The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-05
OF about 2V VIC
Publication April

by this time the unhappy man was
incapable Of surprise. The scene in
the wood had robbed him of all pow
er OF reason. When they stripped him
Of his bandage and he was able TO look
about him, he neither spoke nor Won
dered. Yet the spectacle was strange
enough TO have amazed a bolder man.
For the Able sat then in n room draped
in scarlet; and more than that, he sat
in n high chair before n long table lit
pleasingly by the soft light of many
wax candles; and so weighed down
with plate and exquisite cut glass that
the scarlet drapery below was hardly
10 be seen. AS for the company, that
also was a scarlet company; devils, de-
mons, witches; their whitened faces
now hidden by crimson masks, their
very hair appearing 20 be of the bright
est red. Even the walls were draped in
the same glowing colors; while the at
tendants, some in hideous masks, some
garbed like scarlet elves, capped the
scheme fittipgly. Yet this was the Curl
Gus thing-no word was spoken, no
greeting given. The company sat like
mutes. The Able shuddered again;
he could not altogether suppress the
thought that he might be supping with
the risen dead.
Such a haunting suggestion was
quick 10 pass. Though grim forebod-
ing pursued him while he asked him
self: "Where will it end? What did
they mean when they called me the
Lord Bishop OF Blois and said that 1
must suffer?"-he, good man that he
was and there was none better in
France-was like other men in possess
ing healthy appetite. The groaning
table put some heart into him. Il have
ridden far and well boiled capon with
a cup of Burgundy will not come amiss
to me-" he thought. And so for the
first time since he had entered the
terrible wood he permitted himself to
hope. "They will let me ride on when
supper is DONE" he assured himself,
"and / shall be in Paris after oil by the
last day of the month. 1t would never
do to be delayed over tomorrow, for
the king returns to Paris then, and
Corinne will see him and cheat me once
more. Certainly, must be in Paris to-
morrow. Meanwhile, 1 will see what
sort of n supper it is, for 1 am very
hungry"
One of the servants had set a plate
before him now, a plate upon which was
a little silver dish exquisitely garnished
and served. So tempting did the NOR
sci look that the good Able hastened
to plunge his fork into IL, but at the
first mouthful he made an ugly grimace
and was unable to withhold an ex-
clamation.
"Ciel," cried he, "that is nothing but
bread crumbs"
He looked round the table appealing
ly, but no one in the masked company
vouchsafed to him an answer. All were
busy upon similar dishes, OF which
they appeared TO partalSe with exceed
ing relish. Indeed, they had finished
their portions before the Abbe had re-
covered from his astonishment; and
while no was still looking at them n
laclley, dressed in crimson, carried in
a dish, upon which was O smoking fish
OF great size, and began TO serve slices
OF Ito the Able first, and afterward
TO the other suppers. At the same mo-
ment another attendant filed the Abb
be's giass-a magnificent glass OF the
rarest Venetian worlS--with wine from
a crystal goblet, and then did similar
service for the rest of the company.
The action treasured the hungry cure.
For the second time he plunged ready
fork into the dish before him. Fish
is fish," he said to himself, while he
smacl<ed his lips in famished onticipa-
tion The assurance scarce had COM
forted him when he broke out with a
word which was neither ecclesiastical
nor abbotorial:
"Nom du diable," he exclaimed, "but
this is bread, too"
How IL came to be, In what manneri
the cheat had been contrived, the Able
knew no more than the dead. Yet
there was the fish right enough, and a
second mouthful convinced him that
IL was made of nothing but bread.
''St. John" cried he, sitting back in
his chair, "who ever heard Of that
a fish made of bread crumbs; and
everyone eating of IL as though it were
a mullet from the kings table. Body Of
st. Paul-they are all mad"
Mad or sane, the scarlet company ap-
peared TO enjoy the fish very much.
Their heads bent over their plates, the
suppers varied their occupation Of eat
ing only by the equally pleasant one of
taking long draughts from the crystal
goblets before them. They did not APP
pear so much as 10 notice that the Able
was appealing 20 them. His words, his