The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-07-30

Borglan pOpeS. IL nee0eQ no more tn3n
this to direct my suspicious to the Flor
entines who swarmed about the Queen.
ard against whom the King had let
drop so many threats. But the indis-
position which excitement had for a
time kept at bay began to return upon
me; and l was presently glad 10 drop
the subject and retire to my own apart
ments. leaving the King to dress.
Consequently, l was not with him
when the strange discovery which fol-
lowed was made. In the ordinary
course Of dressing, one Of the servants
gNing to the fireplace to throw away a
piece Of waste linen. thought that he
heard rat stir among the boughs.
He moved them. and in minute a
small snake crawled out. kissing and
darting out its tongue. 1t was killed,
and then 1t at once occurred to the
King that he had the se'cret of the cats
death. He came 10 me hot-foot with
the news. and found me with Du Lau-
rens. who was in the act Of ordering me
to bed.
confess that heard the story almost
with apathy 80 ill was |. Not so the
ply sician. After examiAing the snake
which by the Kings orders had been
brought for my inspection. he pro-
nunced that it was not of French origin
1T has escaped from some snake
charmer." he said.
The X. see med to be incredulous.
II assure you that speak the truth,
sire" Du Laureps persisted.
But how then did it come in my
room?"
"That is what should like 10 know
sire" the physician answered. severely:
"and yet | think that l can guess 1t
was put there. l fancy, by the person
who sen: up the milk to your chamber"
why do you say so?' Henry asked
Because, sire. all snakes are inordi-
nately fond of milk"
"Ah" the King said. slowly, with a
change of countenance and shudder
which he could not repress: ''and there
was milk on the floor in the morning"
"Yes. sire; on he floor, and beside the
head OF your bed
Eut at this stage was attacked by a
fit of Illness so severe that l had to
break in on the discussion, and beg the
King to withdraw. The sickness in
creased on me during the day. and by
noon was PROSTATE. neither taking in
terest in anything, nor allowing others.
who began to fear for my life, to divert
their attention. After twenty-four
hours began TO mend but still several
days elapsed before l was able to de-
vote myself to business; and then
found that, the master-mind being alb
sent, and the King, as always, luke
warm in the pursuit, nothing had been
done to detect and punish the criminal.
I could not rest easy, however. with
so minable 4 suspicion attaching to
my house; and as soon as l could bend
my mind to the matter I began an in
quiry. At the first stage, however. I
came to an impasse; the butler, who
had been long in my service. cleared
himself without difficulty, but a few
questions discovered the fact that a
person who had been in his department
on the evening in queTtion was now to
seek. having indeed disappeared from
that time. This was the gipsy-girl,
whom La Trape had mentioned, and
whose presence in my household seemed
to need the more elucidation the farther
I pushed the inquiry. In the end had
tine butler punished. but though my
agents sought the girl through Paris,
ard even traced her to Meaux. she was
never discovered.
The affair. al the kirg's instance, was
not made. public; nevertheless, 1t gave
him SO strong distaste for the Arsenal
that he did not again visit me, nor use
the rooms l had prepared. That later,
when the first impression wore off, he
would have done so, is probable; but.
alas within few months the malice Of