The Holly chieftain., 1899-05-12
SYNOPSIS.

DAuriac, 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. 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 Is
told he will hang II 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-
dicament. After battle In which King
Henry utterly routs de Rone's forces,
dAuriac, lying severely wounded, sees two
forms moving through the darkness rob-
bing the bodies OF the dead and wounded.
They find golden collar on de Leyvas
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'Aurinc, and afterwards visits him
daily in hospital, Here he learns his friend
Is heiress OF Bldache. When well 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 Suliy. master general of ordnance.
Calling on de Belin, friend, d'Auriac Sc
cures from him servant. Ravai,,ac, who
had previously been in service of d'Ayen.
D'Ayen's marriage 10 Madame de la Bidache
IS to occur within fortnight. de BelIn to
stand sponsor Palm and madame arrive
in Paris. D'Auriac has suspicious aroused
concerning Rsvaillac; later witnesses
meeting with de Gomeron. therefore dis
misses him. The chevalier Is introduced at
court by de Belln. where he charges Biron
with being traitor to France and king. For
his pains Henry gives him "a hours to quit
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 of.
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 Pantln and dAuriac. disguised make
their way to neighborhood where they
manage to get directed to the Toison dor.