The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-27
A GENTLEMAN OF France.
Being the Memoirs OF CASTOR de Bonn ne,
Sieur de Marsac.
- S1OMANCE.
ny STANLEY j. WEYMAN.
Author Of The House OF the Wolf" 40.
1928. BY S,dni,g J. Weyma
CHAPTER XIV.
NJ. DE RAMBouILLET.

NJ. DE RkMBoUHLET.
We made n melancholy start OF IL. The
perpexity into which / was thrown by the In
oident last related. which admitted OF more
explanations than one. prevailed with me for
some time and was only dlssipnted at length
BIZ my seeing my own face as IL were In glass.
For CHANGING presently to look behind me
observed that Simon Fleix was riding. not
vfthstanding his fno hat and feather and his
new sword. in q posture and with an air OF
detection difficult to exaRgerate: and the re-
Election that master and man had the Same OBJ
feet in their minds-nsy. the bare thought that
possibly he bore In his bosom q like token to
that which lay warm In mine. occurring to mo
II reused myself as from some degrad Ing
dream, and shaking up The Cid cantered for
ward to Join Rosny. who, In no cheerful mood
himself was riding steadily forward, wrapped
10 his eyes In his cloak.
Tho news Of the King OF Navarre's Hines
had fallen on him. In the midst Of his san
guine scheming. with the force OF thunder
bolt He saw hlmself In danger OF losing ut
once tho master he loved and the brilliant fu-
tnre TO which he looked forward: and amid the
Imminent crash Of his hopes and the destruc-
lion Of the system In which he lived had
scarcely time to regret the vito he was leav-
ine % Rosny, or the quiet from which he was
10 suddenly called. His heart was In the south.
et La Qanaohs. By Henrys couch: his main
idea was to get there quickly at all risks. The
uame OF tho King OF Navarre's physician was
constantly on his lips "Dortoman Is q good
man. II any ono can save him Dortoman
will. twas his perpetual cry And whenever
we mot any one who had the least appearance
Of bearing news he would have me stop and
interrogate him. and by no means let him go
until he had given us tho last rumor from
kho Nho n fbro 1rh yvh nj hn M, va
from the south reached us.
An incident which occurred ut the inn that
evening cheered him somewhat, the most
powerful minds being prone. have observed.
60 snatch ct omons In such times of uncer-
tainty. An elderly man OF strange appearance,
and dressed In an affected and bizarre fashion
was seated at table when we arrived. Though
entered first in my capacity OF leader OF the
party. he lot me pass before him without COM
mspt, but rose and solemnly saluted NJ. de
Rosny. who walked behind me and was much
moro plainly dressed. Rosny returned his
greeting. and would have passed on. but the
stranger interposing. with a still lower bow
invited him to his own seat. which was near
the fire and sheltered from the draught at tho
came time preparing himself to remove to an
other place.
Nay" said my companion. surprised BY
such an excess OF courtesy. =" do not see why
I should take your place. SIR"
Mot mine only" the old man rejoined.
looking at him with particularly and speak
ing with an emphasis which attracted our at
tention. but many others. who, can assure
you. will very shortly yield them up to YOU.
whether they will or no."
M. de Rosny shrugged his shoulders and
passed on, affecting to think the old man
raved. But privately he thought much OF his
ND VIII hal laar nd hat hay
an astrologer from Paris. who had the name.
at any rate In this country. OF having studied
under NostraLamus. And whether he drew
fresh hopes from this. or turned his attention
moro particularly as we approached Blos to
present matters. certainly he grew m ore cheer
full. and began again to discuss the future as
though assured Of his masters recovery.
You have never been to the Kings court"
he said presently. following up as Judged a
train of thought Of his own. AT Blois. l mean ?"
mo. nor do feel anxious to visit It." an
swered ITO tell you the truth. NJ. lie Baron"
continued with some warmth. tho sooner we
are past Blois the better shall be pleased.
think we run some risk there. and besides
do not fancy q shambles. l do not think
could see the King without thinking cf the
Bartholomew. nor his chamber without think
: ing OF Guise."
"Tut tut" he said. you have killed man
before now"
Many" answered.
do they trouble your"
mo. but they were killed in fair fight"
argued. That makes a difference"
TO YOU" he said. dryly. But you arc not
the King Of France. you see. Should you ever
como across him." he continued. flicking his
horses ears with faint smile on his lips. /
will give you hint Talk to him OF the bat
ties OF Jarnao and Moneontour. and praise you
Condos father. As Condo lost tho fight and he
won It. the compliment comes home to him.
For the moro hopelessly man has lost his
poweps. my friend. the more fondy he regards
them. and the more highly he prizes the VIC
tories he con no longer gain"
"Ughr" muttered.
~of the two parties at court" Rosny con-
tinued. calmly overlooking my ill-humor.
trust d'Aumont and Biron and the French
clique They are true to France at any rate.
But whomsoever you see oonsort with the two
Rstzses-ths King OF SPANS jackals as call
them-avoid him for spaniard and traitor"
but the Rotzses are Italians" objected,
psevishiy.
The same thing" he objected. CURLY.
" They cry Vive 10 Roiv but privately they
are for tho League. or for Spain. or for what
ever may most hurt us. who arc better French
men than themselves. and whose leader will
some day. II God spare his life. BIO King OF
France"
Well. the less have to do with the one or
the other OF them. save at the swords point,
tho better shall BIO pleased" l reioined
Helooked at me with queer smile. Thought
- was his way whom he had moro in his mind
than appeared. And this and something
special In the tone OF his conversation as well.
perhaps. as my own doubts about my future.
and about his Intentions regarding me. gave
me an uneasy feeling, which lasted through
the day and left me- only when more immediate
peril presently arose to threaten MS.
1t happened in this way. We had
reached tho outskirts OF Blois and were ap-
proaching the gate, hoping to pass through it
without attracting attention, when two travel
lers rode slowly out OF lane. the mouth of
which'we were passing. They eyed us closely
- Icy reined in to let US 60 by. and NJ. do
Rosny, who was riding with his horses head
at my stirrup, whispered me to press on. Be-
fore could comply. however. the strangers
cantered past us. turning in the saddle when
abreast OF us to look us in the lace. aud q
moment later, one OF them crying loudly to tho
other, 1T Is he" they pulled their horses
across the road and waited for us to come up.