The Holly chieftain., 1899-06-02

great denverunce, sire. All Is ready"
Come" said the king, 1--WE have no
time to lose. and II We delay longer that
hothead de Belin will strike the first
blow"
with your majesty's permission I
will make an assault on the rear. 1
said. "On the rear!" exclaimed de Vitry,
whilst the grand master said, "it is i'm
possible!"
But I only pointed to the window,
and Henry laughed.
"Ventrebleu! l understands grent
idea! But, monsieur, take care how you
give away a secret. l shall have no
peace If monseigneur the great master
hears what has happened"
was young enough still to feel my
face grow hot at the approval in the
kings voice, and then without another
word they passed out tramp, tramp,
down the stairs, all except Sully, who
stayed behind for moment.
"Monsieur!" he asked, "what has
happened between you and the king ?"
His majesty has pardoned me-"
"a child might see that. What else? :?
Be quick"
"And has given me orders TO meet YOU
as you enter the Toison dor"
The frown on his face cleared. "Well
answered, chevalier. The king see has
won faithful and discreet friend.
Make your attack when you hear the
petard." Then he, too, turned his broad
shoulders on me and followed the rest.
| AS the sound of the heavy footballs
ceased give n last look at my pistols,
drew In my sword-belt by hole, and.
all booted as / was, essayed the ladder
again.
| had already observed that the sky
light was but light wooden frame
work, with glazing between, and
would need no great effort to break
down-one strong push and the way
was clear before me. So stayed for
minute Of breathless silence, then far
below came sharp, shrill whistle, hur-
ried exclamations from the plotters,
and now the explosion Of the petard.
that made the house rock to and fro
| like tree in the wind.
had no need to force open the sky
| light. The effect of the explosion did
that most effectually for me, and blew
outthe lamps in the room below as well,
| reducing 1t on a sudden to absolute
darkness. There was yell of terror
| from the room, and without a mo-
ment's hesitation swung through the
window and dropped down among the
ccnspirators. They were to a man
crowding to the door, and not one took
any note of my entrance, SO great was
their confusion. followed the rush of
hurrying figures as they passed through
the door into passage In dim light
from fire that burned in . small
CRATE. One end Of this passage was full
| of smoke, against which the bright
flashes of drawn swords were as darts
of lightning. Beyond the smoke, and
below, we could hear the clash of steel,
cries of pain and savage oaths, where
men were fighting and dying hard. As
dashed down the passage, sword in
hand, my only thought to reach the
prisoners room, one of the retreating
figures turned and called out: Quick,
monsieur-follow me-the secret
stairl"
1t was Lain. In the confusion and
semi gloom he had mistaken me for his
chief. l made no answer, but az l
rushed forward struck him on the face
with the hilt OF my sword, and he rolled
over like log.
There l was, right in amongst the
scared plotten, cheek by jowl with
NJ. de Savoy's envoy, and could have
dropped him then and there, but that
my whole heart was in madame's room.
and knew that there were others who
could and would deal with him.
As l elbowed my way through the
press, vainly endeavoring to find the
way to my dear's prison, we reached
landing from which a long stair led
straight up, and here heard the mar
shal's voice, cracked with rage and
fear:
"Lafin! De Gomeron! To me-here!
here!"
Ladies first, MARSHALL must look to
my BRIDE"
Then through the smoke I saw de
Gomeron's tall figure mounting the
stair, and rushed forward to follow
him.
1t was at this juncture that portion
of our own party forced their way to
the landing, and one of them, whose
sword was broken, flung himself upon
me, dagger in hand, shouting: "Death
to traitorsl" 1 had just time to seize
his wrist He tripped sideways over
something that lay very quiet at our
feet, and, dragging me down, we rolled
over and over with the clash of blades
over us. at is I-fool-I, d'Auriac-let
go!" shouted, as he tried to stab at me-
Let go, you'll" sputtered d'Aubus-
sons voice. and we loosed each other. I