The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1899-01-10


said at last, coldly, and added: "And
you may speak. 1t is because 1 under
stand that have for the moment eX-
cused you-now what have you to say ?"
AS he spoke his glittering eyes met
me full in the face, and for the mo-
ment could not find words.
"Ventre ST. Grisi" and Henry picked
up a melocotin from salver that was
by him and played with it between his
fingers, you could not have been born
under the two COWS on the field, or else
you would have found your tongue ere
this, NJ. d'Auriac-you are not of the
south, are you?"
mo, sire, though my father was gov
ernor of Provence, and married into the
Folk Candale."
eff so you should be perfect Chrys-
ostom. What have you to say?"
1 had regained my courage by this
and took the matter in both hands:
"YOur majesty, will speak, charge
the marshal, Due de Biron, with being
traitor to you and to France, L charge
him with conspiring-"
You Iiar!"
II was Biron's voice, furious and
cracked with rage, that rang through
the. room; but Henry stopped him with
;s word, and then | went on repeating
exactly what is known, and what have
described before. When it was over the
king turned tor the marshal, who burst
cut in a passion of upbraiding, calling
God and his own services to witness
that his hands were clean, land is the
word of this man to be believed?" he
concluded, this man, who was openly
in arms against the king, who is known
as braWler in the streets, who is even
now trying to win the hand of q royal
ward with not penny piece to line his
doublet pockets, who is excluded from
the kings peace-is his oath to be TAX
en- before the word of peer of France?
Sire. my father died by your side-and l
I will say no more. Believe him if you
will Here is my sword! 1t has served
you WELL" and unbuckling his sword
the marshal flung himself on his knees
before the king and presented him with
tie hilt of his blade.
Astonished and silenced by this au-
dacioUs outburst. l could say nothing.
but saw Sully and de Belin exchange a
strange smile. The king, however, was
much moved. Putting his hands on
Biron's shoulders, he lifted him to his
feet. ''Biron, my old friend" he said,
1.-The oaths of this man and hundred
such as he are but as featherWeight
against your simple word. Messieurs,
it is because | wished the marshal to
know that | would hear nothing behind
a mans back that would not repeat to
his own face, that L have allowed NJ.
d'Auriac a free rein to his tongue. In
fine, l believe no word of this incredible
tale-M. d'Auriac, and he turned to me,
Il give you "a hours to quit France,
and never cross my path again
With my heart boiling with rage,
made for the stairway. l did not dare
to look for madame. There was enough
despair on my face to enable her to read
it like a book were she to see me, and
L had no doubt she had. | felt l had
miserably failed. There was one chance,
however, and that was to urge her TO
instant flight, and L determined 10 ride
straight to the Rue Varenne, and there
await either madame's or Palms re-
turn, and induce them to adopt this
course.
At this moment some one came in my
way, and stepping aside to let him pass,
l caught sight of madame with both de
Belin and the Huguenot at her side.
She was not three feet from me and
held out her hand, saying: Courage, 1
know ALL" held her small fingers for
moment, and then the ribbon by which
her fan was slung to her wrist somehow
slipped and the fan fell to the ground.
1 picked it up and on handing it to her
caught a whisper: "Coiffier-to-night,"
and then with bow l went On. Ten
steps more brought me to the head of
the stairway and Golfer was standing
there. Would you have your fortune
told, monsieur?' he asked.
"Will tonight suit you?" answered,
taking his humor.
Tonight will be too late, monsieur lie
chevalier-lOOk in that as you ride home
and you Will see-and now 60"
With turn of his wrist he produced
a small red ball of polished wood and
placed it in my hands, and then moved
backwards amongst the crowd.
1t did not take me five minutes more
to find COuronne, but as l turned her
head on reaching the gates of the town
towards the river face, 1 heard de
Belin's quiet voice behind:
Not that way, d'Auriac-you come
with me-"