Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-11

| The king sprang to his feet.
Il won't listen,' he cried. stop his
| cursed mouth. l went listen" lie looked
| around with fear and alarm in his eyes /
| perceived his gaze turned toward his son
and Buckingham. Following it / saw their
| faces alight with eagerness, excitement and
| curiosity. Arlington looked down at the
| table, Clifford leaned his head on his hand:
| at the other end the Duke of York had
| sprung up like his brother and was glazing
angrily at the bold prisoner. Darrell did
not wait to be hidden twice, but whipped a
| silk handkerchief from his pocket.
Here and now the deed is being done.
cried PhineaS Here and now He
| could say no more; in spite of his desper-
ate struggles he was gagged and stood 81
| lent, his eyes still burning with the mes
| sage his lips were not suffered to utter.
The king sank back in his seat and cast a
| furtive glance around the table. Then he
sighed as though in relief. and wiped his
| brow. Monmouth3 voice came clear,
| careless, confident.
whats this madness?' he asked. 'Who
kere is bartering Gods word? And for
what, pray?'
| No answer was given to him: he glanced
| in insolent amusement at Arlington and
| Clifford. then in insolent defiance at the
| Duke of York
! with the king?" he asked. bowling to his
| father.
$50 safe. James. that it does not need you
| to champion it," said the king dryly. yet
| that lean forefinger at him again and point
| ed. "Tie the fellows arms to his side" the
| king commanded in hasty irritation; ne
sighed again when the finger could no
longer point at him, and his eyes again fur-
| lively sought Monmouth's face. The young
| duke leaned back with scornful smile.
and the consciousness of the KING S regard
| did not lead him to school his face 10 any
more seemly expression. My wits had come
back now, although my head ached herce-
| ly, and my body full of acute pain;
but I watched all that passed, and knew
| that come what might, they would not let
Phineas speak. Yet PhineaS could know
nothing. Nay. but the shafts of madness,
| often wide, may once hit the mark the
| paper that had lain between the King and
NJ de Perrencourt was hidden.
Again the French gentleman bent ana
whispered in the kings ear. He spoke long
this time, and all kept silence wh1ie ne
spoke Phineas because he must, the lieu
tenant with surprised eyes, the rest IN that
seeming Indifference which. as now knew,
masked their real Difference. At last the
king looked up, nodded ana smiled his ar
grew calmer and more assured ana the
trembling was gone from his voice as ne
spoke.
Come gentlemen" said he. while we
talk this ruffian who has escaped us makes
Monmouth and the Duke of Buckingham
each take a dozen men and scour the
country for him. l shall be greatly IN the
debt of either who brings him to me-
The two dukes started. The service which
the king demanded of them entailed an alb
sence of several hours from the castle l.
might be that they, or one of them, would
learn something from Jonah Wall, but II
was far more likely that they would not
find him. or that he would not suffer him
self to be taken alive. Why were they
sent and not couple of the officers on
duty? But If the kings object were to Sc
cure their absence the scheme was well
laid l thought now that I could guess
what NJ de Perrencourt had said in that
whispered conference. Buckingham had
the discretion to recognize when the game
went against him. He rose at once with
bow, declaring that he FASTENED to obey
the kings command and would bring the
fellow in, dead or alive Monmouth had
less self-control. He rose. indeed, but re-
luctantly and with a sullen frown on his
handsome face.
It's poor work looking for a single man
over the countryside" he grumbled
Your devotion to me will inspire and
guide you, James," observed the king. A
chance of hooking another made him him
self again as no other cure could. Come.
Take this fellow away and lock him up.
Mr.. Darrell See that you guard him well,
and let nobody come near him.
M. de Perrencourt whispered.
above all, let him speak to nobody. He
must tell what he knows only at the right
time added the king.
when will that be-" asked Monmouth
audibly, yet so low that the king could
feign not to hear, and smiled pleasantly
at his son. But still the duke fingered, al
though Buckingham was gone and Phineas
Tate had been led out between his custo-
dams. His eyes sought NINE and 1 read
an appeal in them. That he desired to
take me with him in pursuit of Jonah Wall
/ did not think, but he desired above all
things to get me out Of that room. to
have speech with me, to know that 1 was
free to work out the scheme which Buck
ingham had disclosed to me. Nay, 1t was
not unlikely that his search for Jonah
Non rrn1tII lao h 10 IS 81,
Merry Mariners at Deal. And for my plan
too, which differed SO little, and yet so
much, from his, for that also 1 must be
free. 1 rose to my feet. delighted to find
that could stand well and that my pains
grew no more severe with movement.
II am at your graces ORDERS said 1.
May 1 ride with you, sir?"
The king looked at me doubtfully.
Il should be glad of your company" said
the duke. IF your health allows
Most fully, SIR l answered, and turn
ing to the king l begged his leave to de-
part. And that leave l should. as 1 think
have obtained but for the fact that once
again NJ. de Perrencourt whispered to the
king. The king rose from his seat, took
M. de Perrencourts arm, and walked with
him to where his grace Stood 1 watched
them till a little sti1ed laugh caught my
attention. Madame's face was merry and
hers the laugh. She saw my look on her.
and laughed again, raising her finger to
her lips in swift, stealthy motion. She
glanced around apprehensively, but her
action had passed unnoticed. The Duke of
York seemed sunk in dull apathy. Cliff
ford and Arlington were busy in CONVEX
sation. What did she mean? Did she con-
TESS that l held their secret and imposed
silence on me by more than royal COM
mand. by the behest of bright eyes and red
lips which dared me to betray their con-
fidence? On the moments impulse L bowed
assent, madame nodded merrily and waved
kiss with her dainty hand. No word
passed. but l felt that l. being a gentle
man, could tell no man alive what / sus-
pected, aye. what 1 knew, concerning M
de Perrencourt. Thus lightly are pledges
given when ladies ask them.
The Duke of Monmouth started back with
sudden angry motion. The king smiled at
him. NJ. de Perrencourt laid hand decked
with rich rings on his lace cuff. Madame
rose, laughing still, and Joined the three l
cannot tell what passed-alas, that the
matters of highest interest are always
elusive-but moment later Monmouth fell
back with as sour look l have ever
seen on mans face, bowed slightly and
not over courreously, faced round and
strobe through the doorway, opening the
door for himself. I heard madame's gay
laugh, again the king spoke. madame cried
File" and hid her face with her hand NJ
de Perrencourt advancer toward me- The
king caught his arm. Pooh, he knows al