The Holly chieftain., 1899-05-26

standing round table, at which sut |
the king engaged at play with N. de
Bassompierre. Neither the king nor
Bassompierre. who seemed absorbed
in the game, took the least notice of our
entrance, nor did they seem In the
least disturbed by the constant laugh
ter and converse that went on. The
Others, however. stopped, and then
burst out in Joyous greetings Of de
Belin, and very naughty glances at me.
In the meantime the king played OIL,
taking NO notice of anyone, bis beaked
nose dropping lower toward his chin us
he lost one rouleau after another to
Bassompierre.
"Ventre st. Gris!" he exclaimed at
last, was ever such luck? At this rate
l shall not have q shirt on my back in
half an hour"
II the marshal were only here" said
Sully. I'VE could start on at once, sire,
Instead of risking any more. see de
Belin has brought our guide"
Eyes; where is Biron? / am sick of
this" And the king, who was q bad
loser. rose from his seat impatiently, at
the same time forgetting to hand over
the last rouleau of pistoles he had lost
to Bassompierre, and thrusting them
back into his pocket with an absent
gesture.
As II in answer to his question, the
door opened, admitting the slight fig
ure and handsome face of de Gle.
Where is the marshal? Where is BIZ
ron?" asked ten voices in a breath.
YES, NJ de Gie," put in the king,
"where is Biron?"
"Sire, the marshal is indisposed. He
has begged me TO present his excuses
and to say he is too i'll to come tonight"
and as he spoke saw de Gie's jeweled
fingers trembling, and his cheek had
lost all color.
This is sorry news to spoil gay
evening" said the king; and the master
general, pulling comfit box from his
vest pocket, toyed with It In his hand as
he followed. "Biron must be Ill indeed
to stay away, sire. What does your maj
esty think2 Shall we begin our ram
bles by calling on monseigneurT
"The very thing, grand master; we
will start at once"
"But, sire, the marshal is too i'll to
see anyone. even your majesty" said de
Gle, desperately. and with whitening
lips.
thought l heard de vitry mutter
Traitor" under his thick mustache.
but the guardsman parried my glance
with an unconcerned look. There was
silence of half a minute at de Gie's
speech, and the king reddened to his
forehead.
III 1t is as you say, M. le vicompte, !
know the marshal too. well not to feel
sure that there are two persons whom
he would see were he dying-which God
forbid-and one of the two Is his king.
Grand master, we will go. but"-and his
voice took q tone of sharp command,
and his eye rested first on de Gle and
then on the figure of tall cavalier, at
whose throat flashed the jewel Of the St.
Esprit-"but must first ask NJ. de Wit
ry to do his duty"
As for me, was dumb with astonish-
ment. and half the faces around me
were filed with amaze. Then de Wit
rvs voice broke the stiffness.
my lord Of Epernon, your sword
and you, too, NJ. lie Vicompte.'
a sarcastic smile and handed the
weapon to the captain Of the guard;
but we could hear the clicking of the
buckles as de Gie's trembling fingers
tried In vain to unclasp his belt. 80
agitated was he that de vitry had to
assist him in his task before It was ac-
complished.
The king spoke again In the same
grating tones:
IN. de Bassompierre and you. de Luy-
mes. leave the prisoners in your
charge. In the meantime, messieurs.
we will slightly change our plans. I
shall not go myself to the marshars
house; but l depute you, grand master,
and these gentlemen here, all except
de Vitry, WHO comes with me, to repair
there In my name. Shall n. de Biron
not be able to see you, you will come
to me-the grand master knows where"
"You will be careful. sire" said Sully.
"MordIeu! Yes-go, gentlemen"
was about to follow the others, but
Belin caught me by the arm us he
passed out. "Stay where you are," he
whispered, and then he waited until the
footsteps died away along the corridor,
the king standing with his brows bent
and muttering to himself:
"f 1t were not true--if II were not
true"
Suddenly he reused himself. "Come.
de Vitry-my mask and cloak, md you,
too. sir" he said, turning on me with
harsh glance. He put on his mask. drew
| the collar Of his rOnuelaurc IN tn his
cars, and In moment recognized the