Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-03-08

and L was incapable of thought. The room
in which l was confined was bare of all fur
niture, not even camp STOOL There was
only one window, and that, iron grated, was
set high up, near the ceiling. The moon
light struggled through the grating in long
white ribbons, and dimly showed up the
walls around me. Hour after hour passed
away. | could hear the occasional barking
OF dogs, the distant cries of the sentinels as
they called to one another, and the sound
of the guard being relieved at my door.
Then the moon sank and the morning came.
From sheer WEAKNESS threw myself on the
floor, and fell into troubled sleep, from
which I was aroused by the cords biting
into my flesh. This, and the constrained
position in which my arms were held, gave
me torture. / attempted by shouting to at
tract the attention of the sentinel over me ;
but though I heard the clod tramping up
and down, I received no answer
At about noon Braccio entered the cell.
He informed me that my affair was to be
dealt with by the duke in person, and that
should make ready to 60 with him. Ireplied
that l. was prepared to go at once, and
without more ado was escorted to the main
building of the villa. I could see that con-
siderable crowd was collected, and from the
htters and riding horses that were being led
to and fro, perceived that some ladies had
heard the news, and were come to CRAFTY
their curiosity at my expense, and see such
trials as was to undergo. / was led into
the great hall, which was full of people, and
IN the gallery above the dais saw, amongst
other ladies, the Duchess de la Tremouille,
and by her side Nine. d'Entrangues. The
latter kept her eyes down, and famed her.
self with fan of peacock feathers, which,
even at that moment, was able to recognize
as my gift. On the dais was table with
seats set about it, which were as yet empty.
AT the steps of the dais stood D. Entrangues,
and beside him small man cloaked in sad
colored mantle, with keen, cleanly-shaven
face, and watchful eyes. He held in his hand
a small packet, and surveyed me with no
little interest. D'Entrangues did not meet
my look, and his hang-dog face was turned
towards the doorway Immediately opposite
to him. In moment or so the door was
opened, and the duke entered, talking ear
nestly with a cavalier of most gracious
and distinguished presence. Iremouille
himself was small, slightly-built man, of
features in no way remarkable; but re-
deemed in some part by the alert intelligence
of his glance. In early life he had met with
an accident which left him lame ever after.
Yet he was good horseman and of a con-
stitution that nothing could tire. As for
his companion, his face was then strange to
me; but in after times when was admitted
to his intimacy and honored with his friend
ship, came to know him as great beyond all
men; and this do not say in gratitude for
the debt owe him; but simply to add my
crrn hIo tn hot IS al l:
companions in arms, and equals in station,
who with one consent allow him to be the
glory of his age, and of knighthood. Imme-
diately behind Tremouille came D'Alegres
and Trevulzio, who had raised himself to his
present high position, and was most capa-
BILE soldier. These four took their seats at
the table, and the numerous and brilliant
staff of officers who accompanied them
ranged themselves behind. From the man
ner in which the stranger took his seat, 1
gathered, and was not mistaken, that he
was there as one of my judges, and for the
moment wondered who he was. That he
was of the highest rank was clear from his
aspect and bearing, and from the fact that
he wore round his neck the collar of the
Holy Ghost The proceedings of this public
court-martlal began at once. It is needless
to set them down in full detail D'Entran-
CUES stated his case, DAlegres briefly set
forth the action taken by him, and Visconti
and Hardwood testified to having found
their property in my possession, under the
circumstances already explained. / will do
them the justice to say that they did so with
evident and genuine reluctance Tremouille,
who had doubtless heard all this before, lis
tened patiently to the end, and then asked
me what I had to say. What could I say
l looked at the faces around me and saw no
sympathy. looked up at the gallery where
the ladies sat, and caught whisper:
II do not care-I know it is false; he is
not guilty"
The words gave me courage. The charge
was false. Then found tongue. asked
if it were possible that I, noble, whose
career had hitherto been blameless, could
have suddenly become so vile as to sink to
common theft? pointed out my long years
Of service, and called D'Alegres and Ire
vulzio, under whose banners 1 had served,
to witness if they had ever known me sully
my honor.
'FIt is known, M. di Savel]i, that you are
hard put for money" said Tremouille.
/ admitted the fact, and also admitted
that at the time stood there owed money
lost at play; but that the sum did not
amount to more than so crowns, and there
was twice that amount due to me from the
military chest. then went on to point out
how unlikely it was that, even if i had
stolen the jewels, I should have boarded
them up and not turned them into money,
for which I allowed was pressed, and
wound up by saying was the victim Of a
conspiracy, and that was prepared to as
sert my honor, man to man, against DEN
trangues, or. any other who would take up
his cause. ~
'fWhat say you, my lord of Bayard?,'' and
Tremouille turned to the stranger who sat
beside him. Even whilst waiting for his
answer, and on the cross with anxiety as
was, could not help looking with the great
est interest at the man. This then was the
celebrated Pierre du Terral, the noblest
knight in Christendom. Vague rumors that
he was to join the army Of Tremouille, with
a. high command, had reached sus. But we
lad merely looked upon them as lumors.