The Saint Paul globe., 1897-09-26

and 1 lay down my pen and wonder for
a moment at His will, which did not
shield that brave heart from an assaS-
sins blow
The throng was so thick that for a
time we were unable to gain passage,
and were compelled to go at walking
pace, and Belin, refining in his fretting
beast, exclaimed, Faith, tits the larg-
est gathering I have ever seem" I,
"All France is here today" said de
Valryn. There go dOssat and his
eminence. fresh from the quirinal."
81 wonder d'Ossat did not win his
red hat as well as monseigneur of
Evreux,'' said de Vitry.
'Ah! he is so unlike the cardinal"
replied de Valryn.
How do you mean?"
I'm this way. His eminence deceives,
but he never lies; the bishop on the
other hand lies, but he never deceives."
1T would cost you your regiment if
the king heard that, de Valryn."
"On the contrary, [ am sure it will
get to his ears, and then l could almost
hope for the vacant baton, though it's
said that is already in Ornano's hand
see, there is the constable's banner!'
And BouillOn, too-the stormy petrol
is back from Sedan-I almost sniff war
in the air."
20, he has taken to himself a wife
see! He has Quartered the arms Of La
Marck on his Scutcheon."
Isl dieu ne me Vult, le diable me
prys," said d'Aubusson, reading the
scroll on the banner of Turenne, and
then the crowd giving way for a mo-
ment we took the opportunity and
passed through the gates of the Louvre.
So full did we find the petite galerie on
our entrance, that it was impossible to
see or to observe who was there, and
all that L was conscious of, as [ slowly
made my way forward at the heels OF
de Belin, was the sound of music, the
murmur of voices and the ripping Of
gay laughter. In front of us was the
noble stairway that led to the Galer1e
d'Apollon, and between the silent and
statue-like figures of the kings house
who lined the steps, and who still wore
their violet Sashes in token Of mourn
ing for the death of Gabrielle, there
seemed an endless train Of men and
women advancing upward. Amongst
the jeWeled clusters Of fair and dainty
DANES, my eye sought in vain for the
face of madame; but my glance was
for the moment arrested by the grace
full figure of the celebrated La
Noirmoutiers, as with one arched and
scarlet shod foot resting on the white
marble of the topmost step of the
stairway, she turned to address some
laughing remark to the cavalier who
was her escort 1 had not seen her
since 1 was a boy of fifteen; but years
had not changed her, her eyes were az
lustrous, her cheeks as pink and
dimpIed as when she trailed the honor
of Lorraine in the dust, and broke the
heart of Joyeuse. [ could not restrain
a feeling of pity for the man upon
fI,r In icHt
of her cruel beauty, for there was that
in his honest eyes that showed he
would do for her what Mornay, what
Joyeuse. what Francis of Lorraine had
done.
"Who is the man." I bent forward
and whispered to de Belin.
Poor de Rethelois, who held La
Fere so well against us. 1 fear he
will find holding his heart hardef
task '''4
"He has capftulated already. I
think 1 answered, and then she rest
ed one small gloved hand on her es-
corts arm, and they passed out of
sight
By this time 1 had collected myself
in some degree, and began to try and
rapidly rehearse in my mind what l
should say when [ came face to face
with the king; but [ am not ashamed
to confess that at each attempt L
found myself getting more and more
hopelessly confused, and, finally drop
ping the effort, determined to let the
occasion find its own words. At last
we were on the stairway, and in TWEEN
ty steps had entered the great hall
which Henry had built himself, and
which was known as the Galerie
d'Apollon. Except for the vacant
space around the still empty throne,
the full length of its seventy yards
was almost as much crowded as the
hall below; but here the music was
much louder, though the laughter and
talk were not less merry and inces-
SAINT. There was not, of course, nearly
so much movement, and the people
were more or less gathered in little
knots or groups, though there were
many gay butterflies fitting from one
of these to the other.
Keep by me- said de Belin, and
almost as he spoke we came face tC
face with Tavannes, de Gle and de
Cosse- -Brissac, all dressed in the eX-
treme of fashion. Belin saluted cold
ly, but my heart warmed toward my
cid comrades in arms, and I stretched
out my hand. This de Gle took limp
ly, but Tavannes and de Cosse-Bris-
sac contented themselves with bows
of the politest ceremony. The VII
comte de Gle was, however, effusive
in speech if chill in manner. 1T is not
every one who could tear a hole in the
edict as you have done, dAuriac,"
he said, and then added with smile,
"but who made your cloak? 'Tis d
trifle longer than we wear it here"
''It is short enough for me to see the
king in l answered little crisply.
''The kingw exclaimed both Tavannes
DY,;C -l-
tones.
my dear fellow" said de Gle, inter-
rupting my reply, 81 knew you would
fall on your feet-see here" and step
ping right up to me, he threw open my
cloak slightly with a turn Of his wrist,
wear it so, d'Aurlac, it shows your
cross of st. Denis now," then, dropping
his voice, friend or foe-are you for
the marshal or the master general?"
81 am here for short time" I re-
piled, 81 have come to see the king.
l neither understand nor care about
your intrigues."
Il understand perfectly, monsieur u
he said, falling back, a half smile on
his lips, and bowling to each other we
passed on in different ways, they
down and I UP the hall to join de
Belin, who had gone few PAGES
ahead.
The king is still in his cabinet" he
said, pointing to a closed door. before
which a sentry stood on guard. 'I go
in at once. When I come out let it be
the signal for you to join me. I will
then present you, and mind. speak free
ly."
at mean to-" I answered, and with a
nod he passed up through the press 1
leaned against the pillar near which I
was standing, and surveyed the crowd.
Madame was nowhere there, or else I