The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1899-03-23

az an imaginary adversary. As he came
back from the second thrust he said;
"By the way, | must tell you-but here
they are" and Ravaillac came in. fol-
lowed by Jacques, Nallon bringing uT
the rear.
As they entered recognized the man
who was with Jacques and Nallon on the
Nalaquais, and Belin. turning to
jacques. said quietly: "Bissor. am GO
ing 20 lend Ravaillac here to your mas
ter, to take your place whilst you go
away TO Ely. pledge you my word
that he is good sword"
"True enough, NJ lie Compte. We were
amusing ourselves with a pass or two
below. and he touched me twice to my
one, and as your lordship answers for
him. | am content"
THAT is we'll. most excellent Bisson!
Ravaillac, you understand Here is the
Chevslier d'Auriac, your new master,
who will remain such until he sends
you back TO me-"
Ravaillac bowed without reply. He
was quite young, barely 20, and very tall
and thin; yet there was great breadth
of shoulder. and | noticed that he had
the framework of a powerful man; his
appearance was much beyond that of
his class; but there was a sullen fe-
rocity in his pale face-the eyes were
set too close together, and the mouth
too large and strsightly cut to please
me. Nevertheless, | was practically
bound 10 accept Belin's recommends
tion, and after few orders were given,
the men were dismissed.
what was | about to say before
these men came in?" asked Belin.
I'm afraid l cannot help"
"Of course not--O, yes! | recollect. /
was about TO tell you how l got Ra-
vaillac's service. lay you five crowns
to tester you would never guess"
"You have already told me with your
wager. You must have won him"
Exactly. You've hit it, and it was in
this way. About three months ago ]
was returning to Paris, attended but by
Vallon, and with only a small sum with
me. At an inn at Neuilly, | met an ac-
quaintance, a Baron d'Ayen, one of the
last of the mignons and a confirmed
gambler"
81 know him." 1 said, my heart begin
ming to beat faster at the very thought
of d'Ayen.
"Then, it makes the story more in
teresting. We dined together, and then
had turn at the dice, with the result.
that d'Ayen won every ecu that l had.
"'It would be pity to stop now he
said, as rose declaring myself broken.
Suppose we play for your horse,
COMPETE?
"'No, thanks I replied; luck is
against me, and have no mind to foot
it to my hotel. But III tell you what,
have rather taken fancy to your
man, since l once saw him handle a
rapier. I'll lay Vallon against him;
what do you call him?'
"'Ravaillac. He is of Angouleme and
has been . Flagellant. VIII he suit
you?'
az shall have to find that out. Do
you accept the stakes?'
"'Mon ami, would play for my soul
in this cursed inn.'
"'Very well, then, throw
"The upshot of it was that won, and
from that moment the blind goddess
smiled on me, and after another hours
play left d'Ayen with nothing but the
clothes he stood in. What he regretted
most was the loss of his valise, in which
lay some cosmetiques he valued beyond
price; he got them from Golfer.
earned his undying friendship by CIV
ing him back his valise, lent him his
horse, which | had won, and came off
with so pistoles and a new man. OF
course, you know that d'Ayen has fallen
on his feet?"
''I do not"
"I'l tell you. Where the devil
have you been burying yourself all
these months? You must know that
the king is looking forward for another
: Liancourt for a lady whom he destines
for very high place, and d'Ayen is to
be the happy man. 1t is an honor he
fully appreciates and he has been kind
enough to ask me to stand as one of his
sponsors at the wedding, which. by the
kings orders, comes off in fortnight"
And you have promsed?"
"Yes, it was u little amusement.
, They say, however, that madame is
furious, and that her temper is worse
: than that of Mile. d'Entragues, who, by
the way, literally flung herself at the
king without avail. Her time will come
soon enough, no doubt-but, good gra.
! cious, man! What is the matter? You
are white as sheet"
at is nothing, Belin-Yes, ii is more
! than / can bear. Belin, old friend is
| there nothing that can save this lady?'
He looked at me and whistled low 10
} himself. "Sets the wind that way?
4, did not know you had even heard of the
lily of Bidache. Are you hard hit,
d'Auriac?" And he rose from his seat
and put kind hand on my shoulders.
jumped up furiously. "Belin, tell
E you l will stop this infamy il die for
it, ! swear before God that will kill
that man, king though he be, like a mad
dog"
"Be STILL" he said. "What bee has
4 stung you? You and I, d'Auriac, come
r of houses too old TO play the assassin
) Criox Dieu, man! Will you sully your
shield with murder? There, drink that
5 wine and sit down again. That's right
You do not know what you say. / have
I fought against the king, and | serve him
now, and tell you, d'Auriac, he is the
- greatest OF Frenchmen, And there is