Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-03-09

Had 1 but taken de Belin's offer-if
Jacques were but with me then.
My foot was in the stirrup, my hand
on the reins, when there was sudden
fash, loud report, and my poor horse
fell forward, houndering in the agony of
death.
l just managed to snatch Claude from
the saddle and staggered back, and then
with a rush half dozen men were on
US. They were masked to a man, and
made their attack in perfect silence;
but as my sword flashed out of my
scabbard | recognized the tall figure of
the capuchin and thrust at him fierce
/ ly, with curse at my folly in coming
alone.
Things like these take a short time in
doing, and should take a shorter time in
telling. | ran one man through the
heart, and with a gasp he fell forward
and twisted himself like snake round
my blade. Then some one flung a cloak
! over my head, l was Overborne by num-
| bers and thrown. Two or three men
| held me down; there was an iron grip at
my throat, and a mans knee pressed
! heavily on my chest. | made a frantic
effort to free myself; the covering
slipped from my face, and l saw it was
the capuchin kneeling over me, a dag
| ger in his hand. His mask had fallen
! from him, and his face was the face of
! Ravaillac.
l could not call out; I was held too
tight; and the villain lifted his poniard
to strike, when a voice, the voice of de
Gomeron, said: Hold! We will put
him out another way"
This is the quickest and surest," an
swered Ravaillac, but the reply was
| brief and stern:
Garry out my orders-gag him and
bring him with u.s."
ITO Babette's?"
"To Babette's there is the oubliette;
| quick, there is no time to lose
| 80, ho!" laughed Ravaillac, that is
| good; NJ. lie Cheyalier will be able to
| drown his sorrows under the Seine;
but he will take a long time to die"
"You villain!" l gasped; but like
! lightning the gag was on me, and then
was blindfoIded. | could see nothing
| of madame, though l tried my utmost
| to get a glimpse of her. Then l was
| bound hand and foot and lifted by
| couple of men. After being carried
short space | was thrust into a litter,
and as this was done l heard faint
cry from Claude; and l groaned in my
heart, for l was powerless to help.
The litter went forward at iolting
! pace, and from the echo of hoofs
| around it | gathered that there were at
| least a dozen mounted men about me.
Sometimes | heard brief order given
| by de Gomeron, and the sound of his
voice made me certain that madame
| was with us. If so there might still be
hope, and 1 lay still and tried to fol-
low our route by the movement of the
party, but | could see nothing; and aft
er a time my brain began to get con-
fused, for we turned this way and that,
up side streets, down winding roads,
until the thing became impossible.
Once we were challenged by the
watch and my captor answered boldly:
M de Gomeron, of the marshal's
guards, with prisoners for the chatelet;
let us pass in the kings name"
| heard the words and strove TO call
out, but the gag was too secure. At
any rate I had learned one thinG-we
were going in the direction of the
chatclet. Who, then, was Babette? |
had heard the name once before on
the night that l lay wounded before La
Fere, and an inspiration seemed TO
come on me; and | was certain that the
night hag and de Gomeron's Babette
were one and the same.
Then we joIted on for about another
half hour-we must have passed the
chatelet by this--when suddenly the
litter took a sharp turn to the right
and after going a little way was put to
the ground.
After half hour or so I was dragged
out and heard woman's voice:
This way, my lambs; the gentle
mems room is below, very far below,
out of all drafts" and she laughed with
the same pitiless note in her voice that
| had heard once before, and knew it
was the murderess.
Down a winding stair we went, and
remained passive, but mentally counted
the steps and the turns. There were IS
steps and three turns, at each of which
there was apparently door, and then
we stopped. There was a iingling of
keys, the harsh grating noise of bolt
being drawn back, and Babette spoke
again:
"Monsieur's apartment is ready-'tis
the safest room in the Toison dor"
Then l was flung in heavily as was and
the door hoited behind me.
CHAPTER XIV.