Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-29

his deep. inscrutable eye droop once upon
his master and his spare and sinewy wrists
twitched as he held his arms by his side.
He seemed upon the point of dealing ducal
dignity a box on the ear both sound and
improving.
IL am the Lord James OF Douglas and
Avondale." said the leader of the Scots. with
grave dignity, 'and | had three years ago
the honor Of breaking a lance with you in
the tilt yard of Poitiers, when in that town
your grace met with the king of France and
the duke of Burgundy"
At this John of Brittany looked up quickly.
II do not remember you" he said. ''ani
| never forget faces. Even Pierre will
grant me that"
your grace may possibly remember,
then, the dint in your shoulder that you got
from the point of a spear, caused by the
breaking of the links Of your shoulder
piece!"
A light sprang into the dukes eyes.
What" he cried, you are the young Scot
who fought so well, and kept his shield up
all day over the door OF a common sergeant's
tent, having no pavilion of his own. till 1t
was all over dints, like an ale house
tankard?"
"As were also the knight who dinted it,
grimly commented Pierre de IHopital.
The Lord James of Avondale bowed.
~ am that knight he said, quietly and
with gravity.
But cried the duke, 81 knew not that
you were of Douglas. That is a great name
at Poitiers, and had we known your race
and quality we had not been SO ready with
our shield-rapping!"
"At that time" said James Douglas, IT
had not the right to add of Douglas to my
titles. But during this year my father hath
succeeded to the earldom and estates"
"What-then is your father duke OF
Touraine?" cried the duke of Brittany, much
astonished.
"Nay, my lord" said James Douglas, with
some little bitterness. THE king of France
hath caused that to revert to himself by the
success which attended a certain missioC
executed for him in Scotland by his cham
berlain, Marshal de Retz, concerning whom
we have come from far to speak with you"
"Ah, my cousin, Gilles!" creid Duke John.
"He is not a beauty to look at, but he is
a brave man, our GILES. l heard he had
gone to Scotland. I wonder if he contrived
to make himself as popular in your land as
he has done in ours"
With a certain grave severity to which
Pierre de lHopital nodded approval, the
Lord James replied. at the instigation OF
the king of France and Louis the Dauphln,
he succeeded in numbering my two cousins,
William and David of Douglas, and In
carrying over hither with him to his own
country their only sister, the little countess
of Galloway-thus roofing out the greatest
house in Scotland to the hurt OF the whole
realm
But to your profit, my lord, James OF
Ayondale,' commented the hollow voice OF
Pierre de lHopital, speaking over his
masters head.
The face Of James Douglas nusheo
quickly. -, ..
"No, messire,' he answered with s"itt
heat mot to my prolific my infinite loss.
For ! loved my cousin. | honored NM anu
for his sake would have fought to the DEATH
Tor his sake have l renowned my own
father that begat me. And for his sake I
Stand here to ask for justice to the little
maiden. the last of his race, to whom DS
tight belongs the fairest province OF MS
dominions. No, messire, you are wrong IN
oil this have l had no profit, but only IN
finite hurt"
pierre de rHopital bowed low. There was
a pleased look on his face that aimos'
amounted to a smile ia
81 crave your pardon, my lord, ne saiu'
Chat is well said, indeed, and ne s d
gentleman who speaks IT,.
",yo If is indeed we'll said, and he had
Won shrewdly on the hip that time, Pierre
cried Duke John. Il wish he could teach
me TINS cleverly to answer you wnen you
croak." ..,.
az Won had as good a cause, my loru'
said the president Of Brittany TO 'he uuhe'
.it were not difficult to answer he Us
sharply! But we are keeping these s ~
men from declaring the purpose vi 'ne'
journey hither' ,u.or ,nv,-
The Lord James waited no iur"'ei inv
tation. norcb-
mont in his hand, the same he haa reeen.eu
- 49, lady Sybilla, "to denounce GILES
do Retz and to accuse him OF many cruei
"a urrighteous acts such as have never
hoon done in any kingdom. | accuse MN Oh
w. murder of over 400 children or all ages
and bo.b sexes in circumstances OF unparai-
,o,ed harbarity. | am ready TO LEAD you 10
Tho nlaces where lie t6eir bodies, some OIL
them burned and their ashes cast INTO the
ditch. others charred and thrown lnto un-
used towers. / have here Names clrcum-
stances. evidence enough to taiht anu ~
demn a hundred monsters such as Gllies ue
Retz!' A..
"Ab give me tue paper came the
r,pcous voice of the president OF briltan!'
reaching a bony hand over his masters heaa
to seize 1t. q.
The Lord James advanced and handing l.
IN him said: "Messire, | would nave you
know that a copy of this is already IN the
hands of a trusty person in each OF inc
towns and villages which are named mere
and from which children have been leo 10
cruel death by him whom ] have accused
Cilles de Retz, marshal of France!
The president of Brittany nodded as ne
almost snatched the paper in his eagerE!ess
to peruse 1t. .a.
..rrbe point is we'll taken" he said, AS
irs,lv indeed as If you knew my lord oil
Brittany as well as, for instance hio"
him. ~
The duke was evidently He
shufled his feet more than ever on the ulas
and combed his struggling fair peara WIN
soft. white, tapering fingers
.,This is wild and wholly absurd he sald,
without. however, looking at James Douglas;
"our cousin Giles is in ill-odor with tho
oommonallty. He is a philosopher and
makes smells with bottles. But there Is
neither harm nor witchcraft in 1t. He Is
only irving to discover the eliXer OF life. so
the silly folk think him a wizard. ! know
him better. He is a brave soldier and my
good cousin. will not have him molested.'
"My lord speaks of kinship,' created the