Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-24

terrace, concini, the italian, came up, and,
saluting me, said that the queen desired to
speak to me.
1.-THE queen7" said, doubtfully, foresee-
ing trouble.
ashe is waiting at the gate of the farther
court" he answered politely, his keen black
eyes reverting, with eager curiosity, to the
door by which the king had disappeared.
I could not refuse and went to her.
1.-THE king has returned early, NJ. lie Duc?'
she said.
Eyes, madame" I answered. "He had
fancy to discuss affairs today, and we lost
the hounds"
Together"
81 had the honor, madame"
you do not seem to have agreed very
WE'LL" she said. smiling.
Madame" I answered bluntly, This
majesty has no more faithful servant; but
we do not always agree
She raised her hand, and with slight
gesture, babe her ladies stand back, while
her face lost its expression Of good temper
ard grew sharp and dark. WAS it about
the Gender" she said, in low, grating
voice.
mo. madame" answ cred; 'ft was about
certain provisions. The kings ear had
been grossly abused, and bis majesty led
to believe"
Taught" she cried. with a wave of con-
tempt, that is an old story! 1 am sick of
1t. Is she still at Brussels
Still, madame"
Then see that she stops there" her
majesty retorted, with a meaning look.
And with that she dismissed me, and I
went into the chateau. l proposed to re-
join the king; but, to my chagrin, I found
when 1 reached the closet that he had al
ready sent for Varennes, and was shut up
with him. I went back to my rooms. there
fore, and after changing my hunting suit
and transacting some necessary business
sat down to dinner with Nicholas, the
kings seer etary, man fond of the table,
whom I otter entertained. He kept me in
talk until the afternoon was we'll advanced,
and we we've still at table when Maignan
appeared ard told me that the king had
sent for me.
II will co. said. rising.
HE is with the queen, your excellency,"
he continued.
This somewhat surprised me- but 1
thought no evil; and, finding one of the
queens Italian pages at the door waiting
to conduct me, I followed him across the
court that lay between my lodgings and
her apartments. Two three of the kings
gentlemen were in the ante room when l
arrived, and Varennes, who was standing
by one of the fireplaces toying with a
hound, made me a face of dismay; he
could not speak. owing to the company.
Still this, i'll a degree, prepared me for
the scene in the chamber, where found
the queen stcrming up and down the room,
while the king, still in his hunting dress,
sat on a low chair by the fire, apparently
drying his boots. Mademoiselle Galigai,
the queens waiting woman, stood in the
background; but more than this l had not
time to observe, for, before I had reached
the middle of the floor, the queen turned
on me. and began to abuse me with We
hemence which fairly shocked me.
and your she cried, who speak SO
slow, and look so solemn. and all the time
do his dirty work, like the meanest cook,
he has ennobIed 1t is well you are here!
Enfin, you are found out-you and your
provisions! Your provisions of which you
Mon Dieu!' the king groaned; give me
patience!'
He has given me patience these ten
years, sire!' she retorted passionately.
Patience to Sc myself flouted by your
favorites. insulted and displaced and set
aside! But this is too much! 1t was
enough that you made yourself the laugh
ing stock of France once with this mad
anne! 1 will not have it again-no, though
twenty of your counselors frown at me-!
''Your majesty seems displeased," l said.
''But as am quite in the dark"
'.Liar!" she cried. giving way to her fury:
When you saw herl When you stopped
To-
"Madamev' the king said sternly, 'if you
forget yoL rself be good enough to remem-
Der that you are speaking to French gen.
tlemen not to traders of Florence!'
She sneered. you think to wound me by
that!' she cried, breathing quickly. But l
have my graEdfather's blood in me, sire;
and no King of France
Zone King of France will presently make
your uncle of that blood sing small!' the
king answered viciously. $50 much for
that; and for the rest, sweetheart softly.
softlyr'
"Ohv she cried, 81 will go; will not
stay to be outraged by that woman's pres
ence?'
I had now an inklng of what was the
matter; and discerning that the quarrel
was a more serious matter than their
everyday chickering's, and threatened to 70
to lengths that might end In disaster. l
ignored the insult her majesty had flung at
me, and entreated her to be calm. IF
understand Alright, madame" said, you
have some grievance against his majesty.
OF that know nothing. But l also under
stand that you allege something against
that am summoned. If you will deign to
put the matter into words
"Words" she cried. you have words
enough! But get out Of this. Master Grave
tell me this morning that the Princess Of
Condo was in Brussels?'
81 did, madame"
Although half an hour before you had
seen her, you had talked with her, you had
been with her in the forest?"
But had not, madame!'
"What?" she. cried, staring at me. sur
prised doubtless that I had manifested no
see her?'
II did not"
Nor the king?"
1.-THE king, madame, cannot have seen her
this morning." I said. because he is here
and she is in Brussels
"You persist in that?"
"Certainly!' I said. Besides, madame"
I continued, IT have no doubt that the king
has given you his word"
His word is good for every one but his
wifev' she answered bitterly. "And for
yours. M. lie Due. I will show you what it
is worth. Mademoiselle call"
mi IA 7 n n 1,ar
with spirit, "if you are going to call your
household to contradict me"
But I am not! she cried in voice of
triumph that for the moment disconnected
me. "Mademoiselle, send to M. de Bassom-
pierre's lodgings, and bid him come to me!''
The king whistled softly, while I, who
knew Bassompierre to be devoted to him,
and to be, in spite of the levity to which his
endless gallantries bore witness, a man of
sense and judgment, prepared myself for
a serious struggle; judging that we were in
the meshes of an intrigue wherein 1t was
impossible to say whether the queen fig
ured as actor or dupe. The passion she
evinced as she walked to and fro with
clenched hands, or turned now and again
to dart fiery glance at the Cordovan cur
tain that hid the door, was so natural to
her character that I found myself leaning
to the latter supposition. Still. in grave
doubt what part Bassompierre was to play,
7 looked. for his coming anYio,1s1v