The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-19
SIMON DALE.
BY HOPE.
oopvr'sAt, 1897. BY a. II. Ha,oltn..
CHAPTER xv.-corrrrurn.

from the effect Of taking that draught 30 fortu.
nately dashed from my hand, was clear enough
and ! could put together all tho pieces Of tho
puzzle save ono. But that one CHANGED to DO OF
eome moment to me, for Il WA myself. The
husiness with the King which had brought M.
Dc Perroncourt 30 stealthily to Dover was I'm.
ished, or was even now being accomplished: his
presence and authority had reinforced ma.
DANES persuasions. and the treaty was made.
but in these high affairs I had no place. II
would find my work, l must look elsewhere to
the struggle that had arisen between NJ. do Per.
rencourt and his Grace the Duke of Monmouth,
In which the stakes were not wars. or Religions.
and the quarrel OF simpler nature. In that fight
Louis flor / did not trouble to maintain his dis.
Guise in my thoughts) had won, as he was Ger.
tain to win. IL he put forth his strength. My
heart was sore for Mistress Barbara. I knew
that she was to DO the spoil of the French Kings
victory. and that the loss to the beauty Of his
court caused by tho departure Of Mile. de Que.
souaille was to find compensation. But still
where was my partf I saw only ono thing, that
louis had taken a liking for me, and might we'll
choose me as his instrument if an instrument
were needed. But for what and whore It was
needed I could not conceive, since all France
Nys under his feet and q thousand men would
spring up to do his bidding at q wo-d-aye. let
Tho bidding be what 1t might and the task as
0lBRIaCoIul hS you VIII. "nuC W0T0 inc quail.
ties in me or in my condition that dictated his
choice baffied conjecture.
Suddenly came q low knock on tho door. I
opened it, and a man slipped in quickly and
covertly. To my amazement I saw Carford.
Ho had kept much out of sight lately. I sup.
posed that he had discovered all he wanted from
Nonmouth's ready confidence, and had carried
his ill-won gains to his paymaster. But sup
posing that he would keep up the comedy. I said
otifly:
You com to me from the Duke of Mon
mouth, my lordf'
He was in no mood for pretence tonight. He
was in q state of great excitement, and, brush.
ing aside all reserve, came at once to the point.
81 am come" he said, ito speak O word with
you. In an hour you're to sail for Francer"
YES" said !. ''Those arc the Kings or.
ders."
"But in an hour you could be 90 far from here
that he with whom you 60 could not wait for
your return"
"Well. my lordl
.To be brief. what's your price 70 hy and not
to SALLY
We were standing. facing one another. an.
pwered him slowly, trying to catch his pur-
pose.
Why are you willing to pay mo . pricei''
said I. For it's you who pays"
Eyes, / pay. Come, man, you know why you
60 and who goes with your"
an. de Perrencourt and M. Colbert go" said I.
'@Why I 60 I don't know"
"Nor who else goesl' he asked, looking In
my eyes. I paused for q moment and then an
pwered:
Eyes, she goes"
And you know forI,what purposel"
II can guess the purpose"
well, I want to go in your place. I have
done with that fool Monmouth, and the French
King would suit me we'll for a master"
Then ask him to take you ALSO"
"He will not. He'd rather take you"
'"Then I'll go" said I.
He drew a step nearer to me. watched him
closely, for on my life / did not know in what
mood he was, and his honor was Ill to lean on
as q waving reed.
"And If You fly. he will take me. Somebody he
must take"
"Is not NJ. Colbert enoughi'
He looked at me suspiciously, rs though he
thought that / assumed ignorance.
you know very well that Colbert wouldn't
serve his purpose"
by my faith" I cried. IT don't know what his
purpose is"
"You swear itr' he asked. In distrust and
amazement
".Most willingly" I answered. "It is simple
truth"
Ho gazed at mo still as though but half con-
WINGED.
""Then what's your purpose in goingi' he
asked.
"I obey my orders. Yet I have q purpose,
and one had rather trust with myself than with
you. my. lord"
pray, sir. what is it,"
'"To serve and guard the lady who goes ALSO"
After a moment Of seeming surprise he broke
into a sneering laugh.
"You go to guard herr he said.
"Her and her honor" I answered. steadily.
"And I do not desire to resign that task into
your hands. my lord"
What will you dot How will you serve
herl" he asked.
A sudden suspicion of him seized me. His
manner had changed to q forced urbanity.
When he was civil he was treacherous.
THAT'S my secret, my lord. I answered. II
have preparations to make. I pray you give
me leave" I opened the door and held it for
him.
His rage had mastered him. He grew red,
and the veins swelled en- his forehead.
"By Heaven. you shan't co. he cried. and
clapped his hand to his sword.
"Who says that Mr.. Dale shall not got"
A man stood in the doorway. plainly attired,
wearing boots, and a cloak that half hid his
face. Yet / knew him, and Carford knew him.
Carford shrank back, I bowed, and we both
barred our heads. NJ. de Perrencourt advanced
into the room. fixing his eyes on Carford.
My lord" he said, when ! decline a gentle
mans services ] am not to be forced into &C.
cepting them, and when I say a gentleman shall
go with me, he goes. Have you a quarrel with
me on that account"
Carford found no words in which to answer
him. but his eyes told that he would have given
the world to draw his sword against NJ. de Per
r~encourt, or. indeed. against the pair of us. A
gesture of the newcomers arm motioned him
TO the door. But he had ono sentence more to
hear before he was suffered to shrink away.
"Kings, my lord" said NJ. de. Perrencourt.
''may DO compelled to set spies about the per-
sons Of others. They do not need them about
their own"
Carford turned suddenly white and his teeth
pct, ! thought he would fly at the man who re-
buked him 70 scornfully. but such an outbreak
meant death; he controlled himself. He passed
out. and Louis, with a careless laugh, seated
himself on my bed. i stood respectfully OPP
posite to him.