The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-09-05

serve him now, and I tell you, dAu-
riac, he is the greatest of Frenchmen.
And there is yet hOpe-remember a
fortnight is a fortnight"
1 ground my teeth in silent agony.
"Wait moment" he continued, "a
chamberlain of the court knows most
Of its secrets, and I can tell you that it
is not such plain sailing as you think
for Ayen. The death Of that unhap-
Ply Gabrielle has affected the king
much. He is but now beginning TO re-
cover, and Biron, who was hurrying to
his government of Burgundy, has been
ordered to remain in close ATTENDANCE
on the king.
Whether Biron knew Of the king
intentions or not I do not know; but
he has strongly urged the suit of one
of his gentlemen for the hand Of mad
ame-it is that croQue-mort de Co
meron with all his faults a stout SOL
der. 1t is said that the marshal has
even pressed de Gomeron's suit with
madame, and that, rather than marry
d'Ayen, and clinging to any chance
for escape, she has agreed to fall in
with his views This | heard from the
Vidame, and the Chevalier de Lain
good enough authority"
"One alternative is as bad as the
other"
"There is no satisfying some people.
Why, man, don't you see it would be
the best thing in the world for you If
it was settled in favor Of our friend
from the Camargue."
"That low born ScOundrel!
Mon ami, we don't know anything
about that. Give the devil his due; he
is a better man than d'Ayen. l know
there is i'll blood between you, and
wonder that some has not been split
! before now
'There will be, by God! before this
is ended
"Tenez! Let but the king agree to
de Gomerons suit - and he is hard
pressed, 1 tell you, for Sully even is
on Biron's side in this matter, and
after that"
"What?"
"Henry's mind will have turned an
other way. There are many who
would like to play queen, and few like
Mesdames de Guerchville and Bid
ache"
But in any case, Belin, lose the
game"
You have become very clever in
your retreat, my friend. You win your
game if de Gomeron is accepted and
then"
And then, my wise adviser?"
''She need not marry the Camargue.
You can run him through under the
lines in the Tuileries-wed madame.
and grow cabbages at AurIac ever
after. Poufl The matter is simplep"
Miserable as I was 1 fairly laughed
out at Belin's plot. Nevertheless, the
he pefulness of the man. his CHEEKY
tone and happy spirit had their effect
upon me, and if it turned out that the
king was wavering there was more
than a straw of hope floating down
stream to me. My courage grew also
when nut together Sully'S words with
Belin's news that Biron was detained
by the side of the king. 1t surely
meant that this was done to prevent
the marshal doing mischief elsewhere.
If so, I was nevertheless on the horns
of a dilemma, fer by telling of the plot
I would, if my story were belleVed,
make matters hopeless, and advance
d'Ayen's cause to the misery Oh the
woman I loved.
On the other hand, by keeping silent
was in an equally hard case. My
nledge to Sully prevented me from
taking Belin fully into my confidence.
and hardly knowing what I was do
ing. I poured myself out another full
Goblet of the Chambertin, and drained
il at draft.
"Fxcellent," said Belin, there is
nothing like Burgundy to steady the
mind; in another moment you will be
yourself again and think as l do i'll
this matter. Courage, mani Pick your
heart up. A fortnight is devil of q
long time, and"
Monsieur lie Baron dAyen," ard
WALTON threw open the door, and at it's
entrance stood the FLOODED in
strument of the king. He looked old
er and more shriveled than ever, but
the paint was bright upon his cheeks,
his satin surcoat and puffed breaches