Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-04-20

house. though I could hear the bolts OF
the entrance door being drawn, as il
some one had entered a moment or so
before we had come up. My own lodg.
ing was, however, different, and
through the glaze of the window we
could see the siclly glare of the lamp
in the shop where monsieur and mad.
anne were no doubt discussing the busi-
ness of the day.
I'VE must quiet my landlord and his
wife" 1 whispered to Vitry as we came
up to the door.
Every WELL" he said, and then
knocked.
The fence, who was alone, himself
opened the door. "Ah, captain" he
exclaimed, eve thought you were lost;
but l see you have friends" He said
no more, for l seized his throat with a
grip of iron, whilst de Vitry laced him
up with his own belt. An improvised
gag put stop to all cutlery, and in
trice he was lying like a log amongst
his own stolen wares.
$50 far so good. De Vitry, you will
stay here. At the first sound of the
grand masters whistle you will answer
IT, and they will know what to do. !
have something to say to NJ. d'Auriac.
Take me to your room, SIR
l bowed, and, lighting a taper that
stood in a holder of nodded brass-a
prize that had doubtless come to my
landlord through one of his clients-led
the way up the rickety stairs, and,
stopping at the door of my chamber,
70 1at ha IN
instant he hesitated, fixing his keen and
searching eyes on me-eyes that flashed
and sparkled beneath the mask that
covered half his features, and then
spoke:
an. d'Auriac, are you still an enemy
of your king?"
could make no answer. I did not
| know what to say-and stood, candle in
hand, in silence. Then Henry laughed
shortly and stepped into the room, and
shut the door as 1 followed, and
turned up the lamp on my table. Then,
facing the king, I said: "Sire, await
your orders
He had flung off his cloak and mask,
and was leaning against the wardrobe,
| one hand on the hilt of his sword, and
at my words he spoke slowly: II de-
sire to see this room in the Toison dor,
and to look upon the assembly that has
met there with my own eyes"
"Now, sire!"
"Yes, now"
"Your majesty, 1t is not now possi.
| ble."
"Ventre St. Gris-not possible!"
Permit me, sire-the only way is by
this window. If your majesty will step
here, you will see the risk of it. I will
go and see if they have met; but con-
| iure you not to make the attempt. The
| slightest accident would be fatal"
DO you think I have never scaled
rock before" he said craning out of
the window. Am I a child, NJ. d'Auriac,
or milletonnerres! Because my beard
Is gray, am l in my dotage? will go,
| strand thank God that for this mo-
ment I can drop the king and be a sim
! pie knight. You can stay behind, mon
sieur, if you like. GO to test the truth
of your words"
Your majesty might save yourself
the trouble. l again entreat you-your
| life belongs to France"
haughtily, mo more prating, please
will you go first, or shall -"
Their was no answer to this. 1t
| flashed on me to call to de Vitry for
aid to stop the king; but one look at
| those resolute features before me con-
vinced me that such course would be
useless. l lowered the light and then
| testing the ends of the ladder again
and again, made the ascent as before.
| Leaning through the embrasure | saw
the dark figure of the king already
| holding on to the ladder, and he fol-
lowed me as agile as cat. Making a
| long arm | seized him by the shoulder,
and with this assistance he clambered
over the parapet and lay beside me.
| One by one we stole up to the sky
light, and the king, raising himself,
glanced in, my eyes following over his
shoulders. For full five minutes we
were there, hearing every word, seeing
every soul. And then the king bent
down softly, and, laying a hand on my
shoulder, motioned me back. 1t was
not until we reached the parapet that
he said anything, and 1t was as if he
were muttering prayer to himself.
When we got back I helped him to
dress. He did not, however, resume his
roquelaure or hat, but stood playing
with the hilt of his sword, letting his
eye run backward and forward over the
vacant space in my room. AT last he
turned to me.
Monsieur, you have not answered a
question put you one evening here"
Sire" 1 answered boldly, sis it my
fault?"
He began to pull at his mustache,
keeping his eyes to the ground and say
ing to himself: "Sully will not be here
for a little, there is time" AS for me, |
took my courage in both hands and
waited. So q half minute must have
passed before he spoke again.
Monsieur, if a gentleman has
wronged another there is only one