Omaha daily bee., 1897-11-21

But neither the wine nor tho negligence OF
my question had quite lulled their caution
TO sleep. They shook their heads and
laughed, saying:
We're forbidden to tell that"
yet IL 1t be so simple as to have no mean
ing, what harm In telling it7"
But orders are orders, and we're soldiers
answered the shrewd short fellow.
The Idea had been working in my brain.
growing stronger aud stronger till II reached
conviction. | determined now to put 1t to the
proof
Tut" said 1. "You make pretty secret
OF 1t, and don't blame you But can guess
your riddle. Listen IL anything befell NJ. de
Fontelles, which God forbid"
Amen, amen" they murmured, with
chuckle.
"You two. or II fate left but one. that ono
would ride on at his best speed to London,
and there seek out the ambassador of the
most Christian king Isn't that so?''
80 much, sir, you might guess from what
we've said"
aye. aye, claim no powers of dlvina-
tion. Yet I'll guess a little more. On being
admitted to the presence of the ambassador
he would relate the sad fate of his master
and would then deliver his message, and that
message would be-" | drew my chair for
ward between them and laid a finger on the
arm Of each. THAT message" said l. would
be just like ths-and indeed. it's very SIM
pie, and seems devoid of all rational mean
ing. Je viens,' they started. 'Tu viens,
they gaped. III WENT cried, trumphantiy,
and their chairs shot back as they sprang to
their feet establishment vivid on their faces.
For me. sat there laughing in sheer delight
| at the excellence of my aim and the shrewd-
! ness Of my penetration.
What they would have said do not know.
| The door was thrown open and NJ. de Fon-
telles appeared. He bowed coldly to me and
vented on his servants the anger from which
| he was not yet free, calling them drunken
| knaves, and bidding them see to their horses
| and lie down In the stables for he must be
cur his way by daybreak. With covert
glances at me which implored silence, and
| received the answer of reassuring nod
they skunk away. l bowed to NJ, de Fon-
telles with merry smile: | could not conceal
my amusement, and did not care how it
| might ,puzzle him. | strode out of the
kitchen and made my way up the stairs.
| I had to pass the dukes apartment. The
| light still burned there, end he and Carford
were sitting at the table. l put my head in.
"If your grace has no need Of me I'll seek
my bed" said l, mastering a yawn.
"No need at ALL" he answered. Good
| night to you, Simon" But then he added,
| You'll keep your promise to me?'
! Your grace may depend on me-"
| Though in truth l may tell you that the
whole affair is nothing; it's no more than a
matter of gallantry, eh, Carford"
| "No more" said my Lord Carford.
| "But such matters are best not talked Of
| i bowed as he dismissed me- and pursued
| my way to my room. A matter Of gallantry
| might, it seemed, be Of moment to the mes
sengers of the king of France. l did not
know what to make of the mystery, but
| knew there was a mystery.
| "And it turns said to myself, ION those
| little words II Went Who is he? Whence
| comes he? And to what end? Perhaps
| shall learn these things at Dover"
There is this to be said. A mans heart
aches less when his head is full. On that
night | did not sigh above half my usua
| measure.
| (To be Continued.)