Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-05-17

| C"P'e.ih OeIut oSHdC SeN eull 1--WE IuOu
sand francs, and will make him gov
| ernor Of Branne'
Then you have no confidence in my
word. sir?''
/ prefer writing; have just beer
deceived
'Insolentr' cried the queen. This
time. go.''
Il 90. madam. but you will not have
Nayres." He turned TO go. but this
time the queen did not recall him.
'Guitant.' said she. do not let that
man escape
Pardon me. madam" said Mazarin
but L think your Majesty is wrong
to yield to your anger
No. sir: we will take care of him
i'll case we need him.
In about half an hour Guitant re-
turned
Where is he?" asked the queen.
"Oh. madam. he has no wish to es-
cape; he lodges close by here. at an
inn kept by one Biscarros.''
And is he there now:''
No, madam; he has climbed I'D a
hill. and is watching the preparations
of NJ. de Meilleraye"
And the rest of the army?''
They are arriving gradually"
Then the marshal is going to make
an Immediate assault?''
Madam. l believe it will be better
to give the troops a nights rest"
A nights rest!' cried the queen. rs
the royal army to be kept a whole
day anu night before a wretched little
place like this? Guitant. 90 and tell
the marshal to make the attack at
once. The king will sleep tonight at
Vayres.'
But, madam" said Mazarin, sit
seems to me that this precaution-"
at seems to me-" said Anne of Aus
tria, that when the royal authority
has been insulted it cannot be avenged
too quickly. Go, Guitant, Immediately,
and tell the marshal that the queen
watches him." and taking her son by
the hand, she assembled y kind of
terrace which overlooked the environs.
They saw Guitant arrive, and the mar
shall speak to him. Then they saw him
make a gesture Of establishment and
look to where the queen was standing.
She understanding his thought,
made so imperative a sign. that the
marshal, who knew we'll his imperial
mistress, felt that he had only to obey.
however much he might differ: and
Immediately three or four officers were
dispatched in different directions. and
wherever they came the work of en-
campment already commenced was
discontinued, and an immense con-
fusion ensued.
Gradually, however, order was estab-
ished: the grenadiers were formed in
the center, the guards on the right.
and the artillery on the left Then
the queen saw them form into column,
and she waved her handkerchief, while
the young king clapped his hands and
cried. Forward"
The army replied by loud cries of
give lie ROir'
The artillery then moved to the front.
Richou seemed determined not to
fire first, but no sooner did they COM
mence, than his six guns thundered
their reply leaving large gaps in the
ranks of the royal army but they We're
quickly filled up again.
This continued for a long time. but
at last the royal troops reached the
walls and prepared their ladders for
the assault.
After a few minutes of breathless
anxiety, the royal army was driven
back. Certainly they had made a kind
of breach, but the opening was brist-
ling with men and guns; and in the
center of them, covered with blood,
but as calm as though he were only a
spectator of the tragedy. stood Richou
with an axe in his hand He seemed
to be protected by some charm, for
though always in the front no ball had
touched him. He seemed invulnerable
as impossible.
Three times the marshal brought
back the royal troops to the assault,
and three times they were repulsed be-
fore the eyes of the king and queen.
Tears flowed down the cheeks of the
young king, and Anne of Austria
wrung her hands, crying, "Oh, this
man! this man! if ever he falls into
my hands I will make a terrible ex-
ample of him"
Happily the night descended as "a
kind of veil to the royal shame. The
marshal sounded a retreat.
Cauvagnac quilted his post and
walked leisurely down to his inn.
Madam" said Mazarin, pointing to
him, there is a man who, for a little
gold would have spared you much
bloodshed."
BE assured" replied the queen
that the blood spilled shall be
avenged. Comminges," she said tc
the lieutenant of her guards, "go and
fetch me NJ. de Meilleraye."
And you, Bernouin," said Mazarin
to his valet, pointing to Cauvagnac
do you see that MANI
Yes, monsiegneur."
well, bring him secretly to my
room tonight
CHAPTER NNXIV.