The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-04
Copyright, ls0c. BY Stanley J. weyman.)
PART III.


Ill now, and the moment he was out of
sight. set off towards the Palais Royal
like hound let loose, needing neither
those against whom L bumped in the
straiter ways, nor the danger L ran of
recognition, nor the miserable aspect
1 wore. L forgot all, save my news,
even my own wretchedness; and never
halted or stayed TO take breath until 1
stood painting in the doorway of the
lodge at the Palais, and met my father
in-law's gaze OF disgust and astonish-
ment.
He was just off the night turn. and
met me on the threshold. i saw be-
yond him the grinning faces of the
under porters. But / had that to tell
which still upheld me. / threw up my
hands.
II know where they are!" 1 cried.
breathless. Il can take you to them!"
He gazed at me, dumb with surprise
and rage; and doubtless less reputa-
BILE son-in-law than 1 appeared would
have been hard to find. Then his pas
sion found vent. pig! Jackal! Gut
ter-birdl" he cried. "Begone! Begone!
or will have you hayed!"
''But 1 know where they are! know
where they have him!" protested.
His face underwent "a startling
change. He darted forward with "a
nilnbeness wonderful in one of his
bulk and caught me by the collar.
SWhat!" he said, ''haye you seen the
dog?"
"The dog?" cried. ''No, but have
n Il I...
arms! He is"
lie released me suddenly and fell
back pace, looking at me SO oddly that
paused. "Say it again." he said.
slowly. "You have held the"
"The king! The king!" cried, inn
patiently. "In these arms. / know
where they have him, or at least where
the robbers are"
His double chin fell and his red face
lost color "Poor devil!" he said, still
staring at me. "They have driven him
uad!"
But" cried. "Are you not going
TO-"
He waved me of and retreated
step hastily and crossed himself.
~Jacques!" he exclaimed. ''Move him
off Move him off, do you hear, man?"
"But, / tell you," / cried, fiercely,
rthey have stolen the kngl They have
stolen his majesty, and L"
"Thcre, there, be calm," he an
pwered. "They have stolen the queens
dog, that is true. But have 1t your own
way il you like, only go. Go from here,
md quickly, or it will be the worse
o.. hav
the bishop, to wait on her majesty, aud
II he sees you you will There, make
way, make way!" he continued, ads
dressing the little crowd that had as
sembled. way, way, for monseigneur.
the bishop of Beauvais!"
AS he spoke the bishop and his train
turned out of ST. Antoine and the crowd
attending him eddied about the palais
entrance. / was hustled and swept out
of the way; and, luckily escaping no.
tice, found myself few minutes later
crouching in blind alley that runs
beside the Church of st. Jacques
crouching and wolfing a crust of bread
which one of the men with whom had
often talked in the lodge had thrust
into my hand. 1 ate it with tears; in
all Paris that day was no more miser-
able outcast. What had become of my
wife knew not, and dared not show
myself at the bishops to ask; my fa-
ther-in-law was hardened against me,
md at the best thought me mad;
had no longer home or friend, and
this at the moment cut most sharply
the gorge eous hopes in which had IN
dulged a few moments before were as
last years snow!
/ crouched and shivered. In st. An
toine, at the mouth of the alley, a man
was publishing notice, and presently
his voice caught my attention in the
middle OF my lamentations. / listened.
1T first idly, then with my mind. "oyez!
Oyez!" he cried. whereas, some evil
person, having no fear of God or tee
Jaw before his eyes, has impudently,
feloniously and REASONABLY stolen from
the Palais Royal a spaniel. the property
Of the queen regents most excellent
majesty--that is to say. that any one"
umble-rumble = rumble = hars
passing coach droMn some sen
tences, and then / caught--"five hun
dred crowns, the same to be paid by
monseigneur. the bishop of Beauvais
president of the councill"
"And glad To pay i'll" snarled voice
quite close TO me. ! started and looked
up. Two men were talking at a window
above my head.
"Yet il is high price for dog the
ether sneered.
"But low for queen. STILL IL buy,
her. And this is Rchclieu's rrancel"
''Was!" the other said, pithily. "Well,
you know the proverbs: "A living dog
Is better than dead lion.'"
"Aye." his companion reioined. "but
have fancy that that dogs name IA
spelled neither with nm sF' for Flnre--
Much was the wbeips natue, was ~
not?--nor IL for Beaurais; nor C
for Conde; but with an M"
"For Mazarini" the other answered.
eharply. "Yes. II nc find the dog. But