The times., 1897-04-03
PART LII.

'-Sirs," said he. Il have heard much talk
OF the Lord Bishop of Blois, and 1 see
plainly that you mistake me for him. Know
then that l am but u simple priest, the
Cure or Yvctte, sirs, and that ! ride to
Paris upon an affair Of very great i'm
pOrtanCe."
lie spoke the words very slowly. but. TO
his astonishment, no enc gave any answer
All together, witches. dwarfs and demons.
they began TO repeat his explanation in a
sort of III OnutOne, the key of winch changed
note by note until IT Csc to discordant
and mearthly shrek.
"Sirs,'' cried they, I'VE have heard much
talk Of the Lord Bishop of Blois, and we
see plainly that you mistake US for him.
Know then that we are but simple priests,
the cures OF Yvette, and that we ride to
Paris upon an affair of very great i'm
portance.'
The Abbe, deafened by the clamOr, put
his fingers into his ears and began to
shiyer with fear.
"Ciel,'' hc murnured, you are all mad"
'Ciel," repeated the scarlet company,
1--WE are all mad
The sally was rUared rather than iHtOned;
and at the end Of it, the whole company
their hats to the terrified Abhe, the
women blowing kisses to him. Then the
scarlet woman, who appeared to be the
mistress Of the thTong. raised her fresh
young voice and asked again:
What must be done TO the Lord Bishop
Of BIois?'
And for the second time, the answer
came:
He must suffer-he must suffer-lolalla
-lolalla -lolalla!"
The Able was really frightened now.
The wailing melancholy OF the chant;
the hideous shapes of the men who rode
at his side; the strange. distorted whitencd
faces seemed to him to resemble nothing
human, not hing known. Minutehy minute.
the conviction cTept upon him that there
was the scarlet witch of whom the com
mon people spoke in their folk-tales. The
more he said TO himself, lit is a JEST
the farther was his mind from accepting
that assurance. He shuddered when he re-
membered that he was alone with testers
so terrible.
oh" he moaned at last, what do you
want with me? What would you do with
me?"
oh" echoed the crowd with stentorian
voice, what do you want with US? What
would you do with us.
''Sirs," walled the Able, "foT PHYS sake
have done with it and take me where you
will. L have but ten crowns upon me,
and these you shall find in my pouch
Get them, pray you, and permit me to go
In peace"
A mocking peal of laughter attended
this simple confession.
What shall be done with the ten crowns
of the Lord Bishop of Blois?' asked a
great, horned goblin, who rode upon the
smallest of the Small white ponies.
The girl with the crimson hat answered:
HE shall buy supper at the House of
the Scarlet Witch"
The command moved the company to
frenzies of turbulent delight. Before the
wretched victim could protest or answer
strong hands had clutched his bride rein
to lead his pony through the woods; other
hands had clapped a bandage to his eyes,
and knotted it so tightly behind his ears
that the whole of the strange vision of
grotesque and grinning figures was shut
instantly from his view. He knew only
that his pony was carrying him rapidly
through the forest; that the air became
fresher as he mounted to the higher places
of the Park; that he was led it might
have been for the space of ten minutes
before his beast was stopped and he was
lifted gently to the ground. Never once,
however, while the procession moved, did
the throng cease their unearthly monotone.
The chant rose ever like voice OF the
night-the wall of spirits wandering or
of phantoms at their pleasures. When it
stopped at last with a sudden crash, the