The Saint Paul globe., 1897-08-08
CHAPTER IV.-Continued.

Long live the king!' said madame
gayly; but Palm answered sadly:
would - were so. But TO my eyes
there are still dark clouds ahead. We
have no longer Henry of Navarro, but
Henry of France; no longer prince OF
true faith, but d pervert."
His majesty will be delighted to
hear that" put in d'Ayen; but madame
took no more notice OF him than a
fly.
'cHushl mon PEREZ and she raised q.
warning hand; 81 will have no word
against the king. M. le Chevalier is
right, we are all one again, as France
should ever be-"
.'AmenI answered Palm, ''but too
much blood has been shed for this COM
promise to be accepted The way Is
dark-but I will say no more" and the
old croaker dropped half length be-
hind.
: A turn in the avenue at this momen:
brought us in full view of the gray
walls of Bidache, and on the wids-
stone staircase that led to the great
hall we saw the servants of the house
hold assembled. Madame waved her
hand in greeting, and the cheer which
broke from them was drowned in the
boom of the lombard from the keep:
AS the blue wreathS of smoke curled
upward, little ball ran to the top Of
moment the banner of Tremouille, with
the arms of Rochemars Of Bidache
quartered thereon, spread out its folds
to the morning, and madame was come
home once more.
We dined an hour or so later than
usual, madame, d'Ayen, Palm and my
self at the high table, and the rest of
the household with all Bidache at the
next. Madame, who seemed in no wise
fatigued with her long ride, was in the
gayest of spirits and rippled with talk.
AS if thinking she had punished d'Ayen
enough she directed all her conversa-
ton towards him, and the old beau
was in his element in discussing the
intrigues of court life, and let me add
interesting, for his memory went far
back. Madame spoke of the edict, but
for which they would never have been
at Bidache, of the surrender of Mer-
coeur and of the betrothal of his
daughter, Francoise de Lorraine, thu
greatest heiresS in France, to Caesar
Monsieur, the little Due de Vendoma,
of the constable and his disappoint-
ment thereat, Of the squabble between
NJ. de Bar and his wife. the kings Sis
ter, of court gossip and court scan
dal, until Palms face grew sour, and
l felt disappointment within me, as
she prattled on like some Paris beauty,
whose sole thoughts were of Mosques
Vincennes Her cheeks were flushed
and her eyes sparkling as she dis
cussed with d'Ayen whether the ruff
or the collar dropped in the Italian
manner was the more becoming, and
whether the cinque pace dance was
more enjoyable than the minuet Par
dieu! Their speech was all frilI and
furbelows. But for a word thrown
in here and there, 1 slipped my Ro-
nance in silence, wondering at this
flow of talk, and wondering, too, at
this change of front, and if 1 was
wrong in my estimate of madame AS
she talked my head for a. moment over
came my heart, and 1 began to Judge
her in that way, showing, in doing So.
my ignorance Of that complex thing
a woman.
At last the dinner came to a close.
and Palm rising, opened his lips in a
long Thanksgiving, to which all, mad
anne included, listened devoutly. Our
hostess then retired, and we three were
left together in an absolute silence.
Had it been any other place, I would
have felt bound to call d'Ayen to ac-
count, and ask him to name a proxy
II he was unable to meet me by reason
OF his age. But as it was, this was i'm
possible, and l contented myself with
frigid reserve, in which l was ioined
by the Huguenot. He looked from one
~ llht Ol1lcI VI us WITH a SdtlTlcal
smile on his thin lips, and then rising.
made slight bow, and left us to our
selves. AS we returned to our seats
from our response to his greeting, I
blurted out the questions:
"Who is M. d'Ayen? Why is he
here?"
who Is he? 1t is enough to say he
is one of those men who live on the
follies of kings. And 1T is enough to
say that his company is forced upon
U.s."
Il have heard that before; but mad
anne seemed to like him we'll enough
at din>er." I felt L was wrong as I
said this; but the words came out.
He is here by the kings orders-by
the orders Of Henry the Great" said
Palm, with bitterness; monsieur, you
seem a man Of honor What do you
think of a king who would force a mar
r1age ON a woman to- and he whis-
pered words in my ear which struck
me speechless
l could not believe him. 1t was in
credible. Was this the hero king-the
gallant soldier-the father of his peo-
pie? 1t could not be true.
Palm saw the doubt on my face.