The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-03


have agreed, and told Lisois L would
go with him.
Hasten then! The road is clearer
now, thanks to the Capuchin, or rather
to his mule. By the way, did you see
the monks face?"
Nor
"A pityl I tried to, but failed in the
attempt. His voice was familiar to me,
ana ne seemed wonderfully active for
an old man.
You are suspicion itself, B Balin.''
Il have slept with the dogs and risen
with the f1eas. Harkee, Hubert! And
you, Plerrei If you see that Capuchin
again let me know at once; keep your
eyes open. If you can persuade him to
speak to me- it will be worth five
crowns apiece to you.''
Monsieurs wishes shall be obeyed, y
said both men in a breath, and now.
hndlng the road free enough, we set off
at canter, and kept the pace up until
almost. at the door of the Ewo Ecus
AS we pulled up at the ordinary and
dlsmounted, Be,in exclaimed, "Now for
our supper. l am of those who can onIv
fight under a full belt, and l would
advise you, dAuriac, you who will
nave lighting to do very soon perhaps,
to follow my advice and make the best
use you can of your knife
1 then
turning to mine host ordered refresh
ment for both man and beast, and di-
rected that our supper should be served
in private room.
And observe" cut in Belin, "if Mai
tire Pantin arrives let him be shown up
to us at once"
Monsieur"
Before we went in de Belin asked his
men if they had seen any more of the
N111z nd .aAa
negative. Bidding them remember his
orders on the subject, he linked his arm
III mine and we went within.
You seem in way about the monk
I said.
My dear friend, I cannot get it out
of my head that 1 have seen him be-
fore, and 1 Cont like a riddle like that
to be unsolved."
! This comes of your court intrigues,
de Belin. You were not wont to be So
'Other times, other manners" he an
swered little grimly; and we sat at
out table.
How we'll do I remember that small
room in the Two Ecus, with the dark
oak wainscoting, the furniture that
age had polished, the open window,
showing the yellow sunset between the
high-roofed and many-gabled houses,
the red Frontignan, sparkling like ru-
plSS III Jul lOIlS-I6CheQ glasses, anu the
deft service of Susette, the landlord S
daughter, whose pretty lips pouted
with disappointment because no notice
was taken of her good looks by the
two cavaliers who supped together,
whose faces were so grave, and whose
speech was in tones so low as to be
heard only by each other At last we
were left to ourselves, and Belin, who
had been explaining many things to me
that I knew not before, suddenly rose
and began to pace the room, saying:
You take the position now, dAuriac
If not, let me put the points again be-
fore you briefly. There are men like
Sully, Villeroi, Forget and 1 myself
who understand and grasp the kings
views, and know that if he has his way
France will be the greatest country on
earth On the other hand, Henry is
bound by ties of much service rendered
to him by men like Sancy, who dis
graces his name by plundering the
state, and Zamet. who cannot disgrace
himself by anything he does. These
men, and such as they, exhaust our re-
sources, if they do nothing else, and
serve the cause of the great mobiles,
such as Epernon, Turenne, Tremouille,
and, above all, Biron, whose ambition
knows no bounds, and who, I am cer-
tain, will never be still unless his
head is on a crown-piece or else on the
block.