Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-02
CHAPTER III.
The Word of n Prince.


Thomas St Nicaise and the Quinze Fingts
\ baI,cuy Quilted out from my window. and
sitting th.r- one could below the
strange mass Of gray and brown buildings
that chung like Wasps' nests to the walls OF
the palace. to be matched only in squaloT
by thr high and totteriug houses. cro~dtng
and joS,Ifug each other on the opposite side
Of the narrow street. Here. projecting gal
Iery and overhanging turret formed an ar
cade. beneath which the grass thrust Its
slender sword blades between the green
and slippery stones of the pavement. and
it was cool and dark as a cellar, even on
the hottest day in summer
1t WAS to this refuge ! had escaped from
the Sitting thronE of the court. When
Lorcnac had stepped forward to accept the
ambassadors wager. 1 felt as if load was
removed from my heart; he looked 50 calm
and confident that / was sure he had per-
formed his tasN-that the prince had quit
ted Paris and that Chautonnay's scheme
would miscarrv. Yet nevertheless longed
To- be alone and. taking my opportunity,
which came easily enough. l had slipped
away co my balcony. here to enjoy the cool
evening breeze coming in PuffS across the
S-iu--here To- think and to argue myself
Out Of my folly. or madness. call it what
You Will
ItNttu Ill-- anu i'''fNN1
at rae. The creature had an Intelligence al
most human. he understood voice and ges-
turc perfectly. and 1 had taught him To do
things that were scarcely credible. There
as he sat. graveIy surveying me with I'M
winkiu2 black eyes, il seemed To me that
n was reading my Utmost thoughts ana
was showing silent sympathy Tor me 10y
sitting still as q stone, INDUCING neither III
samb,I nor antic. nor even touching the 1T
Tie heap of nuts that lay on platter be-
side him.
81 quantity grave was the little beast
that he distracted me in spite of myself
md rising. l approached him. saying with
d laugh
me way out Of my troubles?
For answer he crept closer To me, ana we
two looked down into the yard beneath,
where Il little doorway led into the rue 81.
Thomas de Louvre. The doorway and the
yard were used as a passage to and from
the street by the lower servants OF the pal
ace, and 1t was ordinarily open until close
upon 10 at night in summer. An archer
was on guard there. and his tall inquire
caught my eye as he paced backward and
forward at his post l stood for minute
6r so watching him, when I heard a step
behind me and my name called out
turned and saw Lorguac.
L knocked twice he said. but You did
not answer: so l came in. as l guessed you
would be cloud gathering here.
There is some wine in the flask, there
I answered, pointing TO little table where
y
his head and took place beside me, run
ming his hand gently over Pompons fur
We'll" I said, has Chantonnay paid
Not yet" he laughed but he will to-
night"
so the prince has gomez"
Yes. I found him in the house and told
him how things We're. All that was needed
was horse. and l gave him mine
You viii be hard put 10 for your equip
ment if there is war, and fancy the peace
was broken today"
"oh. N de Chantonnay's pistoles will
provide THAI
Helm, but YOU were quick in coming
back after seeing the prince off,
i did not see him off-be quiet, little
beast and he put Pompon on one side.
Not see him off
gave me- his word that ne would start In an
hour. and by this there should be a couple
Of leagues between him and Paris.
IF they purSue-
Who is to pursue? And they will be
fleet hoofs that will overtake Cartouche-''
Put If he has not gone
Impossible, He knows the risk
Then | said nothing remains. old
friend. but the wars for you and my pears
Tor me. ! should like to see Besme once
more.
He made no answer. and we both leaned
together over the balustrade and looked
down into the yard. II was dusk now. and
the archer appeared like gray shadow be-
low US. Two women servants came
through, and our sentinel levied a kiss
from tdCl ere ne let lNeTn UGtLer past MIN
into the palace, leaving him gazing wistful
" after them.
Nom dun gailIard.'' said Lorgnac. but
the duty there is not so dull
Hush. l answered here comes an
other"
In effect as I spoke another figure,
wrapped in light cloak ran down the
paLte" steps. and tr-pped across the yard.
We could not Of course see properly; but
t.-r" was grace about her movements
that struck US both.
she j. pretty. l wager ! said
Lucky archer exclaimed Lorguac.
AMI =f the m rmeur our sentinel advanced
fog Hl~ toll. but the newcomer shrauk back
from him ana kept him of.
All, Ma petite" said the archer. II
have NOT seen YOU before! Where have
You dropped from? one kiss. and Perdu-
Gas ja Pputhieu viii die for YOU
H~ mace motion Of his arm toward
her. but recovering herself. she slipped
nimhly aside. saying with laugh:
'Ia.aTd- ] may ask You to die for me
some day without hope of reward" and in
a moment she had flashed through the open
gate and Was gone. But / kgew-the voice
was enough fHr me; and looking at Lorg-
nae, saw his eyes blazing. and even
through The dusk I could see the ivory pal
My Goa [ exclaimed. are we rnad?.'
But Lor@uac caught me by the arm.
Fool There is no time to waste. by
heaven Prince Of the blood though he be.
it he has lied To me. he Dies Saying this.
be fairly dragged me from the balcony. l
stayed him fcr a moment to snatch up my
rapiTr and Hjug aside ny wooden sword.
and then We TWO hurried down the winding
stHir past the servants quarters and out
into the yard.
The archer saIuted us as We came UP.
Which WY dtd-lid mademOiselle go?''
aaSk-t Loreuac. his voice strange and
- know not. monsieur-she vanished like
"a spirit"
Try your house" suggested, pIucking
him boy the sleeve. lose no time here!''
And IS ! uttered these words / saw POM