The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1896-09-16

my should succeed in forcing TN
entrance he would only find himself
caught in q trap-in a steep, narrow
way exposed to a fire from the top of
the hanking walls, us well as from the
front, We had couple of culverines,
which the vicomte had got 20 years be-
fore, at the time of the battle of St.
Quentin. We fixed one of these at the
head Of the ramp, and placed the other
On the terrace, where by moving it o
few PAGES forward we could train 1t on
Beers house, which thus lay at our
mercy.
Not that we really expected an ut
tack. But we did not know what to
expect or what to fear. We had notten
servants, the vicomte having taken u
score of the sturdiest lackeys and keep
ers to attend him at Bayonne. And VIC
felt immensely responsible, Our main
hope was that the vidame would at
oncego to Paris and postpone his venge-
ance. So again and again we cast long
ing glances at the House of the Wolf,
hoping that each symptom of bustle
heralded his departure.
Consequently 1t was shock to me,
and great downfall of hopes, when
Gil, with grave face, came to me on
the terrace and announced that NJ. lie
Vidamc was at the gate, asking to see
mademoiselle.
ut is out of the question that he
should see her." the old servant added,
scratching his head in grave perplexity
Most certainly. 1 will see him in
stead" answered, stoutly. "Do you
leave Francis and another at the gate,
Gil. Marie, keep within sight, lad. And
let Croisette stay with me-"
These preparations made-and they
took up scarcely moment-I met the
vldame at the head of the ramp. mile.
de Caylus," said, bowling, "is, 1 regret
to say, indisposed to-day, vidame."
"She will not see 2" he asked, eye
ing me very unpleasantly.
"Her indisposition deprives her Of the
pleasure" 1 answered, with an effort,
He was certainly wonderful man, for
ut sight of him three-fourths of my
courage, and all my Importance, oozed
out at the heels of my boots.
"She will not see me. Very WE'LL" he
replied, as if had not spoken. And the
simple words sounded like u sentencc
of death. "Then, NJ. Anne, have Il
crow to pick with you. What compen.
sation do you propose to make for the
death of my servant? A decent, quiet
fellow, whom you killed yesterday,
poor man, because his enthusiasm for
the true faith carried him away little.
"Whom I killed because he drew d
dagger on M. st, Croix de Caylus at the
,icomte's gate" 1 answered, steadily
had thought about this, of course, and
was ready for it. "You are aware, M
de Bezers," 1 continued, "that the
vicomte has jurisdiction extending tc
life and death over all persons within
The valley?"
"My Myhouseholdexcepted," he rejoined
quietly.
Precisely; while they are within tn.
curtilage Of your house." I retorted
However, as the punishment was sum
mary, and the man had no time to con
fess himself, l am willing to-"
"Well?"
ITO pay Father Pierre to say tc,
masses for his soul"
The way the vidamc received this sur
prised me. He broke into boisterou'
laughter. by our lady, my friend,
he cried, with rough merriment, "but
you are joker You are, indeed
Masses? Why, the man was Protes
tamil"
And that startled me more than any
thing which had gone before; more, III
deed, than I can explain. For it seemed