Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-06-28


When she had made all ready for
the journey Gillonne left her mistress
and found her way to the guard room.
Gildas was standing before the en-
trance, and she inquired of him where
she would find Monsieur de Retz.
The man looked at her; then he said
significantly: You should call folks
by their right names, Mistress Tire
woman! You will find his nobleness
the Count Of Laval in the Office of the
Seneschal, but | am not certain that
he can attend to you; it is busy morn
ing with us all"
Gillonne thanked him, and hurried
along a narrow passage-on the pre-
vious evening she had learnt where to
find the Seneschal. She thought her
self lucky to meet the young Count
coming towards her Gillonne was
clever as we'll as shrewd, but, like many
another woman, she had carefully
thought out her plans only from her
own point Of view. Therefore, when
she had preferred her request to the
Count she was utterly disconnected to
hear that Gildas could not possibly be
spared to accompany her.
Il have other work for him." the
Count said pleasantly, though Gillonne
felt sure he was enjoying her disap
pointment you are welcome to have
Philippe and Gaspard I will at once
give orders to that effect"
He turned abruptly back to the SEN
eschal's office
Gillonne stood dumbfounded She
had already noticed Philippe, a poor
dSaf, Unlocking fellow. while she had
conceived strong dislike for Gaspard.
During the Journey he had seemed to
be one of the most trusted followers
of De Retz, a 1.-THE, dark-eyed, insolent
soldier. She had more than CS/e said
to herself he was likeness of the Evil
One, she secretly crossed herself as he
passed her by Gillonne's father and
her brothers had all been fighting men.
and as a child she had eagerly listened
to their tales of stratagem employed in
the taking of town and fortresses. She
had made up her mind to reach the
Chateau d'Crbec and eitfc" there or
elsewhere to get speech wiz its lord.
She could have trusted Gildas but she
saw that with a man like Gaspard she
must be wary; he must not have an
inkling that she was bound for any
where but for her cousins house IN
Mavenne.
1t was true that she had a cousin in
Mayenne. her grandfather had inhab-
it'd that part of France but Gillonne
thought it possible that this cousin
might have died. it was so Ing since
she had heard of him. In that case
unless she managed warily. she should
perhaps be expected to return with her
escort. whereas her fixed intention was
to proceed to the Chateau d'Orbec with
IS little DELAY as possible. She had
learnt that Orbec was OK that side of
Lisieux nearest to Mayenne. GillOnne
had plenty Of courage, and she felt ex-
cited by the difficulties of her 'eXpedi-
ton as she climbed the winding stair
case to her mistress chamber.
The sky was gray and lowering when
the party started but all the 'wOmen
were shielded by heavy cloaks, which
wrapped them from head to foot and
effectually concealed their fenres. The
Countess wore black riding mask.
which covered the upper part Of her
face. and her saddle and horse trap
pings were richly ornamented: other
wise there was nothing to distinguish
her from Gillonne and her two maids.
Just before they reached the road
which opened on the left a shO. dis
lance from the Castle the soldier Gas
pard rode up, followed by deaf Phil
ippe De Retz-or the Count of Laval
as he was now called-was riding be-
side the Countess.
This, madame" he said, lis. your
womans escort"
Jeanne stretched out her hand: Gill
Tonne bent down and kissed it; then.
drawing the hood of her cloak around
her face, the woman rode away with
her two guardians.
GillOnne was taking herself to task
about her secret fears.
what can harm me if I free myself
from their tiresome company" she
asked Il am a good horsewoman. |
am strong, l have no sense of fear;
am forty. but | can climb and scramble
as if | were a girl
She Remembered as she rode along
that the country south of LisieuX was
flatter than that she was now travers-
ing. ard that it would therefore be less
easy of pursuit in the event of her
escape from her escort AS a girl she
had travelled with Madame Kergrist
from Alencon to the Chateau d'Orbec,
and she remembered that they had fol-
lowed a straight and monotonOus road,
which went northward all the way. If
she could get to Alencon, she knew
that she could find her way to Orbec.
The cousin she was going to seek at
Mavenne had been native of AlencOn;
if she failed to find him at Mayenne,
why not seek him at his birthplace"
This being settled, Gillonne began to
listen to the talk of her companions.
Philippes deafness made Gaspard quite
audible. as he ridiculed his companion S
last assertion.
"Morbleu. | tell you they will not go
to Ambose; they would have their
tourney for nothing if they did. The
King is at Moulns; l heard my lord
say as much to the chaplain before we
Quilted Laval
She saw a logged look spread over
Philippe's face.
"They must in that case go to Blois;
Amboise is out of the road. Till they
reach Blois there is not high road to
Moulins. But why does the King go to
see the Constable at Moulins? There
is not much love lost between them, if
report says true.
Gaspard sneered.
INV good friend. when a man loses
his hearing he should be chary of his
words Know, my too wise Philippe.
that common report says the Constable
has turned traitor; he has sided with
Tn oil