Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-02-25
T 4 THE HOUSE q
M OF THE WOLF.
fN }tXs9 = = e =
SD3E.c BY stanley ]. VEYMAN.
CHAPTER III.-CONTINUED.
BY STANLEY ]. WEYMAN.

Passing within the gates and across
first one bridge and then another, we
were astonished and utterly confused
by the noise and hubbub through
which we rode. Hundreds seemed to
be moving this way and that in the mar
row streets. Women screamed to one
another from window to window. The
bells of half-a-dozen churches rang the
curfew. Our country ears were deaf
ened. Still our eyes had leisure to
take in the tall houses with their high
pitched roofs, and here and there
tower built into the wall; the quaint
churches, and the groups of towns
folks sullen fellows, some of them.
with fierce CLEAN in their eyes-who,
standing in the mouths Of reeking al
leys, watched US go by.
But presently we had to stop. A
crowd had gathered to watch q little
cavalcade of six gentlemen pass across
our path. They were riding two and
two. lounging in their saddles and
chattering to one another, disdainfully
unconscious of the people about them,
or the remarks they excited. Their
graceful bearing and the richness of
their dress and equipment surpassed
anything I had ever seen. A dozen
pages and lackeys were attending them
on foot, and the sound OF their jests
and laughter came to US over the heads
OF the crowd.
While l was gazing at them, some
movement of the throng drove back
Bures horse against mine, Bure him
self uttered a savage oath; uncalled
for so far as I could see. But my at
tention was arrested the next moment
by Croisette, who tapped my arm with
his riding whip. 'Looll!" he cried in
some excitement, sis not that hep
I followed the direction of the lads
finger-as well as I could for the plung-
ing of my horse, which Bure's had
frightened-and scrutinized the last
pair of the troop. They were crossing
the street in which we stood, and had
only u side view of them; or rather of
the nearer rider. He was singularly
handsome man, in age about % or %,
with long lovelocks falling on his lace
collar and cloak of orange silk His
face was sweet and kindly and gra-
cious to a marvel. But he was a stran-
ger to me.
Il could have sworn" exclaimed
CrOlSette, that that was Louis himself
M. de Pavannes!"
''That?" 1 answered, as we began to
move again, the crowd melting before
us. ''Oh. dear, no!''
No! no! The farther mani" he
explained.
But 1 had not been able to get good
look at the farther of the two. We
turned in our saddles and peered after
him. His back in the dusk certainly re-
minded me of Louis. Bure. however,
who said he knew III. de Pavannes by
sight. laughed at the idea Your
friend" he said. lis a wider man than
that" And I thought he was right
there-but then it might be the cut of
the clothes, They have been at the
Louvre playing paume. I'll be sworn!"
he went on. $50 the admiral must be
better. The one next US was NJ. de Tel
igny. the admirals son-in-law. And
the other, whom you mean. was Comte
de la Rochefoucault.'
We turned as he spoke into a narrow
street near the river, and could see not
far from Us a mass of dark buildings
which Bure told us was the Louvre
the kings residence. Out of this street
we turned into q short one: and here
Bure drew rein and raped loudly at
come heavy gates. It was so dark that