The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1899-02-03
SYNOPSIS.

D'Auriac, commanding outpost where
scene is laid, tells the story De Gomeron
Is in temporary command, appointed by
Gen. de Rome to examine into a charge
against d'Auriac. Nicholas, a sergeant
brings in 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
oy appearance of de Rome, and d'Auriac is
told he will hang if found alive at close
of morrow's battle. Riding over field next
day d'Auriac finds Nicholas, victim of de
GOmerOn'S malice, in imminent danger Of
death, and releases him from awful pre-
dcament. After battle in which King
Henry utterly routs de Rone's forces
dAuriac, 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 sutton, 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 Ely. he
he comes upon Nicholas, his old sergeant,
who says de Gomeron is in neighbOrhOCd
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
Comeron. Flying for their lives, the two
men think themselves beyond pursuit,
VH-o sud- 70 IN 70 wit
Bron, one Of the traitors. whom d Auriac
cuts down, and with de GomerOn, who
makes short work Of Nicholas; dAuriac
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'Ayeu' s marriage to Madame de la Bidache
is 20 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 10 quit
France. King now commands marriage
to be celebrated on the morrow, making it
imperative that flight occur that night, if
meets her secretly, when masked men
swoOp down on pair and carry them off.
bound and gagged. After "A hours i'm
prisonment, during which he has inter-
view with de Gomeron and Babette, he
manages to escape. AT his lodgings he
finds jacques, Palm. de Belin and his host
Pantin assembled in council Next morn
ing Pantin and d'Auriac. disguised, go to
Toison dor, a sort of inn next building to
which he and madame had been taken.
D'Auriac hires a room, and from a win
dow reaches roof of next building where,
through a skylight, he witnesses meeting
of de Gomeron and two confederates. They
plan another meeting for that night when
Biron will be present. He determines TO
communicate again with Sully, but Ravail
lac and de Gomeron being below, and fear
ing detection, is compelled to bide his OPP
portunity. After time he sees in window
opposite face of madame They communi-
cate by means Of signs, he telling her de-
liverance is at hand. When night falls
d'Auriac goes to join de Belin, whom he
meets on his way with Pantin and a friend.
All go to find the king (who is on a night
frolic) at an ordinary.
CHAPTER XIX.@CONTINUED
AT last we reached More's, and as we
entered the hall ! could not help won
dering if the good Parisians knew that
their king was playing at primero in an
ordinary of the city, and would be later
on, perhaps, pursued by the watch.
More, whom | had not seen since my
affair with d'Ayen, was in the hail, and
at a word from de Belin, conducted us
himself up the stairway, though look
ing askance at me. We at length gained
long corridor at the beginning of
which Pantin was left. Through the
closed doors of a private dining-room
at the end of this we could hear shouts
of laughter. His majesty and NJ. de
Vitry arrived scarce a half hour ago."
whispered More as we approached the
door.
I'VE will not trouble you further" re-
piled the compile; at is the rule at
these little parties to enter unan-
nounced." With these words he put
his hand to the door, and went in, fol-
lowing at his heels. There were at
least ten or dozen men in the room
standing round table, at which sat
the king engaged at play with NJ. de
Bassompierre. Neither the king nor
Bassompierre, who seemed absorbed
in the game, took the least notice of our
entrance, nor did they seem in the
least disturbed by the constant laugh
: ter and converse that went on. The
others, however, stopped, and then
burst out in joyous greetings of de
Belin, and very naughty chances at me.
In the meantime the king played or,
taking no notice of anyone, his beaked
nose dropping lower toward his chin as
he lost one rouleau after another to
Bassompierre.
''Ventre st. Gris!" he exclaimed at
last, was ever such luck? At this rate
shall not have shirt on my back in
half an hour"
If the marshal were only here" said