The Holly chieftain., 1899-04-28
SYNOPSIS.
,eopyns5Fc iso7 BY Lonemans. Green & Col

DAurlac. commanding outpost where
scene is laid. tells the story. De Gomeron
v In temporary command, appointed by
Gen. de Rome to examine into a charge
against d'Auriac. Nicholas, a sergeant.
brings In a man and woman. from kings
camp at lie Fere. prisoners. D'Auriac.
angered by insulting manner of de Gomeron
toward woman. strikes him. duel follows
and prisoners escape. Duel is Interrupted
by appearance of de Rome. and d'Auriac II
told he will hang IL found alive at close
of morrow's battle. Riding over field next
day dAuriac finds Nicholas victim of de
Gomeron's malice, In Imminent danger of
death. and releases him from awful pre-
dicament. After battle in which King
Henry utterly routs de Rone's forces,
d'Auriac. lying severely wounded. sees two
forms moving through the darkness rob
bling the bodies of the dead and wounded.
They find golden collar on de Leyva's
corpse. and Babette stabs Mauginot cher
partner) to gain possession. Henry with
retinue, among whom Is fair prisoner who
had escaped from de Gomeron and d'Ayen.
her suitor. rides over the field. Madame
rescues d'Auriac, and afterwards visits him
daily in hospital. Here he learns his friend
Is heiress OF Bidache. When we'll enough
he is taken to her Normandy chateau.
where he learns from Maitre Palm,
madame's chaplain. the king Is about to
force her to marry d'Ayen. He sets out
with Jacques. his knave. for Paris, to
prevent this marriage. Delayed at Ezy, he
he comes upon Nicholas. his old sergeant,
who says de Gomeron is In neighborhood
with associates from army and nobility,
plotting treason against the king. They
go to de Gomeron's retreat where they
manage to overhear details of plot. Burn
ing with revenge. Nicholas shoots at de
Gomeron. Flying for their lives. the two
men think themselves beyond pursuit.
when suddenly they are face to face with
Biron. one of the traitors. whom d'Auriac
cuts down. and with de Gomeron. who
makes short work of Nicholas; d'Auriac
escapes. Arriving In Paris the chevalier
lays what he knows of reasonable plot be-
fore Sully, master general Of ordnance.
Calling on de Belin. friend, d'Auriac Sc
cures from him a servant. Ravaillac, who
had previously been in service of d'Ayen.
D'Ayen' s marriage to Madame de la Bdache
is to occur within fortnight. de Belin to
stand sponsor. Palm and madame arrive
in Paris. D'Auriac has suspicious aroused
concerning Ravaillac: later witnesses
meeting with de Gomeron. therefore dis
misses him. The chevalier is introduced at
court by de Belin, where he charges Biron
with being traitor to France and king. For
his pains Henry gives him "A hours to quilt
France. King now commands marriage
to be celebrated on the morrow, making II
imperative that flight occur that night. II
madame be saved. D'Auriac therefore
meets her secretly, when masked men
swoop down on pair and carry them off.
hound and gagged. De Gomeron places him
in what Babette. who is here. assures him
is the safest room in the Toison dor. De
Gomeron and Babette offer d'Auriac his
freedom on condition that he will sign paper
holding de Gomeron guiltless Of any de-
sign against either himself or the madame.
D'Auriac asks to be unbound and "a hours
in which to decide. Babette comes for his
answer. By artiiice he compels her to open
his dungeon door.