The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-24
CHAPTER Xx1IL

After she had disappeared stood for a few
noment e on t The stair. wondering What
Eav ths
tolerably certain OF finding MAIDEN olsele in u
more, reasonable mood then But as 1t was
CAME QUICKLY to the CO Conclusion that the only
course oncn to me was to go at once to NJ de
a ask SS s sm frankly how the
Maghan had posted one OF his men on guard
at the open doorway into the street. and fixed
where he could overlook an intruder without
being seen himself; Satisfied with this ar
force him. and sharply ordered Simon FleiX,
concerning whose conduct in regard to mad
The night, / found. on reaching the street.
was very cold. the sky. hero 1t was visible
between the caves. being bright with stars. A
sharp wind still blew. compelling us to wrap
our cloaks around US and hurry on at pace
which agreed well with the excitement Of my
complaisant. l might have seen my mission
ACCOMPLISHED within the hour it was impossi-
to crafty within. played with tho secrets OF
Kingdom as 4 they were counters. and risked
IN Ill the 1ssns Of weeks
and with her. But my, resentment fell SO far
short OF the occasion that | wondered uneas;
with her thar. Inclined e lay ne blame where
tcmptuously that she was n woman and that
women were not accountable. felt that the
not in this. but in the suspicion which her ref
erence to the favor she had given me on my
hSsny had the
/ might have followed this train OF thought
1f rnechn ing w Sas
diverted from 1t by the Abnormally quiet aspect
dozen, servants might commonly DO seen
lounging. Now the doors were closed., no
sounded empty and, desolate when Knocked.
No iqckeys hurried to receive me even then:
all this might mean, and when the man at last
pardon II he had Kept me waiting. asked him i'm
What vas the s,9 matter Ana where E the
Wg You In% SSsssdaf % asked
a'sEp He
wHS is @s nat heard &a s Kst tie Dul.
Mereouer and Marshal Retz. with all their peo-
pie. left Blois this afternoon 7"
startled E HSIi het boana somewhat
For Paris. It is said. sir. to Join the League"
Kin Egs 90 Ss kSSS mean they have deserted the
THAT Tor certain. sir" he answered.
He owes everything to hin" '
wen, he 10 GOne blr, the OLD man an
swered The news was brought to NJ. lie
Marquis about o'clock or a little after. He
got his people together and started after them
to persuade them to return. SO 1t Is said"
rapidly reviewed the situation In my mind.
II this strange news were true. and men like
Mercoeur, who had eVery, reason to stand by
the King. as well as men like Ketz. who had
long been suspected OF disaffection. were
abandoning the court. the danger must be
coming very close indeed. The King must
feel his throne already lettering and be eager
to grasp any means OF supporting II. Under
such circumstances 1t seemed to me to be my
paramount duty to reach him: to gain his ear
II possible. and at all risks. that / and not
Bruhl. Navarro and not Turenne might profit
by the first impulse OF self preservation.
Bidding the porter shut his door and keep
close, hurried to the castle. each step took
Affirming me in this resolution. Tho court
found To my surprise In much the same state
Of disorder and depression as NJ. de Ram
bouilleta house. There were double guards.
indeed. at the gates who let me pass only after
scrutinizng me closely: but the courtyard.
which was commonly at this hour abaze with
torches and crowded with lack O. s and grooms.
was dark wilderness. in which half q dozen
links twinkled mournfully Entering J. found
things within IN as bad state: the hall Ill lit,
the staircase manned by a few whispering
groups. who scanned me as ! passed: the
antechamberS almost empty, or occupied only
by the gray uniforms OF the SwitZer Guards.
had looked to see courtiers Assem- bling TO re-
assure their sovereign: ! found only gloomy
faces, watchful eyes and mouths ominouBly
closed. An air Of constraint and forebodlng