The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1899-02-07

SIdye Den1QQ IOr a moment.
Monsieur" he asked, "what has
happened between you and the king?"
His majesty has pardoned me-"
"a child might see that. What else?
Be quick"
And has given me orders to meetyou
as you enter the Toison dor"
The frown on his face cleared. "Wen
answered, chevalier. The king I see has
won a faithful and discreet friend.
Make your attack when you hear the
petard." Then he, too, turned his broad
shoulders on me and followed the rest.
AS the sound of the heavy footballs
ceased gave last look at my pistols,
drew in my sword-belt by hole, and,
all booted as I was, essayed the ladder
again.
had already observed that the sky
light was but light wooden frame
work, with a glazing between, and
would need no great effort to break
down-one strong push and the way
was clear before me. So stayed for
minute of breathless silence, then far
below came a sharp, shrill whistle, hur-
ried EXPLANATIONS from the plOtters,
and now the explosion of the petard,
that made the house rock to and fro
like tree in the wind.
had no need to force open the sky
light. The effect of the explosion did
that most effectually for me, and blew
Outthe lamps in the room below as well,
reducing it on a sudden to absolute
darkness. There was a yell of terror
from the room, and without a mo-
ment's hesitation l swung through the
window and dropped down among the
cCnspiratOrs. They were to a man
crowding TO the door, and not one took
any note Of my entrance, SO great was
their confusion. I followed the rush of
hurryingfigures as they passed through
the door into a passage in dim light
from a fire that burned in a small
CRATE. One end of this passage was full
of smoke, against which the bright
flashes of drawn swords were as darts
of lightning. Beyond the smoke, and
below, we could hear the clash of steel,
cries of pain and savage oaths, where
men were fighting and dying hard. AS
L dashed down the passage, sword in
hand, my only thought to reach the
prisoners room, one of the retreating
figures turned and called out: Quick,
mOnsieur-follOw me-the secret
stair!"
1t was Lain. In the confusion and
semi gloom he had mistaken me for his
! chief. l made no answer, but as l
rushed forward struck him on the face
with the hilt of my sword and he rolled
over like a log.
There | was, right in amongst the
| scared plotters, cheek by jowl with
NJ. de SavOy's envoy, and [ could have
| dropped him then and there, but that
my whole heart was in madame's room,
and | knew that there were others who
could and would deal with him.
As l elbowed my way through the
press, vainly endeavoring to find the
way to my dear's prison, we reached a
landing from which a long stair led
! straight up, and here l heard the mar
| sha's voice, cracked with rage and
| fear:
Latin! De Gomeron! To me-here!
| here"
Ladies' first, marzha!-I must look to
my bride"
Then through the smoke I saw de
| GOmerOn's tall figure mounting the
stair, and I rushed forward to follow
| him.
1t was at this juncture that portion
of our own party forced their way to
the landing. and one of them, whose
sword was broken, flung himself upon
me. dagger in hand, shouting: death
to traitors." l had just time to seize
his wrist. He tripped sideways over
something that lay very quiet at our
feet, and, dragging me down, we rolled
over and over with the clash Of blades
over us. at is I-foOl-I, d'Auriac-let
| go!" shouted, as he tried to stab at me.
Let go, you'll" sputtered d'Aubus-
| sons voice, and we lOOsed each other.
| had no time for another word, and,
| grasping my sword, which was hang
| ing to my wrist by the knot, l sprang
up, and the next moment was hot foot
| after de GomerOn.
l managed somehow TO force my way
| through the crowd, but the stairway
was half full Of men, and at the head of
1t stood the free lance with red sword
| in his hand and two or three huddled
objects that lay in shapeless masses
around him.
Some one, with a reckless indifference
to his own Iife-it was, 1 afterward
found out, Pantin-held up torch, and
as the flare of it shot up tie stairway
| de GOmeron threw back his head and
laughed at us.
Twenty to one-come, gentlemen
or must l come to you?" He took a
couple Of steps down the stairs, and the
ctuwd that had made as if it would rush
| at him wavered and fell back, bearing
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