The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-09-17
A GENTLEMAN OF FRANCE.
Being the Memoirs Of CASTOR de Bonnie,
Sieur de Marsac.
A ROMANCE.
ny STANLEY j. wEYNfAN.
Author Of The House of the Wolf" "a
oeyufehi. 1898. BY Staniey J. FeymaN
CHAPTER Xix.
MEN CALL IT CHANCE.

| it in my mind to embellish my adventures
could. doubtless. by the exercise OF little In
penuty make 1t appear that owed my es-
cape from Father Antoine's meshes to my own
craft and valor. and tell as pretty story OF
plots and counterplots as NJ de Branto mo has
ever woven. Having no DESIRE however. and
at this time OF day scarce any reason to mag
| nifty myself, 1 am fain to confess that the re-
verse was the case. and that while no man ever
did less to free himself from desperate posi-
ton than !. my adversary retained his grasp
TO the end and had surely. but for the inter-
position OF one still stronger. effected my ruin
How relief came. and from what quarter
might defy tho most ingenious person. after
reading my memoirs to this point. to say: and
this not so much by reason OF any subtle ue-
vice as because the hand Of Providence was
for once directly manifest.
The three days OF grace which the priest had
granted me | passed in anxious but futile
search for some means OF escape. every plan
conceived dying stillborn. and not the least OF
my miseries lying in the fact that could dis
Germ no better course than still to sit and think.
and seem ed doom 81 to the most trying inaction.
| NJ de Rambouillet being strict Catholic.
though In all other respects patriotic man.
knew better than to have recourse to- him and
the priests influence over NJ. Francois l had
| myself witnessed For similar reasons re-
jected the idea Of applying to the King; and
|
| had any claim. found myself thrown on my
own resc urces which seemeddimited. my wits
failing mo at this pinch. to my sword and
Simon Fleix.
Assured that must break out Of Blois. II
would save not myself only, but others more
| precious. because intrusted to my charge.
thought it no disgrace to appeal. to Simon.
| describing In lively fashion the danger which
threatened me. and melting him by every
;I,nlr 80, I,n,,
weight with him. to devise some way OF escape.
NOW is the time" said. Ito show your
wits. and prove that N. de Rosny. who said
| YOU had cunning above tho ordinary. was
| right II your brain can ever save your head.
this is the hour. tell you plainly. II you can
| not Ind some way to outmanuuvre this villain
before tomorrow morning. am spent. And
you can judge for yourself what chance you
| will have Of going free!'
| Ipaused on that, waiting for him to make
| some suggestion or show in way
another that his mind was occupied with tho
matter. To my chagrin he remained silent,
| leaning his head on his hand and studying the
table in a sullen fashion. SO that | began to
regret the condescenson l had evinced in
bidding him be seated. and found it necessary
to remind him that he had takon service with
me and must do my bidding.
| well" he said. morosely. and without look
| ing am READY 10 40 IL DuI 10 not lho
priests. and this one least OF all know him.
and will not NEEDLE with him!"
You will not noodle with him 2" cried. al
most beside myself with dismay. You will
not meddle with him.
No. | won't" he replied. retaining his list
less attitude. Il know him. but am afraid
OF him. ] am no match for him"
"Thon NJ de Rosny was wrong1" said.
| giving way to my anger
'If it please you." he answered pertly.
That was too much for me. My riding switch
lay handy. and | snatched it up. Before he
knew what | would be at I foil upon him and
proceeded to give him such a sound and
| wholesome drubbinG rs speedily brought him
| to his senses. When he cried for mercy-which
| he did not for good space being still pos
sessed by the peevish devil which had ridden
| him more or less since his departure from
| Rosny-I put it to him again whether NJ. 10
Baron was not right. And when he at last ad-
mitted this. but not till then, threw the whip
| away and let him go. but did not cease to
! proach him as he deserved.
| Did YOU think" | said. that I was going
| to be ruined because you would not use your
| lazv brains? That was going to sit still and
! let you suk while mademoiselle walked blind
fold into the tos2 Not at all. my friond"
| "Mademo iselle" he exclaimed and. Look
| ing at me with a sudden change OF counte-
he had been doing. She is lot here. and is n
no danger"
'She will be hero to- or the next day
| at latest"
You did not tell me that" he retorted. his
eyes glitterlng. Does Father Antoine know
it?"
HE will know 1t the moment she enters the
| town" l answered. Watching him closely
and noting the change which the Introduction
| - h. ot,Nll 1'n t.to h.. rnt. 4
produced on him. felt something very like
| humiliation. But at the moment had no
choice: 1t was mine to use such instruments
| as came to my hand nor was 1t my business
| mademoisello's safety being at stake. to pick
and choose too nicely. In few minutes our
| positions were reversed. He had grown as hot
as cold: as keenly excited as critical. When
he presently came to a stand In front OF me |
saw strange likeness between his face and
the priests. nor was | astonished when he
presently made al ,. such T. proposal as ! should
There is, only one thing Tor i'll" he NUT
tered trembling all over " He must be got
" Fine talking" l said with triHe of con-
tempt; " ~ he were soldier he might be
h5SnSh to 5os s he is priest my
Fight Who wants him to ficht9" the lad
his ncs as 4 soS hands poT
sn o hs E a no S9 %oro
Simon tremb led und hesltated: but present.
| ~. heaving a deep sigh. he said. Il will"
| y 1t might not be very diicut."I muttered, |
| thinking it over.
1t would he easy" he answered under his |
breath. His eyes shone. his lips were white. |
! and his long hair hung wet over his forehead. |
reflected. and tho longer did 50 the more |
feasible seemed this suggestion, which every |
| prudential instinct within ID bade mo accent |
single word. and | might sweep from my |
path this man. whose existence threatened |
| mine: who would not meet mo fairly and face |
| to face. but. working against me darkly and |
treacherously deserved no letter treatment
receives: lie had wronged my mother; kss
would would fHin destroy my lrien,!s! He had
| worked ~ to me from tho beginp'hg. And |
cued by more Tor INDUCING any scruples at |
such q time. But have all my life long been |
violence which. have heard old men contend. |
| came INTO fashion in our country IRON Florence |
| In modern times. Ald which certainly seems to |
| mo a ion from the French character. Without |