The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-08-25

rise to the widest surmises, and threat
ening each hour to supply the gossips Of
the court with a startling scandal, the
issue of which no one could fOresee, ]
went so far as to take into my confidence
NM. Epernon and Montbaz0r; but with
no result.
Such being my state of mind, and
sucn the suspense | suffered during two
days, it may be imagined that NJ. Bas-
sompierre was not more happy. Despair
| ing of the Kings favor unless he could
clear up the matter, and by the event
/ Justify his indiscretion, he bee sme for
those two days the wonder, and almost
the terror, Of the Court. Ignorant of
what he wanted, the courtiers found
( only insolence in his mysterious CUES
tons, and something prOdigious in an
activity which carried him in one day to
Paris and back, and on the following to
every place in the vicinity where news
of the fieeting beauty might by any pos
sibility be gained; 50 that he far out
stripped my agents, who were on the
same quest But though had no mean
! opinion of his abilities, | hoped little
from these exertions, and was proper
tionately pleased when, on the third day,
he came to me with radiant face aud
invited me to attend the Queen that
evening.
''The King will be there" he said,
''and / shall surprise you. But I will
not tell you more. Come and prom
Use to satisfy you"
And that was all he would say; so
that, finding my questions useless, and
the man almost frantic with Joy, had
; to content with it, and at the Queens
hour that evening presented myself in
her gallery, which proved to be an
usually full.
Making my way to yards her in some
doubt of my reception, | foand my worst
fears confirmed She greeted me with a
sneeEing face, and was preparing, was
sure, to put some slight upon me-a
matter wherein she could always count
on the applause of her Italian servants
VIXEN the entrance of the King took her
by surprise He advanced up the gal
lery with g. listless air, and, after salut-
ing her, stood by one of the hreplaces
talking 10. EpernOn aud La Force. The
crowd was pretty dense by this time, aid
the hum of talk filled the rooza when, on
a -udden, a voice, which | recognized as
BassompieIre's, was lifted above it.
VERY WE'LL" he cried gaily, then
appeal to her MAJESTY. She shall decide,
Mademoiselle! No, no; am not salts
fed with your ciainl"
The King looked that way with froWn,
bat the Queen took the out burst in good
part. 'What is it, NJ. de Bassompierref"
she said "What am to deeide7'
To-day, in the forest, found ring, |
Madame, he answered, coming forward |
Il told Mademoiselle de La Force of my
discovery, and she now claims the ring"
81 once had a ring like it," cried |
Mademoiselle, blushing and laughing.
"a sapphire ring2' BassOmpierre an |
swered, holding his hand aloft.
Yes
with three stonesp
eyes"
Precisely, Mademoisellen' he an
swered, bowling. "But the stones in
this ring are not sapphires, nor are there
them of them"
There was great laugh at this, and
the Queen said, very wittily, that as
neither of the claimants could prove
right to the ring it must revert to the
judge.
in one moment your Majesty shall at
least see it" he answered. "But, first,
has anyone lost a ring3 Oyer! Oyez
Oyez Lost in the forest, whiting the
last three days, ring!"
Two or three, falling in with his hu
NOR, set up absurd claims toit; but no one
could describe the ring, and in the end
he handed it to the Queen. As be did
so his eyes met mine and challenged my
attention. was prepared, therefore, !