Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1894-07-06
CHAPTER IV-CoYTIYUED.


His lace ru1les were valuable, and
tell thickly and snowily upon muscv-
Tar hands; tho inner sleeves, Of
equally as fresh and costly linen.
peeped out OF the slashes in the pur-
pie double sleeves and in the inter
val between the upper garment and
the blue velvet brooches. His boots
of unblacked leather had been pulled
up to the knee for walking through
the wretched streets, since he had
come in friends coach aud had no
horse on which to return home; his
baldric was richly wrought in silver
on the sable which predominated as
the color of ornaments, and extended
to both his beaver hat and its
feather.
Adrien looked curiously at tho
master whom he had not seen for
years, not because he was eager to
view his Judge again. but because
there was more dearly than ever in
his mind the remembrance that the
minister's ward was that julio de
Mortemar whose presence in the cap
ital had attracted him hither beyond
any other charm.
But the difficulty of approaching a
maid of honor had dishcartened him
until, as we have seen, the young
knight had plunged into fashionable
dissipation to the loss of the re-
maindcr of his patrimony.
The cardinal had eyed him also
from top to toe with the scrutiny OF
leader OF u forlorn hope choosing
his ensign, as well as the searching
ness OF father judging a prospect
i've -in-law-two excellent inves-
tigators of young men.
'Approach, sir" said he at last,
after he had seen Huguet, with q
lighter step than his bulk and his
armor would seem to have permitted
him. get behind the screen to keep
the unarmed visitor under his mus
ketoon. approach, sir. my table.
Can you call to mind the hour, three
years since, when in this room your
presence honored me?"
"My lord. tits one of my most"
"Dclightful recollections supply
ing the break with dry humor
which made the young man start
from tho aged man who, on the brink
of the grave could jest at tho AK
and the eXecutioner.
You were then accorded mercy
ill-requitted. Adrien de Mauprat,
how hast thou since consumed the
time allotted thee for serious thought
and solemn penitence? I'll answer
for thee. What thou hast not done
is briefly told; what done, a volume.
Wild debauch; turbulent riot; for the
morn the dice box, at noon the for.
hidden duel, and the night the was
sail-these your most holy, pure
preparatives for death and judgment.
Do | wrong you, sir?"
The knight smiled mournfully-
''If my nature is changed" ho re-
spolded, "blame the specter your
eminenco appeared to me like q
shadow. Any one would have erred
like me who had the same fate your
lordship inflicted.
II might like you. have been &
brawler and reveler,' granted the
cardinal; "but not like you, trick
ster and a thief"
Lord cardinal" cried the youth
'unSay those WOrdS!
As he advanced threateningly tho
armed man behind the sc cen leanel
forward for the better aim; bu
Richelieu waved him back. sir~C
Mauprat had Instantly checked him
SELF
''In short" said the elder, study
ing the effect of his every phrase
''you have out.run your fortune;
do rot blame you that you would b,
"a beggar. Each TO his taste! But
do charge you. sir, that, being beg
CARED. you would coin false money
out of that crucible called debt b.
such as you, but by plain folk theft
You must pay your debts.
with all my heart, my lord,
answered the humorous daredevil
.'Where shall | borrow then. tn
money!"
The soldier behind the scree
laughed to himself; and the cardina
smiled. for this was the very man t
suit his purpose, ready, frank an
bold.
"Adrien de Mauprat, men hav
called me cruel" he proceeded: a.
am not; am really just! You shal
be my champion TO confute my ma
iigners" He offered his emaciate
hand, which the chevalicr greete
respectfully.
'France needs all her sons. Yo
shall wipe oil all stains-be ricf
honored, great In return ask, sil
this hand. to gift it with Bird
whose dover shall match YET not o.
coed her beauty"
My lord" said the young ma
rising from mis- knee, and hesitatin
I'll have no wish TO marry-to d.
were scarcely worse, for the poorei
coward must die; but knowingly