The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-15
[ GENTLEMAN or FRANll
Being the Memoirs Of CASTOR de Bonne.
Sieur de Masac.
A ROMANCE.
M STANLEY J. wEYMAN,
3 Au.aor Of q" The House Of thu woit" 10.
rsytrIohL 1893. ~ aarisy >. H-uran
CHAPTER xxx.

ny.rsm 1893 ~ saniv J. WsnaA
4 CHAPTER xxx.
IS pEsr1LEscE AND FAMINE.
While Magician was away about this bust
moss. I despatched two men to catch our
horses. which were running loose In the val
ley. and TO remove those OF Bruhl's party to
cafe distance from the castle Blocking VI
he iowor part OF the door leading into the
courtyard. named four pen TO remain under
arms beside Il. that we might not be taken By
surprise. M event OF which I had the less fear
however. since the enemy was now reduced &c
eight swords. and could only escape. ~ we
could only enter, through this doorway. was
still busted with those arrangements. whom M.
Francois Joined me. and broke of to oompll-
mont him on his COURAGE. acknowledging In
particular the service he had done me. The
heat Of the conflict had melted the young
mans reserve. and flushed his face with pride
and EMULATION. but rs no listened to me. he
froze aRain. and when ended. he REGARDED
me with the Same cold hostility.
II am Obliged to you" no said. bowing.
"But may I ask what next, NJ do MarsaoP"
I'VE have no choice" answered. "We
must starve them out"
But the ladies 2" he said. starting slightly.
They will suffer less than the men," re-
starving long"
He seemed surprised. having before though
apparently that had reiterated merely to
gather strength for o second attack. ex-
planned that with our small numbers we cou Id
not hope to storm the tower and might think
ourselves fortunate that We had now got the
enemy cooped up whore he could not escape.
and must eventually surrender.
But. meanwhile. how will you insure the
women against violenoe3" he asked. with an
cir which showed he was far from satisfied.
II will see to that whom Magician comes
back" I answered. confidently.
The eauerry appeared in moment with the
assurance that egress from the further side OF
the tower was impossible. babe him. never
thsless. to keep q horseman moving around the
hill that he might have intelligence Of any at
tempt Tho order was scarcely given when q
man, one OF those whom had loft on guard at
the door o. tho courtyard. came to tell mo that
NJ Fresnoy desired to speak with me ON be-
half OF N. do Bruhl.
Where is he." asked. not at all surprised.
AT the door with nag OF truce" he said.
1"Teli him. then." aaid. without Offering to
move. that will communicate with no one
except his leader. NJ. de BruhL But add this,
my friend" continued. land say Il aloud:
That u the ladies whom no has in charge are
man within those wallis from NJ. de Bruhl to
the youngest laokey In his pay" And added
asolemn oath to that effect.
The man nodded and went on his errand
while and M. Francois. with Magician, re-
NAMED standing outside the gate. looking
over the valley and the brown woods. Through
which we had ridden In tho early morning z.
Ny eyes rested chiefly on tho latter. Maighan's
On tho former. For while. In my perfect sat-
isfaction at the result OF tho attack and the
manner in which We had Bruhl confined. I did
not remark the gravity which gradually over
spread the equerry's countenanoe: but when
did took tho alarm and asked him in mo-.
ment what It meant.
II do not like that your Exoellency," no an.
swsred. pointing to the valley.
looked anxtously. and looked. and saw
nothing.
"what3" said In astonlshmet
The blue mist" he answered with shiver.
"Itis rising fast"
j cried out on him for maudlin fool, and II.
Francois swore impatlently; but for all that.
and despite the contempt strove to exhibit I
felt sudden chill at my heart as recognized
In the valley below the same blue haze which
had attended us through Yesterdays ride. and
left us only at nlghtfall. Involuntarily we
both fell to watching 1t as 1t rose slowly and
more slowly, enveloping the green bottom and
then the lower woods. and SO spreading itself
abroad In the sunshine 1t Is hard to witness
q bold mans terror and remain unaffected by
u, and for my part. confess it frankly. trem.
bled. Here was something which had not
tnken into account and against which could
not guard either myself or others
"SeeT Magician whispered hoarsely. point
ing again with his finger. 1T is the angel OF
death2 When he kills by ones and twos he IL
unseen. But whom no Stays by hundreds and
thousands men see the shadow OF his wings"
"Chut fool!" retorted with anger. which
was secretly proportionod to the impression
his weird saying made on me. You have been
In battlesi Did you ever see him thers2 or at
Rsack2 But truce to this folly" continued.
And do you go and inquire what food we have
with us Itmay te necessary to send for some"
was not slow to peceive the peril with
which these fesrs mud apprehensons. which
rapidly became general. threatened my plans.
strivingt to keep the men employed and to oc-
cupy their thoughts as far as possible with
tho enemy and his proceedings L soon found
that oven here danger lurked: for Maighan.
coming to mo by and by with grave face. told
me that ono OF Bruhl's men had ventursd out
and was pareying with tho guard on our side
Of the court. went hastily and broke the
matter on. threatening to shoot the follow II
no was not under cover before counted ten:
but the scared sulky faces he left behind him
told me that the mischief was done. and
could think Of no better remedy for 1t than to
give N. Francois hint and station him at the
outer gate with his pistols ready
The quest ons OF provisions. too threatened
to become sorious dim Guilty. for dared not
leave to pro,ure them myself nor could !
trust any OF my man with the mission. The
besleGers were rapidly becoming tho bssieged.
lntsnt on the rising haze and their own ter
rors. they forgot all else. Vigilance and eau
tion wore thrown to the winds. Despite all
my eIorta and threats, the men left their
posts. and. getting together In little parties at
the gate, worked themselves up to such a
pltch OF superstitious dread that by two hours
after noon they wero NJ for any folly. and at
the mere cry OF I" PLAGUED" would have rushed
" their horses and ridden In every direction.
Seeing that under these circumstances I
could dspend for useful service on myself and
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