The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1896-09-30

tit-bit my love2" he added, persau-
sively. "a mouthful Of white liver and
caper sauce"
"Not for me, the beast!" the girl
cried, amid the laughter of the yard.
"Not bit? IfIwarrant him tender?
Ladies' meat?"
"Bahl mol" and she stolidly spat
down again.
"Do you hear? The lady has no taste
for you," the tormentor cried. "Pig
of q Gascon!" And deftly sheathing his
dagger, he seized the big coward by the
ear, and turning him round, gave him
heavy kick which sent him spinning
over bucket, and down against the
wall. There the bully remained,
swearing and rubbing himself by turns;
while the victor cried, boastfully:
Enough of him. If anyone wants to
take up his quarrel, Blaise Bure Is his
man. If not, let us have an end of it.
Let some one find stalls for the gentle
mems horses before they catch chill;
and have done with it. AS for me-" he
added, and then he turned to us and
removed his hat with an exaggerated
flourish: II am your lordships' servant
to command"
thanked him with heartiness, half
earnest, half-assumed. His cloak was
ragged, his trunk hose, which had been
fine enough, were stained, and almost
pointless. He staggered inimitably,
and had led-captain written large upon
him. But he had done us a service, for
Jean had no further trouble about the
horses. And besides one has natural
liking for brave man, and this man
was brave beyond question.
"You are from Orleans" he said, re-
spectfully enough, but as one asserting
fact, not asking question.
eyes," answered, somewhat aston
ished. "Did you see us come in?"
mo, but looked at your boots, gen
tlemen," he replied. white dust, north;
red dust, south. Do you seeP"
"Yes, see," said, with admiration.
"You must have been brought up in
sharp school, NJ. Bure."
"Sharp masters make sharp scholars" :"
he replied, grinning. And that answer
had occasion to remember afterwards.
"You are from Orleans, also?' Iasked,
as we prepared to go in.
"Yes, from Orleans, too, gentlemen.
But earlier in the day. With letters
letters of Importance" And bestowing
something like wink of confidence on
us, he drew himself up, looked sternly
at the stable folk, patted himself twice
OH the chest, and finally twirled his
mustaches, and smirked at the girl
above, who was chewing straws.
I thought it likely enough that we
might find It hard to get rid Of him.
But this was not 30. After listening
with qualification to our repeated
thanks, he bowed with the same gro
tesque flourish, and marched of as
grave rs Spaniard, humming:
"Ce petit homme tant joli!
Qui toujours cause ct toujours rit,
Qui toujours baise sa mignonne.
Dien gard dc NAL CO petit hommer'
On our going in, the landlord met US
politely, but with curiosity, and sim
mering of excitement also in his man
ner. From Paris, my lords?" he asked,
rubbing his hands and bowling low. "Or
from the south?"
From the SOUTH" answered.
"From Orleans, and hungry and tired,
Master Host"
"Ab," he replied, disregarding the
latter part of my answer, while his lit
tie eyes twinltled with satisfaction.
"Then l dare swear, my lords, you have
not heard the news?" He halted In the
narrow passage, and lifting the candle
he carried, scanning our faces closely,
as II he wished to1earn something about
us before he spoke.
"News!" answered, brusquely, be-
ing both tired and, as had told him,
hungry. eve have heard none, and the
best you can give US will be thnt our
supper Is ready to be served" ".|
But even this snub did not check his
eagerness TO tell us the news. Admiral
de Coligny," he said, breathlessly, "you
have not heard what has happened to
him?"
ITO the admiral7 No, what?" I In
quired, rapidly. I was interested At
last. hi's+
For moment let me dlgress. Tho
few Of my age will remember, and the
many younger will havo been told,
that OF this time the italian queen
mother was the ruling power in
France. 1t was Catherine de Medicl's
first object to maintain her influence
over Charles IX.-her SOD; who, rick
ETY., weak and passionate, was already
doomed to an early grave. Her second,
to support the royal power by ,balarc-
ing the extreme Catholics against the
Huguenots. For the latter purpose
she would coquette first with one party,
then with the other. At the present
moment she hud committed herself
more deeply than was her wont to the
Hugueuots. Their leaders, Admiral
Gaspard de Coligny, the king Of Ma
varre and the prince Of Conde, were
supposed to be high in'favor, while the
chiefs ID the other party. the duke Of
Guise and thertwo. cardinals OF his
house, the cardinal of lorraine and the
cardinal of Guise, Svere ia disgrace;
which, as II seemed, even their friend
at court, the queens .ipvorite son,
Henry Of AMI }0a, WAb unable to over