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


You seei am going to tell you in my
own way. But first must ask you Ques-
ton"
"And that is?''
why are you. a cadet of the Regiment
of Aunis, not with the army?"
He blushed a little and stammered:
THE peace of VauceHes still stands"
And yet we are terrifying Marienbourg
and ROCroy, and the admiral is levying
forces openly in Picardy!"
What has this to do with the matter in
hand?"
Wait and see. 1 will not be long now
in coming TO my point"
Then come to it! 1 tell you every mo-
ment IS Of import"
Hasten slowly, Lorgnac! l have told
you VIII: we are doing, and now for the
others If there is war we will have Spain
and England against us, for Mary of Eng
land viii side with her husband
"YeS-ytS"
We'll, mon ami! You are aware that
England is open to attack from Scotland.
Beaton and large embassy are coming to
France. You can see that an alliance be-
tween France and Scotland-say if the
dauphn were to wed the young queen of
Scots would make us strong"
~ cs''-nis voice was very grave.
My thoughts had run far beyond my
speech by this. and | began to tremble at
the end % which they Were leading me. !,
who had begun this talk in an idle spirit
Of mischief, was now being pricked by my
own pms.
Fer a moment l remained silent. and
Lorgnac s hand closed upon my arm like
a wise.
Go on" he said, his voice husky. He
seemed to be moved powerfully by some in
ward feeling.
We'll. 1t would be a great thing for
Spain to prevent such a marriage, would 1t
not?'
He said nothing, but kept staring ct me,
and / went on:
And now. Lorgnac''-my own words
came slowly and neutrality-suspicious. that
the Spdniard could show there was truth
in story that was whispered here and
there some weeks ago. there would be
scandal, and that marriage could not be-
WHAT do YOU mean?' His hand drop
ped from my arm as he spoke. He pre-
tended not to underst and, though he knew
well enough He rose from his seat and
faced me, and l rose, too, and bent toward
him.
you know what I mean, Blaise de Lorg-
nc. If it could be shown that Condo hur-
RED back from NaTienbOurg and had Sc
cret meeting say under my old oak tree,
with the Queen Of Scots
you spy" he said You have watched.
| could have stru X him; but l held my
self in, for he was MY friend, and for the
moG.ent was mad.
It's you who should wear the cap and
bells. Lorgnac-rnt !. am no spy. Yet
| lave watched the watcher. The secret
is known and c Aranon is at this moment
giving it 10 the Spanish ambassador
d Aramun. That rHifian!'
Yes"
And did you not stay him? Made no eff
fpTt to stop him.
I have only just found out the impQr--
lance Of the thing myself. Besides, did
exactly what you asked me to 90. You
made no mention Of saying people.
He reflected for 4 moment, moment
only. for + ever there was man of action
it was Lorgnac. Then he spoke.
'De Besme, can | count on your old
friendship? It is not for myself ] ask, but
FC, . a #
and queen
Thee was no need to mention names.
Unfo-s God perfectly, and for her sake
would have willing. y given my life twice
over But as [ looked at Lorgnac's burn
ing eager eyes, | read in them the same
secret that | kept locked in my heart. He,
too! All, was there a man who DID not
love her? l answered him gravely.
My head and arm are with you-to the
end. And, now. do not waste time, or give
me half confidence. What am l to do for
you?'
Il must get the prince from Paris at
once: but he is penniless and dare not go
for money where he Will be known, and
The laughed bitterly-"have but brace
Of Henr.s."
Where is the prince now?'
IN my house"
I'm the Rue Tire Boudin?'
Precisely. l have no other"
Il know that, and should not have asked.
No one knows he Is there?"
Il keep no servant, and you and alone
know of this"
so that if Condo can slip out Of Paris
there Will only be d'Aramon's word to say
he was here"
Exactly"
Then, mon cher, things are not SO black
as they look"
belt and handed Il to LorgnaC, saying:
There are 40 fat crowns there. They
will carry the prince to Marienbourg."
DE Bcsme, you are indeed a friend
ArH I he = q added.
4 shall get him off at once, and you must
let her know he is gone"
II"
Yes. Manage it somehow. I have no
chance of speaking to her. but you have
hundred opportunities. A word-a hint will
Very well. And now hasten! I will do
1T is check to Spain, think" he said,
with a laugh, and turned to go, but 1
stayed him.
And our eyes met. Then / said slowly:
My friend, when this is over you had
better seek the war, and l shall go back
to grow pears at Besme.'
He made no answer, but our hands met
in a warm clasp. If | had let him see that
1 knew his heart l had also let him read
mine So we stood for a moment, and then,
wriuging my hand he went off without an
other word.
l watched him until he was lost to view
behind the haWthorns, and then, calling
POmpOn. look my WdtCn DdCK TO the
Louvre. / made a little detour, passing
my oak and reached the ivy-grown wall,
where d little wicket led to the ladies' ter
race. | had pass-key given to me by the
king himself. and. opening the gate, crossed
the terrace and FASTENED TOWARD the Pa
Vilion de Roy. where the court was held.
This faced the river In all the elegance Of
its modern construction. 1t had been built
on the site Of the Great Tower, the pride
Of his ancestors, which Francis, the ate
king had demolished TO make room for his
new structure.
| went up the crowded stairway. POmpOn
at my heels. exchanging a word with one,
a jest with another At the archway lead
ing into the audience rooms the throng was
so great that for the moment, | could find
no passage. / looked round and called out:
Way, Way. For the king of the cap and
bells"
There was laugh, and merry voice
called out:
There is room for your majesty here
and for your prime minister, too
| looked at the smiling eyes and the
curved, laughing lips and PompOn and
were by the speakers side in a moment. 1t
was Mile. de Folk, whom used to call
the PhOeniX-the same for whom poor La
val jousted in scarlet armDr at the last
tourney held by the late king.
so your majesty has not attended the
ill AID Gh.A sily hon