NJ Forget. the
49, al, ~A@ fvSh IT.
hand. begging him to lay 1t before that Prince.
He promised to do so. politely and with as
much lip-civillty as had right to expect.
But the careless manner In which he doubled
ND the paper on which had spent so much
labor and thrust 1t into his pouch. no less than
tho covert sneer OF his valet. who ran after me
to getthe customary present-and ran. as still
blush to remember. in van-warned mo to re-
frain from hope.
In this. however. having little save hope
left. I failed so signally as to spend the next
day and the day after In q fever Of alternate
confidence and despair the cold At following
the hot with perfect regularity At length. on
the morning OF the third day. remember It
lacked but three Of Christmas-I heard a step
on the stairs. My landlord living In the shop
and the two intervening floors being empty.
had no doubt the message was for me. and
went outside the door to receive 1t. my FIRST
RIauC6 ~ tuo m6bSouBeE CouuThiuk uo III my
highest hopes as we'll as In all that had ever
heard Of the generosity OF the King OF Navarro
Recognized the lad for one OF the royal pages.
saucy fellow. who had day or two before
cried "Old Clothesv' after me In the street.
was very far from resenting this now. however.
nor did he appear to recall 1t, 80 that drew
the hsppiest augury. as to the contents Of the
note he bore. from the politeness with which
he presented It to me.
Iwould not, however run the risk Of mis-
take. and asked him directly and with formal
fly II It was for mo.
He answered with the utmost respect that
It was for the Sieur de Marsac. and for me II
were he.
There is an answer. perhaps ?" I said. SEQ
ing that he fingered.
"The King OF Navarro. sir. will receive your
answer in person. I believe" he replied. with
a low bow And with that replacing tho cap.
which he had dotred out OF respect for me. he
turned and went down the stairs.
Returning to my room and looking the door,
Ihastily opened the missive. which was sealed
with large seal. and found It's contents to
exceed all my expectations The King OF Ma
varre desired me to walt on him at noon on
the following day. and the letter concluded
with such expressions OF kindness and good
will as left me In no doubt Of the Princes In
tentions. I read 1t, l confess. with emotions
OF Joy and gratitude which would better have
become o younger man. and cheerfully sat
down to spend the rest OF the day In making
such improvements In my dress as seemed
possible concluded with thankful heart
that had now escaped from poverty-at any
rate from such poverty as is disgraceful to a
gentleman-and consoled myself for the mean
ners OF the appearance must make at court
with the reflection that day or two would
mend both habit and fortune
Accordingly 1t was with q stout heart that
left my lodgings a few minutes before noon
next morning and walked toward tho castle.
1t was some time since had made SO public
an appearance In the streets which the visit
OF the King Of Navarres court had filled with
An unusual crowd, and could not help fancy
ing as passed that some of the loiterers eyed
me with covert smile. and indeed I was
shabby enough. But finding that frown
more than sufficed to restore the gravity OF
theaa Qanfry 7 sat down ha man IN "a IN m