The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-08-24


that at the Kings instance j had suite
of apartments fitted up for him at the Ar
senal, that he might visit me, whenever IL
pleased him, without putting my family
TO Inconvenience; In another place VIII pe
found an account OF the six thousand
crowns a year which he was so obliging
as TO allow me for this purpose. lie non
ored me by using these rooms, whlch
consisted of q hall, a chamber, a ward
robe, and a closet, two or three times In
the course of the year, availing himseif OF
my attendants and cook; ana the Tree op.
portunities of consulting me on the Great
Undertaking, which this plan afforded, LED
me 10 hope that notwithstanding the en-
Wy of my dectractors, he would continue
to adopt 1t. That he did not so, nor ever
visited me after the close OF that year,
was due not so much to the lamentaole
event, soon to be related, which within a
few months deprived France OF her great
est sovereign, as strange matter that at
tended his last stay with me. l have
since had cause to think that this ala
not receive at the time as much attention
as II deserved; and have even Imagined
that had l CROPPED q little deeper into the
mystery i might have found clue TO the
future as we'll as the past, and averted
one more, and the last, danger from my
beloved master. But Providence would
not have IL SO; q slight indisposition un-
der which was suffering at the time rem.
derod me less able, both In mind and
body. the result being that Henry who
was always averse to the publication OF
these ominous episodes, and held that
being known they bred the like in mis-
chievous minds, had his way, the case
ending In no more than the punishment
OF careless rascal.
On the occasion of this last visit-the
third think, that he paid me-the King,
who had been staying at Chantilly, came
to me from Lusarche where he lay the
intervening night. My coaches went to
vleet him at the gates little before noon,
but he did not Immediately arrive, and
being at leisure and having assured my
self that the dinner OF twelve covers,
which he had directed to be ready, was In
course OF preparation, 1 went with my
wife to inspect his rooms and sastisfy
myself that everything was in order.
They were in charge OF La Trape, man
| Of address and intelligence whom i have
had cause to mention more than once in
| the course of these memoirs. He met
| me at the door and conducted us through
| the rooms with an air of satisfaction; nor
could find the slightest fault until my
wife, looking about her with a woman's s
! eye for minute things, paused by the bed
| in the chamber and directedmy attention
to something on the floor: He stopped
over it. ''what is this?" she asked.
"Has something been"
.'Upset here?n said, looking also.
There was pool of white liquid on the
floor besided the bed.
La Trape uttered an exclamation Of an
noyance, and explained that he had
not seen 1t before; that it not been
there five minutes earlier; and that he did
not know how it came to be there now.
"Wbat is it7" / said, looking about
for some pitcher that, might have over
flowed; but finding none. "Is il milk?''
~ don't know, your excellsncy," he
answered. "But 1t shall be removed at
| once"
4 .'See that 1t is" said. care the
boughs in the fire place fresh?" For the
weather was still warm and we had not
lit o fire.
Yes your excellency; quite fresh. "
swell see to that, and remove It,"
said, pointing to the mess. "It looks i'll. ,
And with that the matter passed from
| my mind; the more completely as
Kings approach, and went into the court
yard to receive him. He brought with
him Roquelaure, de Vic, Erarp the engi-
| neer, and some Others, but none whom
he did not know that / should be GLAD
to receive. He dined well, and after din
ner amused himself seeing the young
men ride at the ring, and even rode 6
course himself with his usual skill; that
being, II / remember rightly, the last oc
casion on which l ever saw him take q
lance. Before supper he walked for &
time in the hall, with Sillery, for whom
he sent; and after supper, pronouncing
himself tired, he dism Used us all, and re
tired with me to his chamber. Here We
hau some talk on subject that greatly
dreaded--I mean this infatuation for Ma
| dame de Conde; but after IL o'clock hs
yawned, and, after thanking me for 9
reception which he said was quite tc
his mind, he bade me go TO bed.
was half way to the door when he
called me back. "Why, Grandmaster, u
he said pointing to the little table by tn,
head of the bed on which his night