Evening star., 1896-03-07
II

But There Hand Gripp.d Ny
| Shoulder.
| him one of the ladies came forward nurs.
| ing the dog in her arms.
The cardinal looked. "Umph,' he said.
| Ard he looked again, frowning
1 did not know then why the queen took
heed even of his looks. and l started when
The The cardinal pursed up his lips.
| The bishop could bear IL no longer. He
| VIII say presently" he cried, snorting
with Indignation. that it is not the dog,'
His eminence shrugged his shoulders very
| slightly, and turned the palms of his hands
] outward. oh" he said, IF her majesty is
| satisfied"
| 'M'dieu"' the queen cried angrily: What
| 90 you mean2" But she turned TO the lady
VINO held the dog, and took ii from her.
1T is the dog!'. she said. do you think
| that do not know my own? Florel FIorer'
AND she Set the dog on rs feet. II turned
to her and wagged its tail eagerly.
Poor Flore!' said the cardinal "Florer'
1t went Go him.
Certainly its name is Flore," he con-
tinued, sulkily. But it used to die at the
word of command, think?'
What II did 1t will do"' NJ. de Beauvais
| cried scornfully. But 1 see that your emi.
nence was right in one thing you said
The cardinal bowed
THAT 1 should be envied-' the bishop
continued with a sneer. And he glanced
! around the circle There was a general
| utter great lady at the queens elbow
| laughed out.
"Flore," said the queen. "die. die, good
| dog. Do you hear m'dieu, die,''
But the dog only gazed into her face
| and wagged its tail; and though she cried
| to il again and angrily, il made no attempt
| 10 obey. On which a deep-drawn breath
| ran round the circle; one looked at another;
a score OF heads were thrust forward, and
some who had seemed merry enough the
| moment before looked grave mutes now.
| 1T used to bark for France, and growl
| for Spain" the cardinal continued in his
sCftest voice. perhaps"
France the queen cried harshly: and she
stamped on the floor. France! France,"
| But the dog only retreated covering and
dismayed; and at a distance wagged its
| tail pitifully.
France!' cried the queen desperately The
dog covered.
Il am afraid, my lord, that it has lost
| its accomplishments-in your company
| the cardinal said, faint smile curling his
| lips.
| The bishop let drop a smothered oath,
1T is the dog!' he cried passionateiy.
But the queen turned to him sharply, her
race crimson. Il do not agree with you"
| she replied. And more, my lord" she con-
tinued with vehemence: Il should be glad
| II you would explain how you came into
possession of this dog. A dog so nearly re-
sembling my dog-and yet not my dog
could not be found in a moment, not with
| out some foul contrivance."
1T has forgotten its tricks" the bishop
said.
"Nonsense" the queen retorted.
A great many faces had grown grave by
this time. 1 have said that the room was
| filed for the most part with bishops sup
porters. AT any rate, know nothing about
1T. That man found itr' he exclaimed wip-
ing his brow and pointing to me- between
anger and discontinue.
'one of my lords servants" the cardinal
| said, easily.
"Ohr' the queen aswered, with a world Of
meaning; and she looked at me with eyes
| before which 1 auailed. rs that true. fell
low" she said Are you in my lords serv-
ice?"
1 stammered an affirmative.
Then 1 wish to hear no more" she re-
piled, haughtily. mo, my lord. Enough!"
| she continued, raising her voice TO drown his
protestations; II do not care to know wheth-
er you were mere sinned against than sim
ming; greater fool and your adviser a
| knave; pray take your creature away.
Doubtless, in a very short time 1 should
| have discovered the cheat for myself. 1
think I see difference now. But, it is,
l am greatly indebted to his eminence for
his aid-and saGacity."
She brought out the last words with with
ering emphasis, and amid profound silence.
The bishop, too wise after the event 10
persist longer in the dogs identity, still
| tried desperately TO utter a word of excuse:
| but the queen. whose vanity had received
| a serious wound. cut him short with a curt.
and freezing dismissal, and Immediately
| turning to the cardinal requested him to in
| troduce to her the officers who had the
| colors in charge.
| 1t may be imagined how felt and. what
| terrors l experienced during this struggle:
| since it required no great wit TO infer that
| the bishop, If defea ted, would wreak his
vengeance on me. Already a dozen who
| had attended his levee We're fawning on the
cardinal: the queen had turned her shoul-
der to him. a great lady, over whom he
bent to hide his chagrin, talked to him in
deed, but fiippantly, and with eyes half
| closed. For all these sights, and the more
| real defeat which they indicated. foresaw
that 1 should pay; and. IN a panic, / slid
| back and strove to steal away through the
crowd.
1 reached the door in safety, and even
! the head Of the stairs Bat there hand
sripped my shoulder, and the steward
! thrust his face, white with rage, into mine.
| Not so fast, Master Plottcr," he Kissed in
my ear. IF your hide does not pay for
| this-if you are rot dashed like cog, until
| FIFE is out of your body! If for this / do
rot
by the queens command" said quiet
| voice in my other ear; and hand fell
also on that shoulder.
| The steward glanced at his rival He
| is the bishops mani" he cried. throwing
out his chest; and grlpped me again.
And the bishop is the queen'sr' was
| the curt reply: and the stranger in whom
| i recognized the man who had delivered
| the dog to me quietly put him by. Her mai
esty has committed this person to the
cardinals custody until inquiry be made
| into the truth of his story. In the mean
time, if you have any complaint to make.
you can make ii to his eminence."
After that there was no more TO be said
| The steward, baffied and bursting with
rage. fell back, and the stranger, directing
me by a gesture to attend him, descended
| the stairs and, crossing the court yard en-
| tered St. Antoine. i knew not now what
| to expect from him: whether, overjoy-
| ed as / was at such a deliverance. 1 might
not be courting worse fate in this in
quiry; SO grim and secretive was my
| guides face, and so much did that somber
dress-whch gave him somewhat Of the
character OF an inquisitor-add to the mys-
terry of his silence. However, when We had
crossed st. Antoine and entered a lane
leading to the river, he halted and turned
! to me.
There are twenty crowns" he said
| abruptly; and he placed a purse in my
| hand. Take them and do exactly as 1
| bid you. and all will be well. At the Quai
| de Notre Dame You will find a market
boat starting for Rouen Go by it, and at
| the Ecce Homo in that city you will find
| your wife and hundred crowns Live
there quietly and in a month apply for
| work at the chancery; it will be- given you.
| The rest lies with you. / have known men,"
he continued, with a puzzling smile, who
| started al desk in that chancery and
| lived to rent one of the great farms"
| i tried TO find words to thank him.
| There is no need" he said. For what
| you have done it is not too much"
And now 1 agree with him. Now-though
l n 10