The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-08-29
CHAPTER TX.
The Master-General

the Palais de Justice where the houses
are so crowded that they seem to
climb one over the other in their eff
forts TO reach higher and higher in
their search for air, is a small street
called the Rue DIES DeuX Mondes. 1t
had this advantage that it was wider
than most of the other roads in that
part of Paris. and opened out abruptly
on to the river face, very nearly OPP
posite the upper portion of the Pont
Neuf, then under course of construc-
ton. but not to be finished for some
years later. At the corner of the street
and overlooking the river, the Pont
Neuf ana the PasSeur aux Vaches, with
q glimpse of the Quai Malaquais and the
mansions of the Faubourg st. German,
was house of moderate size kept and
owned by a Maitre Pantin, who was
engaged nOminally in some legal bust
ness in the courts of the city. 1 say
nOminally, because he was in reality
an agent of the Huguenot party, who,
having contributed so largely to help
the king to his own, were in reward
restricted from the public exercise of
their religion to a radius of thirty
miles beyond Paris. This restriction
did not, however, apply to Nine. Cath
crime, the kings sister, now the
Duchess de Bar, and a few Of the
great mobiles such as Bouillon. de
Guiche, de Pangeas and one or two
others, who had declined to follow the
kings example and see the error of
their religious ways and who when in
the capital were allowed to attend the
princess daily preche in the Louvre, a
thing which eXasperated all Paris and
induced Monseigneur the Archbishop
de Gondy to make public protest to
the king and to come back very down.
cast with carrot for his cabbage.
1t was this house of Maitre Pantin,
it will be remembered, that had been
recommended to me as a lodging by
Palm, and when I demurred on ac-
count of my religious convictions the
Huguenot pointed out that 1 had to do
things in Paris which required a safe
retreat, and that he could vouch for
the honesty and discretion of Pantin.
I admitted that his arguments were
reasonable, and resolved to take adj
vantage Of his recommendation.
We rode into Paris by the st. Ger
main gate, and 1 was Immediately
struck by the aspect of gloom that the
deed open, but there appeared to be no
business doing. and instead of men
hurrying backward and forward, the
streets were filled with groups Of peo-
pie evidently engaged in discussing
some affair of the utmost moment. Ey
cry third or fourth man wore a black
SCARF over his right arm, and the bells
of the churches We're tolling dismalIv
Pres, from st. SEVERN. from the airv
spire Of Ste. ChapeIle, they called out
moulnfully, and above them all.
drowning the distant voices of st. Ger
main fAuXerrois, st. Jacques de la
Boucherie st. Antoine and others less
known to fame pealed out the solemn
notes of the bourbon of Notre Dame.
Near the Pre-aux-Clercs hundreds of
long-robed students were assembled
ana the windows of many of the great
houses, including the Logis de Nevers
were hung with black. 1t was strange
TO see Paris, always so bright and gay
with this solemn air upon it. No notice
was taken Of lis as we rode on. the
Knots of people merely moving aside
to let US pass, and answering JACQUES
cheerful Good day. with silent in
clination OF the head or a chill indif-
ference.
Pard1eu, monsieur exclaimed
Jacques as we turned up tie Rue de la
Harpe, hard by the hotel de Cluny
one would think the king himself
were dead, these gentry pull such long
races My servants chance observa-
ton sent sudden shock through me
what If Henry were dead? What if I
had got only one thread of the plot
SHAT was weaving at Anet? [ did not
answer Jacques, but observing g. Ca
puchln priest advancing in my direc-
ton, l refined in Couronne, and, giving
MIN the day, asked what it was that
had befallen the city. He looked IN at
me III slight surprise, and then o
serving my traveI-stained appearance
replied:
L see you are a stranger. sir; but
have you not heard the news-it should
have gone far by this"
L have not, as you see--but what is
1t? Surely the king is not dead?"
God forbid" he answered, "no-not
the king, but she who in a few weeks
would have been queen Of France"
THE Duchesse de Beaufort"
Exactly"
knew that; but you don't mean to
say that the city is in mourning for
the mistress of the king"
He looked at Inc straight in the face
and stroked his white beard thought
fully. He was a TALL a very tall. thin
man, and his eyes Of the clearest blue
seemed to tighten with a strange
light
NO, my son-not for the mistress Of
the king as you call her but for the
open hand and the generous heart. for
the kindly soul that never turned from
suffering or from sorrow-for MagdaIen
bountiful, and, let US hope, Magdalen
repentant."
But"
"Adieu, my son-think of what 7
have said. Is your own heart so
pure that you can afford to cast a
stone at the dead?" And without watt
ing for further answer he went on
wards. 1 turned and watched the tall
SLIM figure as it moved through the
crowd, the people making way for
him on every side as il he were a.
prince Of the church.
But though he was slowly passing
out Of sight, he had left words behind
+, him that were at their work. This
was the woman whom I had openly
reviled as fallen and beyond the pale
mad any right to cast stones? For
moment ] was lost in myself when
Jacques voice cut into my thoughts.
nat must have been a cardinal at
least monsieur, though he does not
LOOK like the Cardinal du Perron.
Whon we heard preach at Pheirns-I
viii ask" and he inquired who the
Capuchin was Of man who had lust
come UP.
That is the Pere Anse. rnonsiau, -.