Owingsville outlook., 1899-03-16

attacks whilst you are with me. The
compte told me you had been a ilaGcl-
liant. but had recovered"
Il have been well for a long time.
monsieur" hc answered, taking my
humor-'l will try and get i'll no more.
81 am glad of that Saddle Couronnc.
go out at oncc-you can follow on
foot"
Monsieur"
The next moment he was gone, and
heard him running down the stairs. Ii
would take a few minutes Ia get tou.
rome ready, but | followed him down
at once. as | had an inquiry Ia make
from Mime. Pantiu. | heard some one
moving below in the kitchen, and,
thinking il WAS dame Annette, called
down the winding stair.
"Mme.-Mme. Pantin."
Madame is out; hut is there any
thing can tln for monsieur And th-
notary appeared below, a dim outline,
clad in his dressing gown, with II wool
en- cap on his head.
went down to him and asked:
"Pantin, do YOU know ii Ravaillsc
was out last night
Il would have told monsieur there
and then when he came in from his
swim in the Seine. No. for | watched
and saw him sleeping in the loft"
Are you sure?''
AS am of being here"
Thanks. Madame is ont early"
. \ NNfs.,.
but. monsieur. be careful of that
Ra,aillac.'
| nodded my head. and then raising
my voice: Il dine AT the Two Ecus as
usual-good day"
Good day. monsieur"
Couronne was at the door. Rayaillac
at her head, and. mounting. went at
walking pace towards the pont au
Change. my servant a Nard or so be
hind. II was my intention to seek de
Belin. To ask him To find out if | was
in any danger owing to last nights
folly ar misadventurc call il what you
will -- and Ia beg his advice on the
course I was to pursue.
had been recognized by d'Ayrn. My
name was known to those with him.
and any trouble with the hotel de Vile
meant hopeless disaster. I had almost
made up my mind To conceal myself
somewhere until the day Of flight. but
before taking any action thought il
advisable 10 consult my friend, aud To
return Ravaillac to his service.
Imagine my disappointment when
reaching his hotel 10 find that Relin was
out. Nallon begged me 10 wait, ex-
planning that his master had been alb
sent for so lcng time that his return
would he hut n matter of minutes. lie
had supped ont the night before with
de Nitry, the captain of the Scots
guards. and NJ. lr Grand. had come back
late. and gone forth very early in the
morning. and il was now full time he
was back.
determined therefore to wait.
though every moment was of impor-
tancc 10 me. and after a half hour of pa
tience in an easy chair rose and walked
towards the window 10 while away the
time by watching what was going on
below. One of the heavy brocade cur
tains was half drawn. and without
thinking of il | came up towards that
side. and looked out from behind it's
cover. II struck me as strange that
my horse was within the gate, instead
of being within the courtyard, and
Ravaillac. with the rcinS thrown over
his shoulder, was engaged in converse
with a cavalier whose back was turned
\ Il.
cealed by his broad-brimmed hat and
long plumes.
But the tall, straight figure, with
its stretch of shoulder, could not be
mistaken. Ii was de Gomeron to a
certainty, and my doubts on the point
were soon at rest. Keeping as far as
possible within the Shadow OF the
curtain, 7 watched them for full five
minutes whilst they conyersed to-
ge1her earnestly. and then something
changed hands between them. Finally,
the cavalier left Ravaillac with nod
10 his salute. and crossed over 10 the
other side of the road. where a mount-
cd lackey was holding his horse. AS
he gained the saddle, he turned his face
no shadow of doubt left. 1t was de
tIomeron, and ii was clear that there
was more between the free lance and
Bavaillac than there should be. and
also. ] was convinced. know not how.
that what had passed between them
touched me. and was not for my good
What object the man had to play traitor
| cannot say, but ! do know that there
are some natures TO whom double deal
ing is as their skin, and whom moth
ing can turn from falsehood and chi
| cane.
BE this as il may. | knew. at any
rate. the grass where one viper lay. and
made up my mind to blunt his fangs
without any further delay. ] gave de
| ing Nallon, left message with him,
| begging my friend to see me at my
lodging on matter of the utmost
| moment. As soon ms 7 was in the
| saddle I bent forward. and. looking
| Eavaillac full in the face, said: my
| friend, you have too many acquaint-
ances for my services. I return you
from this moment 70 monsieur le
| compte."
made a short cut down a side street.
and in so doing, had an opportunity Of
taking last look at my man. He was
standing talking TO Nallon, and moving
his hands in my direction.
Keeling out lies by the Dozen"
muttered to myself. "If mistake not
there will be another place lost to you
| by sundown."
] let myself in by the stable entrance,
and after attending to Couronne en-
tered the house. There was apparently
4 not n soul within. sought the lower
apartments in the hope of finding either
| the notary or his wife. to explain to
them my action in regard to Rayaillac;
| but neither of them yvas visible. There
was no answer TO my call. There could
not be a soul in the house.
fTo BE Continued
4 ---------------------
.Sherry-' and the spinster.