The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-19
: with my sword on


nasal, discOrdant and harsh, which rang
through the room.
Il protest, your majesty! j protest in
the name of my master, the king of
Spain. France and Spain are at peace"
1t was Chantonnay, the Spanish am
bassador, and tall, somber ROBBED and
thin, with the star of st. James at his
neck. he stepped forward from the
group behind the king, and stood facing
Montmorenci, sinister smile playing
on his. lips
1t was an awkward moment From
under his bushy white eyebrows the
constable glared back at his adversary,
and the king looked from one TO another
of them, annoyance and veXati0n
stamped upon his features.
Il protest. the ambassador repeated
again, with his strange, nasal mtona-
ton, his white fingers playing with the
star mt his neck.
Montmorenci's hand began to finger
the glove he held; the stout old soldier
knew but one answer to make at\ such
a moment: when the Medicis spoke in
her calm, pHssionless voice;
MY lords 1t seems but "a light mat
ter for all these frowns to lower-all
about q rose. Put aside these dark
looks, | pray you, and let us hear the
song the king has commanded-will no
one touch n lutc?'
The constable's glove slipped back
over his hand and Chant0nnay bowed
low to the queen. Still there was no
answer to her request, and there was
a strained silence.
Suddenly a voice-it was that of the
Phoenix--called out:
lie Brusquet"
The cry was caught mp at once with
clapping of hands, and lie Brusquet!
lie Brusquet! echoed through the hall.
| met my queens eyes She was smil-
ing with the rest; and then the kings
voice came to mo:
You are nam d, my cousin"
1t had to be-; but us | slipped the
broad yellow bon from my shoulders
and took the lutte in my hands, l felt
my heart beat my fingers tremble, and
my voice fail me. Twice / struck the
chords; but the song would not come,
and then / met her eyes again and was
strong, and the testers voice rang ont
full and clear; but it was the knights
heart that spoke:
"Come. Choose me a flower from out
thy bower!
White blows the lily; but red the rose.
Come! Choose me a flower from out
thy bowerv'
Belle Mabel she pluclled him red,
red rose.
10! Here is a hower-the queen of my
bower!
Pale white is the lily: but red the rose.
dub thee my knight. In the hour of
fight
Ride ever for right, and the red, red
rose"
For God and my Lady, my Queen of
Already
No shield will | bear but this red, rose.
In charge or in rally, in siege or in sally,
The Paynim shall shrink at the red,
red rose
10! The night is unfolden, the moon
light is golden,
Pure heart and strong arm, let them
go with the rose.
10! The night is unfolden, the noon
light is golden.
Go! King of my Heart, and my
Knight of the Rose!"
| brought my song to a close with a
flourish on the lute-strings. For "a lit
tie there was n hush, and then a low
murmur arose that swelled to n tunult
of applause Kind faces pressed around
me. there were kind voices in my ears;
but heard them nOt-the place had gone
from me--and for a space l was in
dreamland of my own.
1t was the king himself who put
gold chain round my neck, and as L
rose from before him, Chantonnay held
out to me a heavy purse, saying:
'"The king. my master, knows also how
to reward a minstrel"
There was that in the tone that jar
red upon me. l drew myself up and
"Monseigneurl The servants of the
king of France take guerdOn but from
France"
Chantonnay shrugged his shoulders as
he put back his purse, and, looking
around him, said slowly to the king:
Your majesty has a faithful servant,
and a great poet to celebrate the we'd
ding
II fail to understand, monseigneurw
II crave your majesty's pardon. l I'M
derstood that the prince of Condo had
returned, and that your majesty's con-
sent was given"
There were eager faces enough around
us as the nasal tones of the ambassa-
dor drawled themselves out. l glanced
around, and saw that Mary was gone.
Chantonay spoke slowly and deliber-
ately, and his meaning was not to be
mistaken. The king flushed with anger.
''Monseigneur"' he said us this a
est:''
And Chantonnay went on, as a cat
might with mouse:
"A jest, your majesty! A jest has
lever passed my lips in my life"
Heinz ! cut in, jingling the bells on
my cap and approaching the king.
'Monseigneur speaks the truth, my
.ousin. No word of jest has ever passed
MS lips They have all come through
his nose.Y
A half-suppressed litter followed the
speech. The king frowned, and Chan
eyes looked death at me, but
t WINS his turn now to be on the cross,
md the constable seized the oppor-
unity.