Omaha daily bee., 1899-01-29
CHAPTER LIy-Continued.

"Sybilla de Thouars, as you are In my
power, so I bid you work my WILL"
1t was the deep, stern voice OF Marshal
de Retz which spoke. The Lady Sybilla lay
back in a great chair with her eyes closed,
breathing slowly and gently through her
parted lips. Messire GILES stood before her
with his hands joined palm to palm and his
white finger tips almost touching the girls
brow.
Work my will and tell me what you
Bee!"
Her hands were clasped under a light
silken apron which she wore descending
from her neck and caught in a loose loop be-
hind her gown. They were firmly netted one
over the other and clutched between them
was a golden crucifix.
The girl was praying. as one prays who
daTes not speak.
40, God, who didst hang on this cross
keep now my soul. Condemn it afterward,
but help me to keep it this night. Deliver
moo, deliver me from the power Of this
man. Help me to lie. By thy sons blood,
help me to lie well this night"
Where are the three men from the
land Of the Scots? Tell me what you see!
Tell me ALL" the marshal commanded, still
standing before her in the same posture.
Then the voice of the Lady Sybilla began
10 speak, low and even and with that
strange halt at the end of the sentence.
The lord Of Retz nodded. well pleased when
he heard the sound. 1t was the voice Of the
seeress. Oftentimes he had heard it be-
fore and it had never deceived him.
81 see a boat on a stormy sea-" she said.
'"There are three men in it. One Is great OF
stature and very strong. The others are
young men. They are trying to furl the
M J1nt lraAIn
and goes over. ] see them struggling in
the pit OF waters. There are cliffs white
and crumbling above them. They are call
ing for help as they cling to the boat. Now
there is but one Of them left. l see him
trying to climb up the slippery rocks. He
falls back each time. He is weary with
much buffeting. The waves break about
him and suck him under. Now I do not see
the men any more, but l hear the broken
masts OF the boat knocking hollow and dull
against the rocks. Some few shreds OF the
sail are whipped about it. But the three
men are gone!"
Sho ceased suddenly. Her lips stopped
their curiously detached utterance.
But under her breath and deep in her
soul sybilla de Thouars was still praying
as before. And this which follows was her
prayer:
20, God-his devil is surely departed from
him. l thank Thee, God Of truth, for help
ing me to lie!"
1T is WELL" said Giles de Retz, standing
erect with a satisfied air. "All is we'll.
The three Scots who sought my life are
gone to their destruction. Now, Sybilla de
Thouars. | bid you look upon John, duke of
Brittany. Tell me what he does and says"
The level, impassive, detached voice began
again. The hands clasped the cross Of gold
more closely under the silk apron.
II see a room done up about with silver
scallop shells and white painted ermines.
sree a fair. cunning faced, soft man. Be-
hind him stands one tall, spare, haggard-'
Pierre de IHopital, president OF Brittany
One that hates me!' said De Retz grimly
between his teeth. 81 will meet my fingers
about his dogs throat yet! What OF him -
The Lady Sybilla without q CULVER of her
shut eyelids took up the cue.
"He hath his finger on a parchment. He
strives to point out something to the fair
haired man, but that other shakes his head
and will not agree"
The marshal suddenly grew intent and
even excited.
Look closer. S~ybilla-look closer. Can
you not read that which is written on the
parchment? l bid you by all my power to
read it,"
Then the countenance Of the Lady Sybilla
was altered. Striving and blank failure
were alternately expressed upon it.
II cannot! o. l cannot" she cried.
by my power ! bid you. By that which