Evening star., 1898-12-31

Sous returned, entering cautiously by side
portal. Malise led the way with his bur
den This mansion had been the town
residence of the first Duke of Touraine,
Archibald the Tineman 1t had been oc-
copied by the English for military pur-
poses during their tenancy of the city and
now that they were gone it had escaped
by its very dilapidation the fate of the
other possessions of the house OF Douglas
in France.
James Douglas had obtained the KEYS
from Gervais Bonpoint the trusty agent of
the Avondales in Paris, who also attended
TO the foreign concerns of most others of
the Scottish nobility. So the four men had
taken possession, none saying them nay,
and, indeed, in the disordered state of the
government but few indeed being aware of
their presence.
with plads Nalise proceeded to make his
prisoner comfortable. Then having washed
the wound and carefully examined it by
candle light, he pronounced his verdict
The young cheat-the- wuddie will do vet
and live to swing by the lang cord about
his craig"'
Which, when interpreted into the vulgar.
conveyed at once an expectation of a life
to be presently prolonged to the swarthy de
Sille, but after time to be cut suddenly
short by the hangman.
Every day James Douglas and Sho1to
haunted the precincts of the Hotel de
Pornic and made certain that it's terrible
master had not departed. Malise wished to
leave Paris and proceed at once to the De
Retz country, there to attempt in success
sion the marshafs great castles of Mache-
coul, Tiffauges, Pornic, Champtoce. in some
one of which he was sure that the stolen
maids must be immured
But James Douglas and Sholto earnestly
dissuaded him from the adventure How
d1d they know, they reminded him, in
which to look? They were all fortresses of
large extent, well garrisoned and it was as
nkely as not that they might spend their
whole time fruitlessly upon one without
gaining either knowledge or advantage
Besides, they argued, it was not likely
that any harm would befan them so long
as their captor remained in Paris-that is
none which had not already overtaken
them on their long journey as prisoners on
board the marshai's ships.
so the Hotel de Pornic and its inhabit-
ants remained under the strict espionage
of Sholto and Lord James, while up in the
sarret IN the Rue des Urselines Laurence
nursed his brother clerk and Malise sat
gioomiiy polishing and repolishing the
weapons and secret armor of the party
1t was the evening of the third day he
1ore the clout" showed signs of healing.
Its recipient had been conscious on the sec
ohd day, but, finding himself a prisoner in
the handS OF the enemy, he had been nat
urally inclined to be a little sulky and
suspicious. But the bright carelessness OF
Laurence, who dashed at any speech in
laIomauc but ungrammatical outlanders
otouAahy NOi upon HlU as also
the fact that Laurence was clerk-Iearned
and could sing and play upon the vioI with
surprising skill for one so young.
The prisoner never tired of watching the
sunny curls about the brow of Laurence
Mackim, as he wandered about trying the
oenches, the chairs and even the floor in
hundred attitudes in search of a comfort-
able position
"Ah," he said, at last, one afternoon. as
the sallow youth lay on his pallet "you
should be one of the choristers of my mas
ter.s chapel You can sing like an angeIr'
Well, laughed Laurence in reply, II
would be well content, if he be good
master, and If in his house it showed
Wherewithal to eat and drink. But tell me,
what unfortunate may have the masterape
OF SO prohtiess a servant as yourself?''
am the poor gentleman Giles de Silie
of the household of the Marshal de Retzt.,
answered the swarthy youth, readily.
De Silly, indeed, to bide with such a
master! quoth Laurence. with his usual
prompt heedlessness of consequences
The sallow youth with the bandaged head
instantly reared himself on his elbow. and
darted look at Laurence from under
brows so lowering and searching that
Laurence fell back in mock terror
Nay, he cried. shaking at the knees and
letting his hands swing ludicrously by his
sides, do not alright poor clerk, II YOU
look at me like that, / will call the COOK
from yonder eating stall to protect me with
his bashng ladle. / wot Ii he fetches You
one on the other side of your cracked
sconce. you win never take service again
with Marshal de Retx."
What know You Of my master1' rsitar-