The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-01

Without waiting for any permission
or dissent, the smith of Carlinwark
tucked his late opponent under his arm
/ as easily as an ordinary man might
carry a puppy. Then, sheathing their
swords. the other three Scots made
haste to leave the place, for the glean-
ing of lanterns could already be seen
down the street, which might either
mark the advent of the city watch or
the return of the enemy with reinforce
ments.
1t was to a towering house with
barred windows and great doors that
the four Scots returned, entering eau
tiously by side portal Malise led the
way with his burden. This mansion
had been the town residence of the
first Duke of Touraine, Archibald the
Tineman. 1t had been occupied by the
English for military purposes 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.
Upon an old bedstead, hastily covered
with, plaids, Malise proceeded to make
his prisoner comfortable Then, having
washed the wound and carefully eX
amined it by candle light, he pro-
nounced his verdict.
The young cheat-the-wuddle will do
yet. and live to swing by the lang cord
about his craig
Which. when interpreted into the vul-
gar, conveyed at once an expectation
of life to be presently prolonged to
the swarthy De Sille. but after a time
TO be cut suddenly short by the hang
man.
Every day James Douglas and Sholto
haunted the precincts of the Hotel
de Pornic and made certain that its
terrible master had not departed. Ma
lise wished to leave Paris and proceed
at once to the De Retz country, there
to attempt in succession the marshal's
great castles of MachecOul. Tiffauges,
Pornic, Champtoce, in some one of
which he was sure that the stolen
maids must be immured.
But James Douglas and ShOltO ear
nestly dissUaded him from the adVen-
ture. How did they know, they re-
minded him, in which to look? They
were all fOrtreSSeS of large extent, well
garrisoned, and it was as likely as not
that they might spend their whole
time fruitlessly upon one without gain
ing either knowledge or advantage.
Besides, they argued, it was not like
~ that any harm would befall 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 mar
shars ships.
So the Hotel de Pornic and it's in
habitants remained under the strict es-
pionage of Sholto and Lord James,
while up in the garnet in the Rue des
Urselines, Laurence nursed his brother
clerk and Malise sat gloOmily polishing
and repolishing the weapons and secret
armor of the party.
1t was the evening of the third day
before the ''clout showed signs Of
healing. It's recipient had been con-
scious on the second day; but, finding
himself a prisoner in the hands of the
enemy, he had been naturally inclined
to be little Sul1y and suspicious. But
the bright carelessneSS of Laurence,
who dashed at any speech in idiOmatic
but ungrammatical OutlanderS French,
gradually won upon him, as also the
fact that Laurence was clerk-learned
and could sing and play upon the viol
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 benches, the chairs,
and even the floor, in a hundred atti-
tudes in search of a comfortable posi-
ton.
All he said, at last. one afternoon.
as the shallow youth lay on his pallet.
you should be one of the choristers of
my masters chapel. You can sing Ike
an angel"
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 masterage Of so proftless
servant as yOurself?'
II am the poor gentleman Giles de
Sille, OF the household of the Marshal
de Retz!" answered the swarthy youth.
readily.
DE Silly, indeed. to bide with such a
MASTER" quoth Laurence. with his US
ual prompt heedlessness Of conse-
Guences. ----.
The shallow youth with the bandaged
head instantly reared himself on his
elbow and darted a look at Laurence
from under brows so lowering and
searching that Laurence fell back in
mock terror
and letting his hands swing ludicrOusly
by his sides, do not be alright a poor
clerk. If you look at me like that. l
Will call the cook from yonder eating
stall to protect me with his basting
ladle. l wot if he fetches YOU one on
the other side of your cracked sconce.
you will never take service again with
Marshal &c RetZ-"
What know you of my master?" re-
iterated Giles de Sille, glowering at his
mercurial iailer. without needing his
perSifage.
Why, nothing at ALL" said Laurence.
truthfully, except that while we stood
listening to- the singing of the choir
within his hotel, poor woman came
crying for her son, whom $50 she de-
clared) the marshal had kidnapped.
whereat came forth the guard from
within and thrust her away. Then ar
rived You and your varlets. and got
your heads broken for your impudence,
That is all l know. or want to know. of
your master"
Giles de Sille lay back on his pallet
with q sigh, still, however. continuing
to watch the lads countenance.
You should, indeed. take service
with the marshal. He is the most law
ish and generous master alive. He
thinks no more of giving a handful Of
gold pieces TO a youth who takes to MIN
than of throwing a crust to a beggar
at the gate. He owns the finest prov
ince in all the west from side to side
He has castles, well nigh a dozen, finer
and stronger than any in France He
has college of priests and the service
at his chapel is more nobly intoned
than that in the private chapel of the
holy father himself. When he goes in