Evening star., 1898-12-31
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Inc girl eyed MIN long DefOre answering.
She stood statue-stil by the curtain at
the entrance of the apartment. ignoring the
chair which the marshal had offered her
with a bow and a courteous wave of his
hand
II have come she made answer at last,
in the even deep tones which she had used
before the council of the traitors at Stirl-
ing, ''to demand from you, Messire GILES
de Retz, what you mean to do with the
little Margaret Douglas and her companion.
whom you wickedly kidnapped from their
own country and have brought with you to
France?'
Il have satisfaction in informing you,"
replied the marshal. suavely, that it is my
purpose to dispose of both these agreeable
young ladies entirely according to my own
pleasure"
The girl caught at her breast with her
band, as if to stay sudden pain.
Not at Tiffauges-' she gasped, mot at
Champtoce?'
The marshal leaned back, enjoying her
terror, as one tastes in slow sips a rare
brand of wine. He found the flavor of her
fears delicious.
No, Sybilla,'' he replied at last. neither
at Champtoce, nor yet at Tiffauges-for the
pl esent that is, unless some of your Scot
tsh friends come over to rescue them out
of my hands"
How, then, do you intend to dispose of
them?' she urged.
"a shall SEND them to your puking sister
and her child, hiding their heads and sew
ing their samplers at Pouzauges. What
more can you ask? Surely, they are safe in
such worthy society, even if they may
ctance to find it a little dull
How can L believe him, or know that
for once he will forego his purpose of
hell Sybilla spoke half to herself
Ihe Marshal de Retz smiled, if, indeed
ehe contraction of muscles which revealed
me OF White teeth can be called by that
name IN the sense in which Astarte might
nave smiled upon a defenseless sheepfold
sr,tIn 81 zines de ketz might have been said to
You may believe me. sweet Lady Svh;1-
Ia SAID the marshal, because there is
one vice which it is needless for me IN
practlce IN your presence, that of uncan-
80. 49, 4 give you my word that unless your
l[-tnds come worrying me from the land
ol scots, the maids shall not die Perha,,s
1t were peter to warn any visitors that
ven at MachccOul we are accustomed to
tarte?'' II iio' So AS
AT the sound of her name the huge wolf
rose Slowly, and walking to her mastar's
knee, she nosed upon him like favorite
And if your intent is not that n-hiob
causes rear to haunt the precincts of voI,r
paIIces IKE a Notwithstanding beast and
hes Ir;n' your name an axecration throuehou
% da.uialIy .u;any ana the Nandea. why have you
carried the little child and the other nre+ty
1901 forth from their country? was Il ny
Sn0ush that you should slay the brothers?
oef ~ .t eiole was 1t necessary utterly to cut
NiA sue lacS OF the DouglaSeSp''
Sybiiia, dear sister of nv safntad Cath
crime purred the marshal, .it is yonr
prVHese that you should speak freely
hen II is pleasing to me I NAV even
answer You. 1t plaases me now. Listen.
you know of my devotion to science Yo,,
are not ignorant at what cost, at what vast
sacrifice L have in secret pushed nv re-
searches beyond the very confines of
knowledge. The powers of the underworlds
ai le'Gaiins themselves to me, and to me
f1N haI h.
alone Will pluck the blossom of fire and
tear from hell and heIs master their chnr-
ished mystery e-O-
trinrops me paused as if mentally to recount his
trluhPhs, and then continued:
But at the moment of success r am
crossed by prejudice. The ignorant peo-
PIE clanor against my life-canaille-T re-
safH them not. But nevertheless their fool
isn preJudiceS reach other ears Hearkenr'
And like a Snowman he beckoncd S1,h;Iia
10 the window. A low roar of human
voices htful yet sustained, made itself dis
tinCtIy audloie above the shriler hooting
of the tempest.
Open the window he commanded
standing himself behind the curtain.
Ihe girl unhasped the brazen hook and
loohed out. Beneath her little crowd of
poor people had collected about a woman
Hotel de Pornfc '- '4'0
Justice. Justice"' cried the woman, her
hands clasPed and her long black hair
p ma
my child, my little Pierre. Yestereye he
was entlced into the monsters den by his
servant PottOu, and 1 shall never see him
more! GIVE me my son, murderer Restore
ME my SON.
And the answering roar of the neonIa,s
voices rose through the open window to the
ears of the marshal Give the woman bar
son, Giles de Retz!"
Az that moment the woman caught sight
OF Sy7Dil.a. Instantly she changed her tone
from entreaty TO fierce denunciation.
Behold the witch, friends; let MS tear
her to pieces. She is kept young and beau
tiful by drinking the blood of children.
Throw thyself down, Jezebel that the dos
may eat thee in the streetsr'
ANA shout went up from the populace
as Synllla shut the window, shuddering at
the ne, horrors which surrounded her.
The Marshal de Retz had not rnoved
watching her face without regarding tho
noise outside. Now he went back to his
chair. ana bending his slender white fingers
together he looked up at her.
Presently he struck a silver bell bv his
side three times. and the mellow sound per
vaded the house.
Poitou appeared instantly at the inner
door through which the she wolf had en-
tered.
How does it go?" asked the marshal
with his usual careless, easy grace
Not we'll said Potou. shaking his head.
that is, rightly up to point, and then
all wrong
marshal appeared troubled.
And L was sure of success this time
We must try them younger 1t is all 50
near, yet strangely 1t escapes u.s. Well.
Poitou, shall come in a little when 1 have
finished with this lady, Tell De SiIle to ex-
pect me-"
Poitou bowed respectfully and was with
drawing, too we'll trained to smile or even
mt his eyes TO where Sybil1a stood by the
window. "
His master appeared to recollect himself
"A moment. Poitou; there are some
troublesome people of the city rabble at the
door. Bid the guard turn out and thrust
them away. Tell them to strike not too
gently with the flats of their swords and
the butts of their spears"
Giles de Retz listened for some time after
the disappearance of his familiar Present.
Iy the low droning note of the popular ex-
ecration changed into sharper exciamations
OF hatred, mingled with cries of pain.
Then the marshal smiled and rubbed his
hands lightly one over the other
That's my good lads" he said: hear
you the rattle of the spear hits upon the
paving stones? They are bringing the butts
INTO close acquaintance with their ill-shod
feet All. now they are goner'
The marshal took a long breath and
went on, half 10 himself and half to Sv
billa: ~ ~
But l own 1T is all most inconvenjent >,