Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-04-13

chief waved twice from the window and
was then withdrawn. turned back into
my room, and now that | was certain
she was there, my impatience at being
penned up as | was became almost in
supportable, and Heaven alone knows
how held myselfin srom making a dash
for it, and risking all on the venture.
To cut the matter short, it wanted
but few minutes to sundown when, to
my relief, l saw cloaled figure l
could not recognize step out of the Toi-
son dor, and after giving a few orders
to the guards, pass briskly down the
street They in their turn went into
the house, and at last the road was clear.
| hesitated no further. and hurried
down the stairs.
Although | was not in a frame Of
mind to observe what was going on
around me, / soon became conscious
that one of those sudden fogs which
extend over the city at this period of
the year had arisen, as it were, out of
nothing, and in the course of a few min
utes l was compelled to slacken pace
and pick my way slowly, and with the
greatest caution in regard to land
marks, for l could not risk losing my
way again. The fog was not a thick
one, but it was sufficient, united with
the coming evening, to almost blur out
the streets and houses, and make the
figures of passers-by loom out like large
and indistinct shadows. Carefully as
| had tried to impress the way on my
memory, / hesitated more than once
as to the route | should take, and it
was with something like a sigh of re-
lief that | found myself at last behind
st. Martins, whose spire lowered above
me, tall, gray phantom. Here halt
ed for a moment to see if one of the
few shadows that fickered now and
then through the haze might give some
signal by which l might recognize Pan
tin. 1t was in vain and determined to
wait no longer | set off at a round pace,
when | was suddenly arrested by hear
ing the rich tones of a voice singing:
Frere Jacques, dormez-vous?
Dormez-Vous, dormez yous?
The clear notes rang out through the
fog, bringing with them a hundred rec
objections of the time when / had last
heard the chorus. And the voice? That
was not to be mistaken. 1t was de
Belin, or else his ghost. Without mo-
ment's hesitation | sang back the lines,
advancing at the same time in the di-
rection in which | had heard the voice.
had not gone so PAGES when | saw two
tan shadows approaching me, and at
the same time heard the verse again.
"Lisois?" | called out.
at is he" heard de Belin say.
Then the shadows stopped for mo-
ment, and another and slighter figure
joined them. Finally one came for
ward, and when within yard or so Of
me spoke:
"D'Auriac-is il you?"
"Yes-I was fastening to you. Man,
I have discovered all"
"Morbleau!" exclaimed the compte,
'the chanson was happy thought, else
we had missed you in this fog"
rs Pantin here? We have not
moment to lose"
He is. 1t was he who guided us
here. ! have brought a friend with me-
Do not ask his namf; but speak freely
before him and tell us exactly what
you have discovered" With these
words he took me by the arm and led me
up to the two. In the shorter, there
was no difficulty in recognizing Pantin.
What with the mist, the mask of his
face and the roquelaure that enveloped
him to the ears, could make out moth
ing of the stranger, who did not even
answer my salutation except by slight
inclination of the head. | need net say
that | wasted no time, but laid the mat
ter before them and wound up with
And now, gentlemen, we are three
swords; let Pantin hasten and bring
half dozen of the complies people, and
| guarantee that we not only free mad
anne, but take the whole brood of
vipers."
These cards won't win," said de
Belin I'VE must have more witnesse-
than ourselves, who are known to be
enemies of the marshal. The king plays
at More's this evening. He is like to be
there now, or else very soon, for he is
bound on a frolic tonight. We will go
straight there. Villeroi and Sully are
both to be in attendance, and also the
marshal"
THE marshal will not be there" l
interrupted.
''If SO l wager the king asks for him,
and will take it on my head to explain.
In half an hour we could be back with
Sully and Villeroi, and then the game is
ours. Do you not agree, monsieur?"-
and he turned to the stranger. All the
answer was another grave inclination
of the head.
Come" went or de Belin, slipping
his arm into mine, put yourself in my
hands, d'Auriac, and l pledge you sue
cess. My God!" he broke off suddenly
TO think we should win SO com
pletely."
There was so much in what he said
that l agreed without demur, and Belin
hurried me onwards, the stranger and
Pantin following n few steps behind.
AS we went on Belin whispered: ASK