Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-02-02
O keen his heart in a Milan corselet. ]

out pledging himself to anything in re-
turn, and that he held me as safely as
cat does a wounded mouse. To save
my own skin by quitting Paris was
thought / can honestly aver that never
came to me. 1t could not with the all
pervading presence of my love for ma
dame. 1t was for her sake l was here,
and for her sake / would go cheerfully
to the block if need be; but it would
not be without try to save her, and if
the worst came to the worst | should
let all France know the infamy of her
king.
MY doubts in regard to madame's
safety were set at rest about three
weeks after my interview with Sully.
One evening Pantin knocked at my
door, and, on my bidding him enter,
came in with many apologies for dis
turbing me.
"But, chevalier," he added, 81 have
news that monsieur will no doubt be
glad to hear"
Then let us have it, Maitre Pantin,
for good news has been a stranger to
me for long"
"It is this: Our friend Palm arrives
in Paris tomorrow or the day after"
And stays here?"
"No, for he comes in attendance
Madame de la Bidache, and will doubt
less live at the Narenne."
1half turned for a moment to the win
dow to hide the expression of joy on my
face | could not conceal otherwise.
Were it daylight might have been able
to see the trees in the gardens of the
Rue Varenne; but it was night, and the
stars showed nothing beyond the white
spectral outline of the Tour de Nesle
beyond the Malaquais.
Indeed, I am glad to hear this" l
said, as 1 looked round once more,
Though Paris would be dull for
madame"
Not so, monsieur, for the king comes
back tomorrow, and the gossips say
that before another fortnight is out
there will be another maitresse en- titre
at the Louvre. Ciel! How many of
them there have been from poor La
Fosseuse to the d'Estrees."
"Maitre Pantin, forget myself. Will
you help yourself to the Frontignac?"
"a hundred thanks, monsieur lie che
Waller. Is there any message for Palm?
Pouf! But l forget. What has hand
some young spark like you got in COM
mon with an old graybeard? You will
be at court in a week. and they will all
be there, bright-eyed d'Entragues,
Mary of Guise, Charlotte de Givry,
and"
"NIaitre Pantin, these details of the
court do not interest me. Tell Palm |
would see him as soon as he arrives.
Ask him as favor to come here. He
said you were discreet"
"And | know that monsieur le cheval-
ier is likewise" With a quick move
ment of the hand the short, gray goatee
that Pantin wore vanished from his
chin, and there was before me not the
face of the notary, but that of Annette.
She laughed out at the amaze in my
look, but quickly changed her tone.
"Maitre Palm said you were to be
trusted utterly, monsieur, and you see
I have done so. Your message will be
safely delivered, and l promise he will
see you-but have you not other?"
"None," l answered, little bitterly.
Il have, however, and it is this"
and she placed in my hand little
packet. "Monsieurmay open that at his
leisure" and she turned as if to GO.
zone moment--I do not understand.
What is the reason of this masquer-
ade?"
"Only this, that my husband will ap-
pear to have been at the same time at
the Quarter du Marais as well as the
Faubourg St. German. l would add
that monsieur would be wise TO keep
indoors as he is doing. We have found
out that the house is being watched.
Goodnight, monsieur" and with
ned of her wrinkled face this strange
woman vanished.
appeared in truth to be the sport of
mystery, and it seemed as if one of
these sudden gusts of anger to which |
was subject was coming on me. | con-
trolled myself with an effort, and with
turn of my fingers tore open the pack
ct, and in it lay my lost knot of ribbon.
For a moment the room swan round
me and | became as cold as ice. Then
came the revGlsion, and with trembling
fingers | raised the token to my lips and
kissed it 100 times. There were no
written words with it; there was moth
ing but this little worn bow; but it
told a whole story to me, that ribbon
that Marescot said was hung too high
| for De Breuil of Auriac; and God alone
knows how | swore to guard it, and
| how my heart thanked him for His
| goodness to me. For ten long minutes
[ saw myself as | was, prescribed and
| poor, almost in the hands of powerful
enemies, striving to fight an almost
hopeless cause with nothing on my side
and everything against me.
When my dinner, very simple one,
was finished, l took my way to the Rue
de Bourdonnais, this time mounted on
| Couronne, with Jacques well armed on
| the sorrel
|