Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-10-18
CHAPTER x1.
A SWIM IN THE SEINE.

NAA<AA L En- Ale
A SWIM IN THE SEINE.
Swearing he would be back again in
week, Jacques set out for Ezy within
an hour of our return to the Rue des
Deux Mondes, and his going had re-
moved one weight from my mind. !
knew full well that, unless something
beyond his control happened, my bust
ness would be faithfully discharged,
though felt was losing a tower OF
strength when ! needed support most,
as watched him riding along the Mala-
quais, mounted on the sorrel and lead
ing the gray.
He went out of sight at last, and now
that the momentary hustle caused by
his departure had ceased, I had leisure
to think of what I had heard from De
Belin, and those who have read the pre-
ceding pages and have formed their
Judgment as to what was my character
at that time, can well imagine that l
was mentally on the rack.
The trouble with d'Ayen was bad
enough; but united to that was Belin's
statement that she-she was prepared,
no matter what the circumstances were,
to give her hand to de Gomeronl Had
been In her place death would have been
preferable to me rather than this alter
native. and then thought of the token
she had sent back to me-felt that was
being trified with, and gave full rein to
my Jealous and bitter temper.
"Maitre Palm to wait on monsieur lie
chevalier."
/ pulled myself together with an eff
fort and advanced to meet my old
friend as he came in.
AT last! have been expecting you
hourly for some time"
Il could not come, chevalier. l will
explain in moment"
First. sit down. Take that chair
there near the window. It commands
a good view"
I see you have changed your livery
with your old servant, chevalier," said
Palm. slipping at his wine, as the man
went out, closing the door carefully and
softly behind him.
mot SO. Jacques has merely gone
away temporarily on some business of
Importance. In fact, he left to-day,
shortly before you came in, and this
man, or rather youth, has been lent to
me by friend.'
"And his name is Rayaillac?"
'Yes."
IAN uncommon name for man of his
class"
"Perhaps-but these men assume all
kinds of names. He is, however, better
educated than the usual run of people
in his position, and bears an excellent
character, although he has been a
Flagellant; from which complaint he
has recovered y
Most of them do-and now, my good
friend, let us dismiss Ravaillac and tell
me how you progress
For moment it was in me to tell him
all, to say that had abandoned q
worthless cause, and that / could do no
more. Us I was leaving France at once.
What was to say? lcouid not answer
Palm. Through the mountaineering
room could see his earnest features
turned toward me for reply, and behind
1t there moved in the shadow the dim
outline of fair face set in mass of
chestnut hair, and the violet light from
its eyes seemed to burn through my
veins. My tongue was stilled and l
could say nothing. AT length he spoke
again.
do gather from your silence that
you have failed?"
"No-not so-but little or nothing
could be done. as the king has only just
come, and then" Istopped.
"And then-what?'
"It seems that madame has changed
her mind
II do not follow you. Do you know
what you are saying?" His tone was
coldly stern.
My temper began to rise at this. Eyes,
/ think do, or else why has madame
come to Paris, and what is this story !
hear about NJ. de Gomeron? If that
Is true it ends the matter"
got up as spoke and began to pace
the room in my excitement.
Had been twenty years younger,
NJ. d'Auriac, l would have paraded you
for what you have said; but my cloth
and my age forbid it. My age, not be.
cause it has weakened my arm, but be-
cause it has taught me to think. MY
young friend, you are fool.'
II know have BEEN" I said. bitterly.
"but Ishall be no longer"
"And in saying so confirm yourself
in your folly. Are you so beside your
self that you condemn unheard! Sit
down, man, and hear what have to
say. 1t will not keep you long. You
can leave Paris five minutes after, II
you like"
! came back to my seat and Palm con-
tinued:
"You appear to be offended at Mad
anne de la Bidache's coming to Paris %
II am not offended have no right
70 be-"
well. 1t will interest you to hear
that her coming to Paris was forced.
That practically we are prisoners
"You mean 10 say that he-the king
has gone as far as that"
mean what say-madame cannot
leave her hotel, except to go to the
Louvre, without his permission"
but this is infamous!"
In an almost similar case this was
what the daughter of De Couvres said,
and yet she died Duchess de Beaufort.
But are you satisfied now?"
Il am" said. in a low tone, and then
with an effort, "but there is still the