The Holly chieftain., 1899-03-24

and trust this will be the last Of YOUR
attacks whilst you are with me. The
compte told me you had been fiagei-
liant, but had recovered"
II have been well for q long time,
monsieur" he answered. taking my
humor-"I will try and get i'll NO mors."
II am glad of that. Saddle Couronne.
go out at once-you can follow on
foot"
Monsieur"
The next moment he was gone, and I
heard him running down the stairs. II
would take few minutes to get Cou-
rome ready, but followed him down
at once. as had an inquiry to make
from Mime. Pantin. I heard some one
moving below in the kitchen, and,
thinking It wns dame Annette, called
down the winding stair.
"Mme.-Mme. Pantin.~
Madame is out; but is there any
thing can do for monsieur" And the
notary appeared below, dim outline.
clad in his dressing gown, with WOOL
en- cap on his hend.
went down to him and asked:
"Pantin, do you know If Ravaillac
was out last night?"
II would have told monsieur there
and then when he came in from his
swim in the Seine. No. for l watched
and saw him sleeping in the loft"
Are you sure?"
"As / am OF being here"
Thanks. Madame is out early"
"Shs has gone to the rue Varenne;
but, monsieur, be careful of that
Ravaillac."
nodded my head, and then raising
my voice: II dine at the Two Ecus Al
usunl-good day!"
Good day, monsieur!"
Couronne was ut the door, Ravaillnc
at her head, and. mounting, went at
a walking pace towards the pont au
Change, my servant n yard or SO be-
hind. It was my intention to seek dc
Belin, to ask him to find out II was
in any danger owing to last nights
folly or misadventure-call it what you
will and to beg his advice on the
course was to pursue.
had been recognizedby d'Ayen. My
name was known to those with him
and any trouble with the hotel de Villt
meant hopeless disaster. had almos'
made up my mind to conceal mysel,
somewhere until the day of fight, hui
before taking any action thought i
advisable to consult my friend, and te
return Ravaillac to his service.
Imagine my disappointment whel
reaching his hotel to find that Belin wa.
out! vallon begged me to wait. ex
planning that his master had been alb
sent for go long time thnt his return
would be but matter of minutes. II,
had supped out the night before will
de Vitry, the captain of the Scot
| guards, and NJ. lie Grand. had come bacl
late, and gone forth very early in tn,
morning, and it was now full time h,
was back.
I determined therefore to wait
though every moment was of impor
tance to me, and after half hour OF pa
tience in an easy chair rose and walket
towards the window to while away th
time by watching what was going ol
below. One of the heavy brocade cur
tains was half drawn, and withou
thinking of it came up towards tha
side, and looked out from behind it
cover. It struck me as strange tha
my horse was within the gate, insteas
of being within the courtyard, unt
Ravaillac, with the reins thrown owe
his shoulder, was engaged in convers
with a cavalier whose back was turnet
to me. and whose head was entirely con
cealed by his broad-brimmed hat mt
long plumes.
But the tall, straight figure, will
its stretch of shoulder, could not b
mistaken. It was de Gomeron to
certainty. and my doubts on the poin
were soon at rest. Keeping as far a
possible within the shadow of tn
curtain, watched them for full fiv
minutes whilst they conversed to
gether earnestly, and then something
changed hands between them. Finally
the cavalier left Ravaillac with q no
to his salute, and crossed over to tn
other side Of the road, where mount
ed lackey was holding his horse. A
he gained the saddle, he turned his fac
toward me for an instant. There wa
no shadow Of doubt left. It was d
Gomeron, and 1t was clear that ther
was more between the free lance an
Ravaillac than there should be, an
also, was convinced, know not how
that what had passed between ther
touched me, and was not for my good
What object the man had to play traito
I cannot say, but do know that ther
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 It mny, knew, at an,
rate, the grass where one viper lay. an,
made up my mind to blunt his fang
without any further delay. give d
Belin another half-hour, and then, call
ing vallon, left message with hin
begging my friend to see me at M
lodging on a matter of the utmos
moment. As soon as was in tn
saddle I bent forward, and, lookini
Ravaillac full in the face, said: an,
friend, you have too many acquaint
ances for my services. return yo,
from this moment to monsieur ]
compte."
made short cut down a side street
and in so doing, had an opportunity o
taking last look at my man. He wa
standing talking to Vallon, and movin,
his hands in my direction.
n