Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-04
down. puzzled and awkward, in a crazy

fixing my eyes on her, as she stood oppo-
site to me, smiling and swaying TO and fro
Even what brings You. NV business"
sne ans Nered. IF you ask more, the kings
invitation. Does that grieve you, Simon?''
NO. madame" said l.
"A little still little, Simon? Be consoled,
The king invited me, but he hasn't come to
see me- There Hes my business. Why hasn't
ne come to see me? hear certain things,
but my eyes, though they are counted good
II not large, can't pierce the walls Of the
castle yoGder. and my poor feet aren't fit
to pass its threshold"
You needn't grfeve for that" said I,
sullenly.
Yet some things I know. AS that a
french lady is! there. OF what appearance
is she. Simon?'
"She is very pretty. so far as I've looked
at her."
All, and you've discriminating glance,
haven't you? VIII she stay long,"
Ihey say madame will be here for ten
or fourteen days YETI
And the French lady goes when madame
goes?'
II don't know as to that"
why. nor neither" She paused an in
s1ant. You don't love Lord Carford?"
for
Il don't know your meaning" What con-
Germ mad Carford with the French lady?
i think you are in the way to learn it.
Love Love makes men quick. DOESN'T it? Yes,
since you ask (your eyes Asked, why, I'll
confess that I'm a little sorry tnat you fall
IN iove again; But that by the way. Simon.
neither do love this French lady"
Had 1t not been for that mornings Mood
OF mine, she would have won on me again,
ana all my resolutions gone for naught.
But she not knowing the working of my
m,nd, took no pains to hide OR to soften
what repealed me in her. l mad seen it be-
fore, and yet loved: to her it would seem
strange that because a man saw ne should
not love. found myself sorry for her with
a ri Of hut oSSin, Il
rise in me. And concerning my pity held
my tongue; she would have only wonder
and mockery for it. But 1 think that she
was vexed to me so unmoved; it inks a
woman to lose man. however little she
may nave priced him when he was her own
Nor do l mean to say that we are different
from their sex in that; 1t is, 1 take ii, ma
ture In woman and man alike.
AT least, we're friends, Simon" she
said with a laugh. "And at least, were
Protestants.' She laughed again. l looked
up Wish a questioning glance. And at
least, we both hate the French" she con-
tinued.
It's true have no love for them. What
then? What can we dog"
She looked round cautiously, and coming
a little nearer to me, whispered:
Late last night had a visitor one who
does not love me greatly. What does that
matter? We row now in the same boat.
l speak of the Duke Of Buckingham"
he is reconciled to my Lord Arlington
by madame's good Offices said l. For so
the story ran in the castle"
Why, yes, he is reconciled to Arlington
as the deg to the cat when their master is
by. Now, there's a thing that the duke
suspects and there's another thing that he
knows. He suspects that this treaty touch
IS more than war with the Dutch, though
that 1 hate, for war swallows the kings
money like n we'll"
Some passes the mouth of the well, if
report speaks true 1 observed.
Peace. peace, Simon; the treaty touches
more"
"a man need not be duke nor minister to
suspect that" said I.
All, you suspect? The kings religion"
she whispered.
l nodded. The secret was no surprise to
mo. though L had not known whether
buckingham were in it.
And what does the Duke of buckingham
know" I asked.
why. that the king sometimes listens to
a Wonan's counsel said she. nodding her
head and smiling very wisely.
'ProdigiCus sagacity," 1 cried. you told
PIN that, maybe"
Indeed. he had learned it before my day
Master Simon. Therefore, should the king
turn Catholic he will he a better Catholic
for the society of Catholic lady. Now,
this madam-do you name her?'
Nine. de Querouaille?"
Aye. she is a most devout Catholic. In
deed. her devotion to her religion knows no
bounds bounds G, It's like mine to the king. Don't
And piety also by the same rule and In
the same unstinted measured" I asked
bitterly.
Beyond doubt. sir. But the French king
has sent word from Calais
"Oh. from Calais! The duke revealed
that to you?" I asked. with a smile could
not not smother There was limit, then. to
the dukes confidence in his ally. for the
duke had been at Paris and could be no
stranger to NJ. de Perrencourt.
Yes, he told me sll. The King OF France
has sent word from Calais. where he
awaits the signing of the bot
loss Of this Nine. de Querouaille would rob
his court of beauty, and he cannot be so
tereft. And madame. the duke says,
swears she can't be robbed of her fairest
maid Of honor cts a good name, that, on
my life and left desolate. But madame
has seen one who might make up the loss.
and the King Of France. having studied
the lady's picture, thinks the same. In
fine. Simon. our king feels that he can't
be Il good Catholic without the counses of
Nine. de Querouaille and the French king
and save SO fair lady ass the name
Simon"
II know whom you mean" I answered.
for her revelation came to no more than
what had scented out for myself But
what says buckingham to thfs?"
Why. that the king mustn't have his
way. lest he should thereby be confirmed
in his popish inalnations. The duke is
Protestant. as you are-and as 1 am, so
please YOU
IL
AYE If he can hinder the French king
from having his way. And for this purpose
his grace has need of certain things
DO you carry a message from him to
me-"
Il did but say that knew gentleman
who might supply his needs They are
four-a heart. a head, hand and. per-
hapS, sword !"
'All men have them. then"
The first true. the second long, the
third strong and the fourth ready
II fear, then. that haven't all of them"
%! know. His life. If he can come off
with 1T"
Nell burst out laughing.
He didn't say that, but it may we'll
reckon up to much that figure" she adj
mitted. you'll think OF it. Simon?'
Think of 1t! 1! Not I!'
You won't?'
"Or I mightnt attempt itv'
|, "Ah! You will attempt it,"
"Of a certainty"
you're very ready. Is 1t all honestve"
us ever anything all honesty. madame
saving your devotion to the king?'
And the French lady's to her religion -,
laughed Nell. "Of truth think the mic.
ture that the King of France saw was
ia ir