The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-06
toopyrisht, 1896. by stanley J. weyman.)
pART V.

OF the bevy Of ladies in attendance,
-,nly half a dozen entered, for few
races within the doorway the queen
stood still to receive my patron, who adj
yanced TO meet her. 1t seemed TO me
that she was not pleased 10 see him,
und certainly her voice rang loud and
peevishly as she cried: What, my
lord. Are you here? l came to re-
ceive the trophies from Rocroy, and did
not expect to see you at this hour"
IL bring my own excuse, madame"
ne answered, una.,ashed. ''Haye L your
n,ajesty's leave to present it?'' he con-
tinued, with smiik and low bow.
"a came to receive the colors," she
vctorted. still frowning.
II bring your majesty something
equally to your liking" he replied.
Then think sne caught his meaning,
for her proud, hondsome uapsburg face
cleared wonderfully and she clapped
her hands together with a gesture of
pleasurc almost childish. "What?"
She exclaimed. "Have you"
ayes, madame" he said, smiling gal.
1antly. "Bonnivet!"
7 But Bonnivet had watched his mo-
unent, and before the name fell clear
of his masters lips was beside him, and
with bent knee laid the dog tenderly
at her majesty's feet. She uttered
FRY of joy and stopped to caress it, her
Hair ringlets falling and hiding her
face. On that did not see exactly
what happened, for her ladies focked
round her with cries that echoed hers,
rhe courtiers pressed round them, and
all that reached Inc, where i stood by
hhe door, took the form of excited
cries of <Flore! Florel Oh, the dar-
hingl" and the like. A few old men who
stood nearest the wall and farthest
from the queen raised their eyebrows
and the officers standing with the colors
lby the door wore fallen faces; but nine
kenths of the crowd seemed to be fairly
carried away by the queens delight
and congratulated one another as il
ten Rocroys had been won.
Suddenly, while hung in suspense,
expecting each moment to be called
forward, 1 heard little stir at my ell
bow and, looking to the side, saw the
n<not on the threshold break inward to
wiva nlace- while several voices whis-
pered: '-Mazar1nI" AS i looked he
came in, and pausing to speak to the
foremost Of the officers gave me the
opportunity-which / had never en-
Hoyed before-of viewing him near at
hand; and in moment IL flashed upon
me-though now he wore his cardinals
robes and then had been very simply
ldressed-that it was he whose back
had seen, and whose dazzling ring had
blinded me In the gardeni
The thought had scarcely grown to a
(conviction before he passed on, apollo
Igixing almost humbly to those whom
She displaced and courteously to all;
and this, and perhaps also the fact that
the mass of those present belonged to
my patrons party and were not quick
10 see him, rendered his progress SO
slow that, my name being called and
Everybody hustling me forward, came
face to face with the queen at the mo-
ment that he did, and saw-thcugh for
awhile / was too much excited to un-
derstand--what passed.
Her majesty, it seemed to me, did not
look unkindly upon him. But the
bishop was SO full of his success and up
lifted by the presence of his friends
that he could not contain himself.
Z S'Ha! the cardinal!" he cried; and, be-
fore the queen could speak: 81 hope
your eminence has been as jealous in
her majesty's service as / have been"
"As jealous, assuredly," the cardinal
answered, meekly. "As effective? Alas!
1t is not given to all to vie with your
1ordship in affairs"
But this-though 1 detected no smacl,
cf irony in the tone--did not seem 10
please the queen. ''The bishop has done
hne great service. He has recovered
bny dog" she said tartly.
"He is happy man, and the happy
snust look to be envied," the cardinal
answered gaily. "Your majesty's
dog"
"Your eminence never liked Flore!"
the queen exclaimed.
"Yon never made greater mistake,
uiadamel" the cardinal answered with
Unusual emphasis. "Flore-but the dog
Is not here, think"
"Your omniscience is for once at
1oss!" the bishop sneered; and at wcrd
from him one of the ladies came for
ward. nursing the dog in her arms.
The cardinal looked. "Umph." he
said. And he looked again, frowning.
did not know then why the queen
took heed tVen of his looks; and Istarted
when she cried pettishly: well, sir,
what now?"
The cardinal pursed up his lips.
The bishop could bear IL no longer.
'IIc will say presently" he cried. snort
ing with indignation. that it is not tie
JogI"
His eminence shrugged his shoulders
very slightly. and turned the palms of
his hands outwards. "Oh," he said.
iii her majesty is satisfied"
'nfdieul' the queen cried angrily:
sWhnt do you msan?" But she turned
10 the lady who held the dog, and took
81 from her. 'It In the dog!" she said.
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