The sun., 1893-08-13
A GENTLEMAN OF FRINGE.
Being the Memoirs OF CASTOR de
Bonne, Sieur de Marsac.
A ROM ANCE.
BY STANLEY y. WEYMAN,
Author Of Tho House Of the W6if." 20.

CHATTER X.-cnXc1rprn.

Alarmed on her behalf. as I reelected tha
there might DO other doors to tho room md
the ION have other RccOmriicos in tho house
I sprang TO the opening to SEQ but had barely
time to send a single glance around tho in
terror enough to show mo that the room was
still occupied, aud no moro before FrcsnoN
taking advantage OF my movement and OF nj
back being turned dashed M the stairs Will
his comrnde Mt his heels, and succeeded In
penning mo In the narrow passage whore
stood.
Ihad scarcely time. indeed TO turn and pn'
myself on guard before lie thrust At mo. Nor
was that all. Tho superiority in position M
longer lay with me. Tor found myself lighting
close to the opening in tho door. through
which the light fell athwnrt my eyes. battling
and pcrplcxing mo-. Fre-nuy was not slow to
see the aid this gavo him. and pressed me hard
and desperately. SO that we played for full
minute at close quarters. thrusting and parry
ing. neither OF us having room to use the edge.
or time to utter word OF prayer.
At this cnme we were so evenly mat ched that
for time the end was hard to tell. Presently.
however there came a change. My opponent s
habit OF hard living suited iii with prolonged
bout. and as his strength and breath tniled and
no began TO give ground discerhcd had
only to wear him oHt to have him nj my
mercy. He felt this himsolf. and oven by that
light saw tho sweat stand in great drops
on his forehead. saw tho terror grow in his
eyes. Already | was counting him dead
man and the victory mine, when something
flashed behind his blade. and his comrades
poinard, whizzng past his shoulder. struck
me aercely on tho chin. staggering mo. and
hurling me back dizzy and hail stunned I'M
'eEtap what aI nappGpSa Wo to m hy, done it,
work and flushed mine Even rs 1t was. my
hand going up as staggered back. gave Fres-
noy an opening OF which he was NOT slow to
avail himself. lie sprang forward. lunging at
me furiopsly. and would hnve run me through
there and then and ended the matter had not
which still lay against the wall, lie stun blcd
forward. his point missing my hip by hairs
sell. fcll all his length upon the floor. his
rnp.er breaking OF short at the hilt;
His one remaining hacker stayed to cast q
single look at him. nnd that was AL. He led.
stairs. whsre lett him assured BY the speed
AiRht that l had nothing to fear from him.
Fresnoy lay stll. apparently stunned and
ooeins at him. M IN TWO SP minds w6ether Ue shonId
not run him through. But tho memory Of old
days when hc had played his part in more hon
ioWsEip n ,He eIh @ G hsG my 8and e ana sIoa ne
ing q curse at him. turned in anxious haste
and com motion. Tho light still shone through
the BREACH in tho panel. but for some minutes
since FreSnoy y rush up thc stairs. indeed i
had heard no sound from This quarter. Now
looking in with ,apprehensions which grew
each SECOND with tho continuing silence.
The disapnointm in the moment OF tri-
umph was hard to bear. | saw myself. after all
was done nnd won. on the point II being out
frantic haste / snached up the stool beside me.
nnd dashinS i twes against nI the lock forced
rushed into tho room. which. abandoned BY
those who had @ 80 lately occupied It, presented
n more prison. and. swiftly crossing the floor.
made for door at the further end. which my
stood faring and fiuttering on stool, and as
passed took 1t un.
AZ much to my surprise as delight the door
iumbled With doors or wandered in passag
found myself at the head Of a narrow. mean
staircase. Leading no doubt to tho servan It's Of
fees; At this. and seeing no hlndrance before
me, took heart OF grace rejecting that
mAdemolselIe might have escaped from the
house this way. and that though It would be
her and all enI we'll hurried down the stairs.
shading shading my candle ,, as ! went from cold
stronger as / descended. and roac6ine iM ths
bottom at last. came abruptly upon an open
door aud an old woman.
down on the floor, Doubtless with my drawn
sword and tho blood drippng from my chin.
anu blhlnlHR tne front my uOuDlet. /
looked aeree and uncanny enough. But felt
It was no time for sensibility, l was painting to
be away; and demanded Of her, ,sternly where
they were: She seemed to have lost her voice.
through fear perhaps. and for answer only
stared at me stupidity but on my handling my
weapon with some readiness she so far recov-
cred as to utter two loud screams. one after
the other. and point TO the door beside her. |
doubted, and yet I thought in her terror she
must be telling the truth, tho moro as saw no
chance 1t set the candle down on the stop be-
eido her and passed ont.
For moment the darkness was 80 intense
inat e,,, ielt my way with my sword before me.
IN II, absolute Ignorance where was OF on what
OF any one who chanced to be lying in wait for
me. and shiveied rs the cold, damp wind
and by. when had taken two or three steps,
my eyes grew accustomed to the gloom and
= garden. Ny lett iani touching a shrub con. n
1rmed me In this and in another moment
path stretching away before me. Following It
rapadiy.as % :. RAPIDLY as | dared came to
and stopped short. pserinc into % C curtain % of
solid hlackness which barred my path. and
overhead mingled confnsedly with the dark
made out to be a wall. Advancing to It with
91tstretohed hands. felt the woodwork OF
oSp o Cord od hs he hRsedSeny do9f opeaed am
and went OUT.
l was in u narrow dark lane. and, looking
guessed before. that, it was the Ruelle d'Arcy.
But madame seeY Fanchette2 Simon? Whore
We're they! liftod up my voice In the last re-
sort; and called On them in turn. first on
madainolselle. then on Simon Fleix. In vain;
! got no answer, High up above me saw, as
I stood back little Tights moving in the house
! had left. and the suspicion that. after ali,
the enemy. had foiled me. grew upon me.
Somehow they had dscoyed madamoisoil To
another part Of the house. and then the old
woman had nisled me.
turned fercely to the door. which had
lett aJar, resolved to reenter hy tho way had
come. and have an explanation whether or NO,
10 my surprise. for had not moved six PAGES
from the door nor heard the slightest sound
ionnu " not only closed. but bolted behind me,
.o9ited at both top and bottom. as discov-
fell TO Kicking 1t furiously, desperately.
parity IN tempest OF rage and chagrn rartly
In the hoEs that might frighten the old
woman. y II We're, she who had closed II. into
opening 1t again In vain. OF course; and pres.
emily saw this and leslsted. and. still In a
whirl OF haste and eXcitem emit, set off running
toward the place whore had left Simon FloX
ana the horses. 1t was full u O'clock as
judged but somo faint hope that might find
him there with madam oiseile and her Woman
bti!i fingered In my mind. reached the end
VI the lane, ran to tho very foot Of tho ram
parts and looked right and left. The plnce
was dark. silent deserted,
called. "Simoni Simon! Simon FleiS," hut
my only answer WAS the souGhing OF the wind
IN the caves and the slow tones OF tho convent
bell striking six.
CHAPTER VI.