Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-04-19
CHAPTER XXI.
T
To Duc De TarOchefOucault

dDlJ OdlIIII-. IL Itl lCI OuJ, HOWcfC I'll ,
to be the gentlemen returning from
the funeral Of the Due de Larochefou-
cault, which had served as a pretext
to the princess to collect all those who
were hostile to MaZarin and loved the
princess. At first Madame de Cambes
could hardly recognize them. Some
had their arms in sings, or their legs
or their heads covered with bandages.
''Peste! madam" cried Pompey, at
seems a funeral which has had bad
consequences. The gentlemen all look
as though they had fallen from their
horses. 1t reminds me of, the return
from Corbie, only then I was carried
in a littel "
But" said Claire, anXiously, "have
these gentlemen no chief? He must be
killed. do not see him"
''No, madam. We should soon see
him, for here he might show himself;
there is no danger, it is not like Cor
bic
mo, NJ. P0mpey," said a voice be
hind them, ''it is much worse than at
Corbie."
Claire turned around, and saw be
hind them a cavalier, with piercing
black eyes, thick black hair, thin lips
and sad expression.
IN. lie Prince de Marsillacn' cried
she; ooh, welcome, sir"
"Say, Due de Larochefaucault,' ma
dam. My father is dead and under
this name will my good or bad actions
be recorded for the future"
"YOu return--'' said Claire, with
hesitation.
Beaten, madam"
Great Heavens! Your
II say. beaten madam. for I am no
boaster, though some would say vic
tOriOuS But we have lost Saumur;
arrived too late. HencefOrward, il we
have Bordeaux, as promised, the war
will center in Guienne."
But, sir, if you arrived too late,
what mean these wounded gentle
men?'
Because, madam" said Larochefau-
cault, with a pride he could not con-
ceal, eve met some royalist troops"
And you fought"
ooh, mon Dieu! yes, madam"
Then" murmured Claire, 1.-The first
French blood has been shed by
FrencEmen; and you, duke, have set
the example"
ut was I, madam
You. 50 calm, so cold, so wise! Are
you wounded?
mo. | was more fortunate than at
Paris. But you, madam; let me com
pliment you, for really you are model
of courage"
How sou
Travelling thus, with only single
squire, like a Clarinda or Brad
amante. And, by-the-bye, l have heard
of your admirable conduct at Chan
lilly They say that you played finely
on poor devil Of a kings officer. An
easy victory, was it nOt?" he contin-
ued with a meaning smile.
"Why so?' asked Claire, annoyed.
Because the arms were not equal
But one thing struck me-" said he,
fixing his eyes on her.
What is that, duke?'
your extreme cleverness; for / hear
that this officer has already seen both
you and your squire"
Clair" trembled. "Whdt do you
mean. duke?'
Madam, it is not l who say so; it
is that indefinite parsonage we call
they"
Where had he seen me?'
''They say, on the road between Ii
bourne and Chantilly, in an inn al
Jaulnay, whence he was summoned by
an order from the Due d'Epernon."
But if he had seen me, how was
it that he did not recognize me-"
ooh. this famous they account fol-
that also; they say the interview took
place in the dark"
"This time, duke" cried the vicom
Jesse, 81 really do not know what you
mean"
Then" replied the duke, with a
feigned good nature, 81 must have
been wrongly informed. Besides, af
ter all, what is an interview of a few
minutes? 1t is true that you are not
easily forgotten
Claire was much annoyed. She haC
before had an idea. that for her the
duke had cooled in his attachment tC
Madame de LOngueville. and she
feared that it was jealousy that made
him speak thus. Indeed, for the las
two years. the prince had paid to hel
a court as assiduous as his morose
character permitted. However, she
said. DO you know, duke, that yor
are a precious man in these times, an(
! that NJ Mazarin himself has not {
| better police than yours"
| MADAM. | like to keep myself toler
ably we'll informed of passing events.
Even of the secrets of your allies
if you have any"
"Oh then. this journey and recontrt
was Il secret"
No, monsieur; the recontre was al
accident, but the journey was a secre
known only to the princess and my
SELF
and to Lenet, and to Richou, an,
to Madame de Tourville?'
DO You know. duke" asked Claire
who was the companion first DIES
tined to attend me on that journey?