Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-04-23

loss and draw what comfort could
from the reflection that no dispatch in
the missing cipher was extant. Who
ever had stolen it, therefore, another
could be substituted for it and no one the
worse. Still was unwilling that the
| king should hear of the miSchance from
stranger, and be led to think me care
less; and babe Ferret be silent about
it unless Henry missed the packet,
which might not happen before my
arrival.
| When the secretary, who readily as
sented, had given me his receipt and
gone, I questioned Maignan afresh
and more closely, but with no result.
He had not seen me place the packet in
the portfolio at Calais, and that I had
done SO 1 could vouch only my own
memory, which I knew to be fallible.
| In the meantime, though the miSchance
annoyed me, I attached no great ir-
portance to it, but anticipating that
word of explanation would satisfy the
king, and new cipher dispose of other
difficulties, dismissed the matter from
my mind.
| Tweaty-four hours later, however,
was rude1y awakened. A courier ar
rived from Henry, and, surprising me
in the midst Of my last preparations at
the arsenal, handed me an order to at
tend his majesty; an order couched in
| the most absolute and peremptOry
terms, and lacking all those friendly
| expressions which the king never failed
| to use when he wrote to me. A miSSive
so brief and forma1-and so needless,
| for / was on the point of starting-had
| not reached me for years: and coming
| at this moment when I had no reason
| to expect a reverse of fortune, it had
| all the effect Of q thunderbOlt in a
clear sky. I stood stunned, the words
which l was debating to my secretary
dying on my lips. For I knew the king
too well, and had experienced his kind
ness too lately to attribute the harsh
| ness Of the order to chance or forget
| fulness; and, assured in moment that
l stood face to face with grave crisis,
l found myself hard put to it to hide
my feelings from those about me.
Nevertheless. did so with an effort;
and, sending for the courier, asked him
with an assumption of care]essness
what was the latest news at court. His
answer, in measure, Gained my fears,
though it could not remove them. He
reported that the queen had been taken
ill-or SO the rumor went.
''Suddenly?" I said.
s'This morning." he answered.
| ''The king was with here"
Eyes, your eXcellency."
''Had he left her long when he sent
this letter."
| st came from her chamber, your ex-
| cellency.''
''But-did you understand that her
majesty was in danger?" urged.
| AS to that, however, the man could
not say anything; and I was left to
nurse my conjectures during the long
ride to Fontainebleau, where we ar
| ing. the last stage through the forest
awakening memories of post pleasure
| that combated in vain the disorder and
apprehension which held my spirits
Dismounting in the dusk at the door Of
my apartments, I found a fresh sur
prise awaiting me in the shape OF NJ. de
Concini, the Italian, who, advancing
to meet me before my foot was out of
the stirrup, announced that he came
from the king, who desired my instant
attendance in the queens closet
| Knowing Concini to be one of those
whose influence with her majesty had
more than once tempted the king to
the most violent measures against her
from which I had with difficulty dis
suaded him-I augured the worst from
| the choice of such q messenger; and
wounded alike in my pride and the
affection in which I held the king,
could scarcely find words in which to
ask him If the queen was i'll
''Indisposed, my lord he replied,
carelessly. And he began to whistle.
| I told him that would remove my
boots and brush off the dust, and in
five minutes be at his service.
Pardon me-" he said, my orders
are strict, and they are to request you
to attend his majesty Immediately. He
expected you an hour ago."
was thunderstruck at tnis-st the
message, and at the mans manner;
and for moment could scarcely re-
strain my indignation. Fortunately
the habit of self-control came to my
aid in time, and I reflected that an
alteration with such person could
only lower my dignity. 1 contented
myself, therefore, with signifying my
assent by a nod, and followed him
toward the queens apartments.
In the ante-chamber were several
persons, who, as 1 passed, saluted me
| with an air of shypeSS and incartixude