The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-28

ing curiosity and biunting question we'll enough.
Again for my curiosity would not be salts,
t Msat nor Sa ths th sdF BnS Se " I 3SSotSninF e % ssi inffR rS@
Nj. dc Pcrroncourti Something, It seemed, or
nothing for Mile. de Qu6rouaille, and l could not
suppose that the mere desire to please his
father would hay have y, WSiEh snp %n1n nim 80, 80 strongly SmsIS
thing was brought home most forcibiy, to my
courts arrival. A private conference was
hold, and lasted some hours. Outside tho
G GG,S,ng doors soyo we To@ al a PScGtah c 10 % %%a lnU; sos e /
voice, raised, as IL seemed, in cNhortation or
persuasion. The Duke, who was glad enough to
same time visibly annoyed at his exclusion.
sauntercd listlessly up and down, s%peakinE to
nobody &c PercciyiT Mitb ,srt nc TO q ei distance n9s do anS
having seated myself in n retired corner, was
soon lost, in consideration Of my own fortunes,
gentlemen and ladies Of the court having
offered and accepted compliments and gallan-
were Exhausted. dropped Off ono by one in
corner: Nothing thing. was VI ,b to , 9S heard Mas save t n0
guard on the steps leading from tho second
story Of the keep to tho state apartments.
hns0 G peculiar a u S'"' facts Ga' about NJ. de PsrrencouTt
that been bee aI lSGSc q within hi s the pPSSinG ct w a ,Rs
to the Duke of York, who had his sister, madame.
iongcd conference was taking place in the
Kings cabinet, further along the passaSc.
word Of the night was asked and Monmouth's
voice made answer st. Denis. y for just now
everything was French. in compliment to mad.
anne. The steps continued to ascend, the light
In tho corridor was very dim, but a moment
later l perceived Monmouth and Carford. Car.
ford's arm was through his Grace's, and he
seemed to be endcavoring to restrain him. Mon.
mouth shook him of with a laugh and an oath.
80, "nm net going nc to listen stem t ~ he b cried II. " Why
SILENCE, for Gods sake, silence, your Grace"
"That's, what he does, isn't it, He and the
Queens chaplain and the
And our good NJ. dc Perrencourt. Them
He burst into n bitter laugh as he mentioned
the gentlcman's name.
ears. and what was enough ~ may use a dis
~tinction drawn by my old friend the vicar for
declare my. presence or not. Had Monmouth
been alone l would have shown myself directly,
but l did not wish Carford to be aware that
longer in hesitation: then l uttered a loud
yawn, groancd, stretched myself, rose to my
feet and gave Il sudden and very obvious start,
us l let my eyes fall on the Duke.
Why, Simon,' he cried, what brings You
II thought your Grace was in the Kings
"Rut you knew that 1 left them some hours
YES, but having lost sight of your Grace, I
supposed that you'd returned, and while wait
My explanation a6undantly satisfied the
Duke; Carford maintained a wary silence.
We're after other game than conferences to-
down to the hall and wait there for me. Simon.
My lord and l are going to pay a visit to the
Indies OF madame and the Duchess of York
1 saw that he was merry with wine; Carford
had been drinking, too, but he grew only more
glum and malicious with his liquor. Neither
visit the Duke spoke OF. but l was helpless. and
with n bow took my way down the stairs to the
hal b. below ~ " where "s ,h ! sat ,a6n d9 SNIas on the este steps st that
standing by the wall, served to hide mt from
observation. For "A few moments nothing oc-
Cured. Then | heard Il loud burst of laughter
from above. Feet came running down the steps
into the hall, and q girl in a white dress darted
that she was Barbara Quinton., An instant
later came Monmouth, hot on her heels, and i'm
plorins her in eXtravagant words not to be so
where was Carfordf l could only suppose that
my lord had the discretion to stay behind when
the Duke of Monmouth desired to speak with
the lady whom my lord sought for his wife.
In my humble judgment, a very fine. large
and subtle volume might be composed on the
listen, when he may not, and for how Ions. he
may. to what end, for what motives. in what
that the divines.. who, us l understand, are
greatly adept in the science OF casuisiry: have
Know not; at least have nowhere encountered
the result OF their labors. But now | sat still
behind the great chair and listened without
doubt or hesitation. Yet how long l could have
Controlled myself l know not, FOR his Grace
made light OF scruples that night and set bounds
at nnught. AT first Mistress Barbara was
merry with him, fencing and p%arrying in conf.
dcnce that he would use no roughncss nor an
undue rehemence: but on ne went; ana pres,
she PRAYED him to suffer her to depart and re,
turn to the duchess, who must have need OF
Nay. I won't let you go, sweet mistress
Rather, i can't let you CO.
will cali my Lord Carford to aid me in persuad'
ing your Grace"
lie laughed at the suggestion that a call for
Carford would hinder him.,
He won't come he said. and II he came he
would be my ally, not yours
She answered now haughtily and coldly:
Sir. Lord Carford is a snitor for my hand
1t is in your Grace's knowledge that he is"
But he thinks a hand and none none q the worse be
"You don't know how amiablc a husband your,
to have, Mistress Barbara"
| was on my feet now, and. peering round
the chair, which hid me from them, ] could SCI
her standing against the wall. with Monmouth
opposite to her. He offered to seize her hand
he stepped nearer, to her. A slight sount
caught my ear, and, turning my head saw
tbSSiEiVS till he was almost hidden from m:
sight, though j could still make out the shap'
Of his figure. A cry of triumph from Mon
mouth echoed low but intense through the hal,
He had caught the elusive hanQ ana was klSs
ing II passionately. Barbara. stood still an,
stiff. The Duke, keeping her hand still in his
said mockingly:.
"You pretty fool, would YOU refuse fortune
Hank, madame, / am n Kings son.
| saw no movement in her, but the light wa
dim. He went on, lowering his voice a little
yet not much.
And l may be a KING; stranger things hav
come to pass. Wouldn't you like to be
Quecni' He laughed as he put the question
he lacked the care or the cunning to make eve
II show of honesty.
Let me co." | heard her whisper in a strained
timid voice.
We'll, for tonight you shall go, sweethear
but not without "A kiss, l swear
She was frightened now and sought to prt
pltiate him. saying gently and with attemptt
lightness:.
work your will on it,"
your hand! mean your lips this time, h
cried. in audacious insolcncc. He came neart
to her, his arm crept round her, waist. l ha
endured what ] could. yes. and AS long ms
could. for | was persuaded that could sery
her better by leaving her unaided for the I'M
mont. But my limit was reached. l steppe
out from behind the chair. But In an ii
!, slant l was hack again., Monmouth ha
paused. In one hand he. held Barbara's hanC