The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-05

there. Shoot him II he attempts TO
leave the place. Otherwise, keep the
guard posted until you hear from me-"
The captain saluted and withdrew.
When he had gone. Sartines called for
cup of wine and drank il at n draught.
Then he took snuff in huge quantities,
seeking vainly 10 compose his thoughts.
Dame" said he to himself, "what a
tale TO tell. That she should be the
friend of assassins. And the king sup
ports her. Either / am mad, or have
dreamed the things of this night.
Jacques Cabot, her guest! Ciel-she
will burn the Dastille next!"
Long he paced his apartment, his
brain burning with h.5 changing
thoughts. Twelve o'clock rang out
from Notre Dame, one o'clock was told
by all the churches of Paris, and still
his coach waited to carry him TO his
own house in the Faubourg st. Germain.
At quarter past one, when sleep had
begun to battle with his pcrplexity. a
new clatter of hoofs disturbed the silent
courts of the Hotel de Vile, and awoke
him from his stupor. He had scarce
started up from his chair TO learn the
moment Of the interruption, when n
horseman. dripping wet and splashed
from head 10 foot with mud, burst into
his room and stood at the salute before
him.
'Well," cried Sartines.
81 have the honor to inform your ex-
cellency," cried the man, "that Monsieur
FAbbe Lamotte was stopped upon the
road to Choisy at half-past ten tonight,
and robbed of hundred crowns by
the man called Cog lie Roi."
What" roared Sartines, cat half
past ten. You lie, rogue-I was with
Cog lie Roi myself at that hour,
1T is as / say, sir-I was one of the
company, and L could pick the man
from thousand"
"God deliver me from nll DEVILS"
CALCULATED the lieutenant, "it was the
hour she told me to remember"
NJ. dc Sartines was, perhaps, as
little in love with hags' tales and
superstitions, as any man in Paris; but
the events of that night, the strange
mysteries OF IL, the surprises he had
known, confused his brain and dis
tracted him until he had no longer COM
mand OF his reason. While the mcssen-
ger was speaking to him, he found him
self looking instinctively for the dia-
mond ring upon the third finger Of his
left hand. 1t still glistened there, and
he chuckled grimly when he saw it.
"Bah," said he, "it is the kings jest.
IIe has posted his own guards in the
Rue st. Paul, and tomorrow he will de-
liver up Cabot TO my charge. His words
diamond ring from the finger OF Mon,
sieur de Sartines.' Dame, IL the liberty
of Cog lie Roi depend upon that, he will
remain prisoner until the day of judg-
ment. Steal my ring-ciel, would like
to see the man who could do it,"
The thought somewhat comforted
him. He determined to go to his sons
house. and to get what sleep he could
before dawn broke. He said that this
report of q new outrage must be un-
srue, since Coo 10 Roi was watched by
his own guards in the Rue st. Paul. He |
remembered that the King was still at
Versailles, and that, if luck were will
ing, he would be able to find his mai |
esty there in the early hours of daylight.
AS for the stupendous mystery now
lowering about the Hotel Beautreillis
and Corinne de Montesson, his tired |
brain could not grapple with that. He
swore when he thought of II. lie re- |
called the days when the people had de-
clared the girl TO be witch. He fell |
to sleep in his own bed at last, only to
dream that Cog le Roi had stolen his
ring. and that the King himself was
wearing it.
The sun had been up an hour, when
the lieutenant awoke from his troubled |