Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-04-30
enough in rough times, but is no

1 y
| Madam
"a trifie exigeant and superhuous. :"
After that 1 saw that it was war to
the knife between us; and asked her
| in very plain terms if she were not
afraid Of the queens enmity, that she
dared thus to faunt the kings favors
before her.
mo more than I am afraid of yours"
she answered, hardly.
But if the king is disappointed in
his hopes?"
lyon may suffer; very probably
WILL" she answered, slowly and smil-
ing; mot /. Besides, sir-rny child
was born dead. He bore that very
WE'LL
yet, believe me, madame, you run
some risk
In keeping what the king has given
me?" she answered, raising her eye
| brows.
No! In keeping what the king has
not given you!" 1 answered, sternly.
Whereas, what do you gain?''
"Wen," she replied, raising herself in
bed, while her eyes sparkled and her
color rose. eff you like, will tell you.
This pleasure, for one thing pleas
ure of seeing you there, awkward,
booted, stained, and standing, waiting
my will. That-which perhaps you
call a pretty thing-I gain first of all.
Z len l gain your ruin, M. de Rosny;
plant a sting in that woman's breast;
and for his majesty, he has made his
bed and may lie on it."
Have care, madame!" I cried,
bursting with indignation at q speech
so shameless and disloyal. 'You are
playing a dangerous game, 1 warn
you'll"
''And what game have you played?"
she replied. transported on a sudden
with equal passion. ''Who was it tore
up the promise of marriage which the
king gave me? Who was it prevented
me being queen of France? Who was
it hurried on the match with this
tradeswoman, so that the king found
himself welded before he knew it?
Who was it-but enough; enough she
cried, interrupting herself with q ges-
ture full of rage. you have ruined
me, you and your queen between you,
and l will ruin you"
son the contrary, madame" I an
swered, collecting myself for a last eff
fort, and speaking with all the severity
which a just indignation inspired, ~
have not ruined you. But if you do
not tell me that which i am here to
Learnt wil1!'
She laughed out loud. 'sOh, you
simpleton!" she said. ''And you call
yourself statesman! Do you not see
that if do not tell it, you are disgraced
yourself and powerless, and can do me
no harm? Tell it you? When I have
YOU all on the hip-you, the king, the
ON Got Ov NJ
de Rosny!"
madame?" / said, choking with rage.
It had been long since any had dared so
to beard me.
Yes" she replied stoutly; lit is! Or.
stay; you shall not go empty handed"
And thrusting her arm under the
pillow she drew out, after moments
search, a small packet which she held
out towards me. ''Take it," she said,
with q haunting laugh. ut has served
my turn. What the king gave me, 1
give you"
| Seeing that it was the missing key to
| the cipher, swallowed my rage and
| took it; and being assured by this time
that could effect nothing by staying
longer, brlt should only expose myself
| to fresh insults, turned on nv heel,
with rudenesS equal to her own, and,
without taking leave of her, flung the
| door open and went out. I heard her
throw herself back with shriu laugh
of triumph. But as, the moment the
door fell to behind me, my thoughts
began to cast about for another way of
escape-this failing-I took little heed
of her, and less of the dcrisive looks to
which the household. quickly taking
the cue, treated me as passed.
flung myself into the saddle and
galloped off. followed by Maignan,
who presently, to my surprise, blurted
out clumsy word of congratulation.
turned on him in amazement, and,
swearing at him, asked him what he
meant.
''You have got it," he said tinidly,
pointing to the packet which 1 me
| chemically held in my hand.
And to what purpose?" cried, glad
of this opportunity of unloading some
of my wrath. II want, not the paper,
but the secret, fool! You may have
the paper for yourself if you will tell
me how madaree got it,
Nevertheless, his words led me to
look at the packet. 1 opened it. and,
having satisfied myself that it con-
tanned the original and not q copy, was