Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-14

manly youth who is admired for what
,, ne privately deSpises, and wishes himself
well quit of it. But notwithstanding there
was something so insinuatiug and pleasant
about the marshal's manner that the lad
almost thought he must have dreamed the
incident of the burned door and the sacri-
flee upon the iron altar.
You came hither to search for Margaret
of Douglas! said the marshal suddenly
bending forward as if to take him by sur
prise
Laurence, wholly taken aback answered
neither yea nor nay, but held his peace
Then GILES de Retz nodded sagely, with
a quiet satisfaction in his own provision
winch to one less bold and reckless than
! the young clerk of Dulee Cor would have
proved disconcerting. Then he propouuqed
his next question.
One" said Laurence promptly. 'J
came here with your servant De sille
The marshal smiled.
Good. We will try some other method
with you he said; but be advised, and
speak. None hath ever hidden aught from
Giles de Retzi'
Then, my lord" said Laurence, there is
the less reason for you to put me to the
question:.
Il can expound dark speeches" said the
the subtleties of lying tongues. Hope not
to lie TO me. How many were they that
came to France with your
Il will not tell you.' said the son of Ma
lise.
The marshal smiled again and nodded his
mead repeatedly with certain gustful an
probation.
You would make a good soldier. 1t is n
pity that L have gone out of that business
Yet l have only as it were descended from
wholesale to particular, from the gross to
Laurence, who felt that the true policy
was to be sparing of his words, made no
answer. ~
You say that you are a clerk? Can you
read Latin? wv
Yes" said Laurence, land write it,,
Sead thls then, said the marshal, and
handed him book. ~
Laurence had been we'll instructed in tho
humanities by FIR. Colin of ST Micba az
kirk by the side of Dee Water and he 49,
the words which record the crueities of the
corum. w
You read not ill., said his auditor: "vo,,
nave peen well taught, though you have 4,
vile foreign accent and know NOT tbo -,
OF meaning that lies in the illusions y
You say. that you came to Machecou, to
aeine me, the marshal continued after n
pause iol thouSht In what manner did
you think you could serve, and WHY Went
you not into the house of some other 1ord D.,
AS TO service" said Laurence ..J came
because was invited by your henchman
th.t 'iie. ana as to what can do, L profess
tnat can sing, having been well taught by
a aster-the best in my country. / can
play upon the viol and even upon the or
gan am fairly good at fence, and excel
L fa1rhfnltv
carry a message and loyalty serve those
VINO trust me. L would have some money
to spend. which 1 have never had T wouId
see strange things which have never seen
WOULD live life worth living, wherein is
pleasure and pain, the lack of samenesS
and the joy of things new. And if that
may not be, why, 1 am ready to die. that
may make proof whether there is anvtbine
better beyond"
"A most philosophic creedr' cried the
marshal. Well, there is one thing in which
can prove If indeed You lie not Sing!"
Ihen Laurence stood up and sang even
as the choir had done, the Iamentation of
Rachel according to the setting of the Ro-
man precentor.
voice was heard I'm Ramah.
And as he sang the lord of Retz took up
the strain. and with true accord and feel
ing accompanied him to the end
Brava!' cried GILES de Retz, when Ian.
renee had finished. THAT is truly well
sung. You shall sing it alone in nv chanel
next feast day of the Holy Innocents.'
He paused if to consider his next
words. And now for this time CO. but re-
member that this castle of Machecoul is |
straighter than any prison cell and better
guarded than fortress. 1t Is surrounded
with constant watchers. secret, invisible
lmplacable. whose tries to escape dies
You are bold lad, and as think, fear not
much death for yourself. But come hither
ana viii show you something that will |
chain you here"
With q kind of solicitous familiarity the
Marshal de Retz took the lad by the arm |
and drew him to another window on the
further side of the keep.
There came low voice in his ear, chill |
and sinister.
You do well to look out upon the fair |