Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-05
Written for The Evening Star.
CHAPTER XXV-Contfnued.

His words, AMI even more, the tone in
which he spoke end the significant glance
Of his eyes dc clared his meaning. The bar
gain that / knew Of 1 need not betray nor
denounce till he fulfilled it. When would
he fulfill il? He would not empty his bas
ket. but still have scmetf ing to give when
he dealt with the King of France. /
dered that he should speak to me so open
y; he knew that 1 wondered. yet. though
his smile bitter. he smiled still.
II bowed to him and answered:
81 no taIker. sir of matters too great
for me-
That's well. / know you for a gentle
man of great discretion, and L desire to
serve you- You have something to ask of
NE. Mr.. Dale?''
THE smallest thing in the world for your
majesty. and the greatest for me-"
"A pattern, then. that / wish all requests
might follow. Let me hear it,
1t is no more than your majesty's favor
for my efforts to win the woman whom l
love"
He started a little and for the first time
in all the conversation ceased to fondle the
little dog
The woman whom you love? Well, sir,
and does she love your
she has told me so. SIR
Then. at least, she wished you to believe
It. Do 1 know this Lady,"
Very well. sir" / answered in mighty
significant tone
He was very visibly perturbed. man
come to his years will see ready rival in
every youth, however little other attraction
there may be. But perhaps / had treated
him too freely already, and now he used
me well | would keep up the jest no longer.
"Once. sir I said. for while loved
where the king loved, even as 1 drank of
his cup
IT know Mr.. Dale. But you say once"
1T is gone by sir"
''But yesterday he exclaimed abruptly.
she is a great comedian. sir. but / fear
/ seconded her efforts badly
He did not answer for a moment. but be-
gan again to play with the dog. Then rails
ing his eyes to mime he said:
You are well enough; she played divine
1y. Mr.. Dale
''She played for life sir
AYE. poor Nell loves me-" said he softly.
81 had been cruel to her. But l won't
weary YOU with my affairs. What would
you?"
Mistress Gwyn, sir. has been very kind
to me-
so believe" remarked the king.
But my heart. sir. is and has been
for long irrevocaby set on another.
ION my faith. Mr.. Dale, and speaking as
ore man to another, I'm glad to hear it.
Was l. so at Canterbury
more than ever before, sir. For she was
there. and
Il know she was there
Nay. sir mean the other. her whom I
love. her whom I now WOO. 1 mean Mis-
tress Barbara Quinton, sir
The king looked down and frowned. He
paited his dog. he looked up again, frown-
ing still. Then queer smile bent his lips,
and he said in a voice which was most
grave. for all his smile:
You remember NJ. de Perrencourt?''
Il remember NJ de Perrencourt very
we'll sir
1T was by his choice not mine, Mr.
Dale. that you set out for Calais
so | understood at the time. sir
And he is believed both by himself and
others. TO choose his men-perhaps you
will allow me to say his instruments. Mr..
Dale-better than any prince in Christen-
dom So you would wed Mistress Quin-
ton? Well. sir. she is above your station"
Il was to have been made her husband,
Nay. but she is above your station" he
repeated. smiling at my retort, but con-
ceiving that it needed no answer
shes not above your majesty's persua-
sion. or. rather, her father is not She
needs none
''You DO not err in modesty. Mr. Dale"
How should ]. sir, I, who have drunk of
the kings eup?'
so that should be friends?"
And known what the king hid?''
so that we must stand or fall together?'
And loved where the king Ioved?''
He made no answer to that, but was 81
lent for great while. / was conscious
that many eyes were on us in wonder that
l was so long with him, in speculation
on what our business might be, and
whence came the favor that gained me
such distinction. | paid little heed. for
was seeking to follow the thoughts of the
king and hoping that / had won him 70
my side. l asked only leave to lead a
quiet life with her whom l loved, setting
bound at once to my ambition and to the
plans which he had made concerning her
Nay, | believe that / might have claimed
some hold over him. but 1 would not. A
gentleman may not levy hush money
however fair the coins seem in his eyes
Yet / feared that he might suspect me,
and / said:
To-day | leave the town. sir, whether
have what ask OF you or not. and wheth-
er | have what ask of you or not / am
silent If your majesty will not grant it
me, yet in all things that l may be- l am
your loyal subject
To all this-perhaps it rang too solemn
as the words of a young man are apt to at
the moments when his heart is moved-he
answered nothing. but looking up with a
whimsical smile. said:
Tell me. now, how do you love this
Mistress Quinton?
On this I fell suddenly into a great fit
of shame and bashfui embarrassment The
assurance that | had gained at court for
sock me. and l was tongue-tied as any
calf lover.
II don't know" I stammered.
Nay, but / grow old Pray tell me- Mr.
Dale. he urged, beginning to laugh at my
perturbation.
For my life could not. 1t seems to me
mat the more a man feels thing the
harder it is for him to utter it. Sacred
things are secret, and the hymn must not
be heard save by the Deity.
The king suddenly bent forward and
becSoned. Rochester was passing by;
mouth They approached. / bowed to the
duke. who returned my salute most cava-
merry. lie mad small reason to be pleased
with me. and his brow was puckered The
KING seemed to find fresh amusement in
his sons bearing, but he made no remark
on IL. and, addressing himself to Roches-
ter. said:
Here. my lord, is a young gentleman
much enamored of lovely and most
e9as sc maiden l ask him what this love
OF his Is-for my memory fails-and be-
hold. he cannot tell me. In case he doesn't
tell him
Rochester looked at me with an ironical
smile
Am to tell what love Isl" he asked.
Aye. and with your utmost eIoouencf. >,
answered the king. laughing still and
pinch-ng his dogs cars
Rochester twisted his face into a grimace
and looked appealingly at the king.
There's no escape; today 1 am n tv
rant. said the king
hear, then. youths" said Rochester and
his lace was smoothed in a pensiye and