The sun., 1893-09-10
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE orFER OF THE LEAGUE.

As his footsteps died away I awoke from al
Of NJ hneH snS the
apology to the former for my dsc0urtesy II
keeping him standing in the cold. l began t
were such that in the middle Of q set phrase
| broke of and stood looking fixedly at him. my
trouble so plain that he asked me civilly Il
"iEorI answered. turning from him I'M I'M
With bnO,hnfb chsnss 1 tel
mind. who Is that who has lust LEFT us ~
Father Antoine. do you meanp"
Ay. Father Antoine. Father Judas. call him
what you like" ,rejoined bitterly.
| Then. II you leave the choice to me-" N
would rather cali him something more pleas:
sh sai5 Ssfs TSss Ssss sss. AZ AZ
you Knew hini He i sesretary, sonfldant,
one Of those whom-in your ear-,greater men
court, and more powerful men lean on. II
had tS cho9s9 he between them would rather
Il am Obliged to you." I muttered. checked
as much BY hi his !, manner an as his words. ,,.,,.
Any inform alton have is at, your disposal"
However; | saw the tnprpdence Of saying
suadins @ him to allow s one S Of T De Ra@boHaiI @
announced that he should cali on me in the
way. and myself accompanied by Simon
with long standne-i think the corpse we left
was scarce colder-but my head was hot with
ahd ~. sed daFS
where my followers saw only 5laeEness and and
fraught with menace and exultation.
sss ed tn aH m
strange surroundings, and In an tmosphere
sufficiently difficult and the disadvantages
under which l labored sufficiently serious.
Bruhfs that even NJ de Rosny,,s literaiity had
not done much to make upthe difference l
hsd the hope % of ah ssenf bn
matched with man Of violent and headstrong
character. had seen no great reason to de-
srst msetins between the King and Nile. s Dc ia "a
Wire with safety and success and conduct to
its end an Intrigue simple and unsuspectei
and requiring for Its execution rather courage
and caution than address or experience.
Now. it seemed that Bruhl was, not my only
was waiting outside the arena. ready to snatch
the prize when we should have disabled one
ss0as ss fo% It Sru or sSs s s
favor. wherein neither could expose the other
or appeal to the Joint enemies q his Majesty
l
the masters Of the situation. possessed Of the
clue to our plans. and permitting them only
as lf1,ng as n they @ seemed to threaten no serious
No discovery could be more mortifying or
more frauRht with danger. Tho perspiration
ing which NJ. de Rosny had given mo against
Cardinal Retz. and noted down the various
Antoine's possession. He knew every event Of
the last month, with ono exception: and could
tell. verify believed, how many crowns had
81 a iyal n,,II
be known to him before she had we'll passed
the gates: nor was it likely. or even possible.
Kings presence untraced and unsuspected.
In line, l saw myself. equally with Bruhl. q
ahs IA amy s9s out Ut
and Destruction, At any moment i might be
which Was engaged rained. S e%sdifiiSs and Mis de
Il Wire Exposed without protection to the VIC.
triG9es Of the League. 1 was. in DESPAIR. and md
fancied sleep impossible: but habit and ,weari:
mess ness are strong persuaders. and whom, I
as became man who had looked danger % IN
the face more than once. The morning light
hope. l. reflected on the misery OF my condition
at st. Jean ana dA1galy. without friends or
Fresnoy; and telling myself 9 that d the tms1 roId
crowns which NJ. de Kosny had iavished upon
were not GF nothing nor the more precious
gift which called for no return. rose With
S%os SeW spiFlf Fa, and h which threw
picture OF despair. into astonlshment.
You have had good dreams" he said, eye
had a very evil one last night / Lar answered
lightly. wondering a little why he looked at
me n SO, and why he seemed to resent my return
followed this train OF thought further, POSSESSES
ing as did some clue to his state Of mind,
called him away to 1t. and in a moment me mel the he
ushered In M. francois. who. saluting me with
beose he tSs said 5
toe: no longer. however in a hostile spirit. but
as the happy tP medium which had led him to
he was pleased to say-of his preserver.
! was delighted to ind him 10 this frame of
ship Which his kinsmaa H. ' De RasboSiIIst ns bp,shs
had eyinced for me would have prevented me
He rep that tho service @ Il had eSs done ts1oh Sim
had myself cause Of offence. which " was iess fors
We ,Ss were paving enc another compliments
they see their own. youth and hopes mirrored
with. with. It may DO. brighter prospects. when tho |
pause admitted. equally, think. to the dis.
gust OF NJ. Francois and myself, the form OF |
Two men more diverse, have never stood
believe In a room together. On the one side |
,iosf. his ns suit OF Black and % silver his s trm
imbs and jewellsd hilt and chased comiit box:
pm the other the tall STOPPING monk, lean
awed and bright eyed. whose gown hung
t6out 20 ;L him In coarse coarse unGainiy folds And NJ
Was certainly dislike, In spite OF this he be-
slowed greeting on the newcomer which
% please that felt my fears OF the priest re-
urn In force. 1rehected that the talents which
a such garb could win the respect OF M.
Franqois d'Agen. brilliant star among the
younger courtiers. and a. member OF
lass much given to thinking soornfully
y their fathers ropghness. must be both
treat sDd formidable: and 50 consider
courtesy which had once little thought
Q extend to him. Iput aside for the moment
ustice. and remembered only the burden which
ay on me In my contest with him.
i coniectured without difficulty that he chose
o come at this time when NJ FRANCOIS was
With me out OF a cunning regard to his own
,repeois commencing 70 make hisi adieu.
'athsr Antoine begged him to walt below.
o communicate. He advanced his request In |