Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-25

the king. On my way / had to pass the
Medicis. She was seated. watching the
dance, surrounded by some ladies. At
her side stood Diana of Valentinos, with
that marvellous face on which time could
leave no trace. The duchess smiled at me
as bowed to her who was the real queen
OF France, and knelt to her who was queen
out IN name, to that wonderful woman
whom we then thought to be but mere
stolid piece of humanity, whom we, be-
cause We We're fools, looked upon with a
sort of plying contempt. But day came
when she dropped the mask that had cover
ed her for five and twenty years-and then
we found out. While 1 write this l can
almost see the grisly trophies over the
Gate OF Good Men: can almost hear again
the harsh clang from the belfry of st. Ger
main fAuXerrois that summoned Paris to
the massacre.
AS L rose from my knees before the
queen-she had but given me lock from
her dark, unfathomable eyesDCatherine
turned to the duchess, saying with slight
sneer:
Il see nothing to admire in her; but all
your French heads have been turned by
that little Scotch queenlet."
french heads. your majesty, can but see
with French eyes, answered DANA ana
the queen bit her lip. But now the folding
doors to our right were flung open by the
ushers in violet and gold, and the king APP
peared. By his side was the constable. and
around and behind him a brilliant group,
among whom were De Vfelleville and st.
Andre, while towering above the others
was the grim figure of the cardinal OF Lor-
raine. For moment they stood watching
the dance, and then came slowly forward.
AS Henri approached his seat the dancers
stopped and bowed to him, and walking up
to Mary of Scotland the king kissed her
on the cheek, saying kindly:
My daughter, the roses you carry here
bear the palm from those you have gath
cred in that nosegay. Pardieu! ne con-
tinued with a laugh, while Marys race
grew scarlet with pleasure, lis there no
knight here who can turn rondei to these
roses? What say you, my cousin OF the
kingdom of Folly?"
There was a general laugh; but L was
tongue-tied and could say nothing; but the
constable, with the rough gallantry OF
bear, was ready with a speech.
Il cannot use the PEN" he cried; but,
old as | am l will try in the next war to
write verse with my sword on Spanish
helmets
A buzz arose at the words. There may
perhaps have been a yelled threat concealed
in them; | know not. But buzz and muir
muir were stilled by voice, nasal, discord-
ant and harsh, which rang through the
room.
Il protest your majesty! I protest in
the name of my master, the King of Spain!
France and Spain are at peace"
1t was Chantonnay, the Spanish ambas-
sador. and tai, sombsr-robed and thin, with
the star of St. James at his neck. he step
ped forward from the group behind the
king ard stood facing Montmorenci, a sim
lister smile playing on his lips.
1t was an awkward moment. From under
his bushy white eyebrows the constable
slared back at his adversary, and the king
looked from one to another Of them, an
noyance and vexation stamped upon his
features.
Il protest the ambassador repeated
again. with his strange nasal fntonation
his white fingers playing with the star at
his neck
Montmorencis hand began to finger the
glove he held. The stout old soldier knew
a
when the Medicis spoke in her calm, pas
sonless voice:
My lords! 1t seems but a light matter
Tor al. these frowns to lower-alI about a
rose! Put aside these dark looks | pray
you, and let us hear the song the king
has cOmmanded-will no one touch lute?"
The constable's glove slipped back over
MS hdnd. and ChantOnnay bowed low to
the queen. Still there was no answer to
her request and there was d strained ST.
lence.
Suddenly a voice-it was that Of the
PhoenX-called out:
LIE Brusquet"
The cry was caught up at once with a
clappfng of hands. and lie Brusquet! lie
Brusquet!' echoed through the hal | met
my queens eyes. She was smiling with the
rest; and then the kings voice came to me:
You are named my cousin"
It had to be- but as l slipped the broad
yellow ribbon from my shoulders and took
the lutte In my hands I felt nv heart beat
my fingers tremble and my voice fail me
Twice / struck the chords but the song
would not come, and then | met her eyes
again and was strong, and the testers
voice rang out full and clear: but II was
the knights heart that spoke
tome! Choose me flower from ont thy bower,
co mhi'e blows blows the lily but red the rose.
Zone. Choose me flower from out thy howerr'
hene Mabel she plucked him red red rose
Pale white is the lily: but red the rose
1 1q9 thee my knight. In the hour of fight
iiut ever for right, and the red red rose
For Go God and my Lady my Queen of Arcadyl
No shield VIII | bear hut this red red rose
IN charge or In rally, In siege In sally
The Paynim shall shrink the red red rose
"Lo' The night is unfoldeu the moonlight is
Pure heart and strong arm. let them 60 with the
10! The night is unfoden the moonlight is
Got, King of my Heart and my Knight of the
brought my song TO close with a -four
ish the mte-strings For a little there
was hush, and then a low murmur arose
that SWelled to a tumult of applause. Kind
races pressed around me, there were kind
voices in my ears; but 1 heard them not
the place had gone from me-and for a
space l was in dreamland of my own
It was the king himself who put a gold
chain round my neck. and as l rose from
before him Chantonnay held out to me q
heavy purse, saying:
The king, my master, knows also to re-
ward q minstrel"
There was that in the tone that Jared
upon me. L drew myself up and answered.:
"Monseigneur. The servants of the King
of France take guerdon but from France"
ChantOnnay shrugged his shoulders as he
put back his purse, and, looking around
him. said, slowly to the king:
Your majesty has a faithful servant, and
a great poet TO celebrate the wedding"
Il fail to understand, monseigncur!'
Il crave your majesty'S pardon. | under
stood that the Prince of Condo had returned
and that your majesty's consent was
given"
There were eager faces enough around
us the nasal tones of the ambassador
drawed themselves out. l glanced around
and saw that Mary gone Chantonnay
spoke slowly and deliberately and his mean
ing was not to be mistaken. The king
flushed with anger.
"Monseigneur!' he said. rs this a jest?"
And Chantonnay went on, Il cat might
with mouse:
"A jest, your majesty! A jest has never
passed my lips in my life"
Heinz l cut in, jingling the bells on my
cap and approac hing the king. "Monseig-
neur speaks the truth, my cousin. No word
of jest has ever passed his lips They have
all come through his nose"
A half-suppressed litter followed the