The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-10

ing, probably that this savored too much of a
;SW nS a9 t,h Instant q sh thing pS,h he hated ,rn i,oI But Se tdoE
his seat, how III tho Duke looked, his face be-
trnycd signs OF disturbance, after which, his
sESiIrS mold which iG Il a s@.T shS when a%'i he did
not wish his thoughts to be read.
That the Dukes pallor and wretchod appear
nnce gave rise to suspicion in other minds Is
equally certain, the more hardy Of those pres
Gni, suS Sn,n Ss my Lord Marl6oronEh CHAN and ! th cid Ad'
aud the immediate prospect. of detection, could
so change themselves. And while some felt a
ured the stupenGoas cdiaeeo Of skilfui deceit,
which my lord had so long and perfectly, con;
the world, othors were already busted with the
erect Y would have or. the party, ana how TINS
% %oTd a SS sR,sSn San ana su tsaf SSsdI"i %itS S as little IL 9
shock as possible for this man. Nor were these
emotions at AL weakened when my lord, after
saluting the King. took his scat, without speak
ing or greeting the general gaze.
Now, sir, " said the King. impatiently, when
all was again quiet, the Duke Is here. Pro
II win,", Sir John answered. with greater
ply to repeat to his face what I have said he
hind his back, that on the 10th of last June. in
the evening. he met me at Ashford n Kent,
carry both with me to 81. Germains."
Ny lord looked slowly round the table; then
he had compassion aon in in his face. ~ Sir : John, he
said, after, as it seemed, weighing the words he
it We're barbar cpt'tH to insult You. But YOU must
needs, as you have accused mo before his
Majesty and these gentlemen, hear me state:
also before them, that there is not a word OF
Sir John stared at him and broathed hard.
Mon Dien!s he exclaimed at length. and his
~ was not at Ashford on the 10th of June"
day in that month. l never saw you there, and
gaye y9H NO ring ,. .u,,, and
his s9 is@ fsIien, b Sir sc Sohn m Io BE Saa eSsi To- s ana:
hs eyes Oft the other.
of those present thought of this-and the de.
mcanor Of the two men was so steadfast that
even Lord Marlborough's acumcn was at fault
matter; and with some impatience he tried TO
put a stop to it at this point, Isl worth while
to tuna Sarry. W this kn foTshs sSr ny fyie lSFds', w be k sntd fe oar
enemies also. This is a story pour rirc, and de-
serving only Of contempt," - -.
terly and tercely and recalling, the Kings
promise. and the Duke, being no less urgent
for his own interests-that the matter be sifted
to the bottom, the King had no option but to- let
III he will have his witness the ss'H let him" And
then. with one Of those spirits Of pecvishncss:
Which stood in strange contrast with his %onted
bury, 1T is your own choice. my lord. Don't
The querulous words bore a meaning which
all recognized, and some at the table started
and resumed the calculation how they should
ing ever became the Duke better than the man
ner in which he received that insinuation
and aBi s il 80; s IL tA he Sri Said 1 S5th s sPir5' as f MI a e sSars
OF Justice as I claim for myself. and as fair 9
hearing. Less than that were inconsistent
honor"
The Kings only answsr was a sp!Ly "a, a15
after whispering to the prisoner, went out, anc
after n brief delay. which seemed to many at TIT
table long enough returned with Matthew
CHAPTER XLv.
That the villain expected nothing so littl!
as to see the man he was preparing, to ruin
can well believe, and equally that the ordeal
posure. I have heard that after glancing ono,
ut the Duke he ,averted his eyes. and thence
forth looked and addressed himself entirely I
But this apart, it could not be denied that h
played his part to q marvel. Known to NOR,
had grown sober but not less dangerous witt
age and the change of tho times, he had stu
reputation, and he dressed himself according
~: insomuch that, as he stood beside Sir john
an impression not unfayorable at the set out.
Nor when hidden By the be, k King, to h speak AM !.
tons which his appearance had created, though
this was probably due in some measure TO m!
lords. self control, who neither by word no
the man to whom for years past he had onl
spoken casually, and onse in sly mouths ont as
journey which. US he said, they two had take
together to Ashford. At what time the
started. where they lay, by wha, road they ira,
elled. at all smith was pat. Nor did he sto
thee. but went on to- relate With the same cas-
the inn.
minutige, with date and place and circun
stance, should fall on ears totally deaf. TIL
men who listened were statesmen. versed /
deceptions aud acquainted with affairs-me
who knew Oates and had heard DanRcrficld
yet they listened, they shut their EYE eyes al and r,
bot q dream nE0s Before his aPGeaEinP IS Io Syen L %s
notorious. had been inclined to ridicule ~
Johns story as a desperate card played for III,
and this even in teeth of my lords disorder, .
incredible did il appear that one of the King
principal Ministers should stoop % u thing 5
foolish. Now it was a sign pregnant of meal
ing that no one looked at his ncighbor, but Il
gazed either at the witness or at the table b'
fore them. And some who knew my lord bct
heavy and tho stiffness OF the room oppressive
by tho Kings harsh accent. What, was III
fordi'
"Ths 10th of June. sir
Where was the Duke on that dayf' WI
> liam continued, and he turned tothe Lord Stew
ard: His tone and question, implying, the mos
f Risttesdi1 so 1o an extent ten 'b broke iait the spell M@iin a me S Sa
the reply been satisfactory oil would have bee
t over: but the Duke of Devonshire, turning. I
my lord for the answer, got only that he la
j.. those two nights at his mothers. IN the sui
: urbs; and thereon "A blank look fell on NOR
t than one face. The King indeed shifted an
. lnnttered: Then twenty witnesses can confuI
q this" as II the answer satisfied him. and We
all he had cS pccted; but that others were 4
Y gaze and IL doubt was as noticeable as thI
those who looked most solemn and thoughtfl
were the three who had themselves stood
r danger that day.
Q A t a nod from the King. Smith resumed h
! talci but In u moment he was pulled up sho
{ by Lord Dorset, who requested his Majesty
j leave 70 put a question. Having got permit
sion: "HOw do you say that the Duke-can
I to take you with himf" the Marquis aske
8 7 take me. my lordi'
YES
o Must I answer that question:
o Yes said Lord Dorset with grimness.
We'll, simply because I had been the m
dunn of communication between his Grace al
Sir John" Smith answered dryly. Even
u on former occasions l had acted al agent b
Q tween his Grace and Lord Middleton. -.
u My lord started violently and half ros
o is the first word OF truth this person has spo
= en-" he said with dignity. at is a fact that
l the year 1892 he twice brought me a note fro
Lord Middleton and arranged a meeting b
PRECISELY" Smith answered with effror