The Holly chieftain., 1899-03-17
CHAPTER x.-eosrrsuEp.
ground my teeth ii silent agony.

ground my teeth in silent agony.
wait moment" de Belin continued.
"a chamberlain OF the coprt knows most
of its secrets. and l can til you that it is
not such plain sailing h you think for
d'Ayen. The death of Tint unhappy Ga
brielle has affected the king much. He
is but now beginning 10 recover, and
Biron, who was hurryihs to his govern
ment of burgundy, had been ordered TO
remain in close ATTENDANCE on the king.
Whether Biron knew Of the kings in
tentions or not, do not know; but he
has strongly urged the Euit of one of his
gentlemen for the hanf of madame-it
is that croque-mort d. Gomeron, with
ell his faults a stout sSldier. 1t is said
that the marshal hasteven pressed de
Gomeron's suit with rrhdame, and that,
rather than marry d'Aten. and clinging
to any chance for escaIe, she has agreed
to fall in with his viefs. This heard
from the vidame, and ehevalier de Latin
good enough authofty."
"One alternative is as bad as the
other"
There is no satisfying some people.
Why, man, don't you SIZE it would be the
best thing in the world for you fit was
settled in favor of our frien1 from the
Camargue."
THAT lowborn scoundrel"
"Mon ami. we don't know anything
about that. Give the devil his due; he is
a better man than d'Ayen. Iknow there
is i'll blood between you, and wonder
that some has not been split before
now"
There will be befoie this is ended"
"Tenez! Let but the King agree to de
Gomcron's suit-and he is hard pressed,
I tell you. for Suliy even is on Biron S
side in this matter, and after that"
"What?"
"Henry's mind will have turned an
other way. There are many who would
like to play queen. and few like Mes
danes de Guerchville and Bidache."
But in any case. Belin, lose the
game"
"You have become very clever in your
retreat. my friend. You win your game
if de Gomeron is accepted and then
'And then, my wise adriser?"
"She need not marry the Camarrue.
You can run him through under the
LINES in the Tuileries-,ved madame,
and grow cabbages at Auriac ever after.
Pouf! The matter is simpler
Miserable as 1 was fairly laughed
out at Belin's plot. Nevertheless, the
hopefulness Of the man, his cheery tone
and happy spirit had their effect upon
me, and II 1t turned out that the king
was wavering there was more than
straw of hope floating down stream to
me. My courage grew also when put
together Sully's words with Belh's
news that Biron was detained by the
side of the king. 1t surely meant that
this was done to prevent the marshal
doing mischief elsewhere. II so. was
nevertheless on the horns OF a dilemma,
for by telling Of the plot would. II my
story were believed. make ematters hope
less, and advance d'Ayen's cause to the
misery of the woman loved.
On the other hand. by keeping silent
I was in an equally hard case. My
pledge to sully prevented me from TAX
ing Belin fully into my confidence. and
hardly knowing what wus doing. l
poured myself out another full goblet
Of the chambertln. and drained it at u
draft. R
Excellent. said Belin, ~there is moth
ing like Burgundy I, steady the mind :
in another moment you I'll be yourself
again and think as dom this matter.
Courage. mani Pick your heart up. A
fortnight is devil Of : loug time.
and"
IN. ie baron d'Ayen. ard Vaiion
thasw open the dsor. andtttts entrance