The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-16
CHAPTER ".

CHAPTER ".
The man beneath the dais raised his
heed. and l saw that his face was thin
and wan and that his back was bowed
as though some huge burden was bal
anced between his shoulders.
.'Your name, sire" he asked.
'Col. Etienne Gerard, of the Third
hussars."
Every face in the gathering was
turned upon me, and heard the rustic
of the einnumerable neclIs and saw count
less eyes, without meeting one friend
ly one among them. The woman had
swept past me, and was whispering
with many shakes of her head and dart
ings of her hands into the princes ear.
Tor my part, threw out my chest and
curled my mustache, glancing around
in my own debonnaire fashion at the
assembly.
They were men, all of them, profess
sors from the college, n sprinkIing of
their students, soldiers, gentlemen,
artisans. all very silent and serious.
In one corner there sat "A group of men
in black, with riding coats drawn over
their shoulders. They leaned their
heads to each other, whispering under
their breaths, and with every movement
j caught the clanll of their sabers or
the clink of their spurs.
"The emperor's private letter TO me
informs me that it is the Marquis Chat
eau st. Arnaud who is bearing his dis
patches said the prince.
'The marquis has been foully MUIR
dered," l answered, and buzz rose up
from the people as 1 spoke. Many
heads were turned, noticed, toward
the dark men in the cloaks
'Where are your papersT said the
prince.
II have none"
A fierce clamor arose instantly round
mel ''He is spy. He plays part!"
they cried. Hang him!" roared deep
voice from the corner, and n dozen
Others drew up the shout. For my
part / drew out my handkerchief and
ficked the dust from the fur of my
pelisse. The prince held out his thin
white hand and the tumult died away.
"Where, then, are your credentials,
and what is your message" he asked.
my uniform is my crcdential, and
my message is for your private ear"
He passed his hand over his forehead
with the gesture of a weak man who is
at his wits ends what 10 do. The
,princess stood beside him with her
hand upon the throne, and again she
Whispered in his ear.
ave are here in council together,
some of my trusty subjects and my
self" he said. IL have no secrets from
them, and whatever message The en-
lpcror may send 10 me at such a time
lconcerns their interests no less than
mine"
There was bum of applause at this,
and every eye was turned once more
upon me. My faith, il was an awkward
position in which found myself, for
ii is one thing 10 address 500 hussars
and another TO speak 10 such an audi
ence on such q subject. But / fixed my
eyes upon the prince. and tried 60 say
Just what l should have said if we had
been alone, shouting il out, TOO, as
though / had my regiment on parade.
"Iou have often expressed friendship
for the emperor" i cried. lit is now
lat last that this friendship is about 10
be tried. If you stand firm he will re-
ward you as only he can reward. u
lis an easy thing for him to turn a prince
into king, and province into a power.
1iis eyes are fixed upon you, and though
you can do little TO harm him YOU can
ruin yourself. At this moment he Is
lcrossng the Rhine with 100000 men.
Every fortress i'm the country is i'm his
hands. lie will be upon you in week;
and IL you have played him false, God
help both you and your people. You
think that he is weakened because a
few of US got the chilblains last " inter.
Look there!" cried. pointing 10 a great
star which blazed through the window
cboye the princes head. "That is tho
elnperor's star. When il wanes lac irill
vane. but not before"
You would have been proud of me.
my frierds. II you could have seen and
heard me. for / FLASHED my sabcr as |
spoke. and swung my dolman as though
my regiment was picketcd outside ir
The courtyard. They listened 30 me IN
Silence. but the back OF the prince
bowed more and more. as though the
burden which weighed upon 81 was
greater than his strength. lie looked
nround with hagsard eyes.
ave have heard n Frcnchman speal
for Francc."- he said. ''Let US have 6
German speak for Germany