The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1899-03-30
CHAPTER X.-CoNTINuEp.

WAIT moment" de Belin continued,
"a chamberlain of the court knows most
of its secrets, and can tell you that it is
not such plain sailing as you think for
d'Ayen. The death of that unhappy Ga
brielle has affected the king much. He
is but now beginning to recover, and
Biron, who was hurrying to his govern
ment of Burgundy, has been ordered to
remain in close attendance on the king.
whether Biron knew of the kings in
tentions or not, do not know; but he
has strongly urged the suit of one of his
gentlemen for the hand of madame-it
is that croque-mort de Gomeron, with
all his faults a stout soldier. 1t is said
that the marshal has even pressed de
Gomeron's suit with madame, and that,
rather than marry d'Ayen. and clinging
to any chance for escape, she has agreed
to fall in with his views. This heard
from the vidame, and Chevalier de Latin
good enough authority"
''One alternative is as bad as the
other"
There is no satisfying some people.
Why, man, don't you see il would be the
best thing in the world for you If it was
settled in favor of our friend from the
Camargue."
THAT lowborm scoundrel?"
"Mon ami, we don't know anything
about that. Give the devil his due; he is
a better man than d'Ayen. know there
is i'll blood between you, and wonder
that some has not been split before
now"
''There will be before this is ended"
"Tenez! Let but the king agree to de
Gomeron's suit-and he is hard pressed,
tell you, for Sully even is on Biron's
side in this matter, and after that"
"What?"
"Henry's mind will have turned an
other way. There are many who would
like to play queen, and few like Mes
danes de Guerchville and Bidache."
But in any case, Belin, 1 lose the
game"
you have become very clever in your
retreat, my friend. You win your game
if de Gomeron is accepted and then"
"And then, my wise adviser?"
"She need not marry the Camargue.
You can run him through under the
Lines in the Tuileries-wed madame,
and grow cabbages at Auriac ever after
Pouf! The matter is simple!"
Miserable as l was / fairly laughed
out at Belin's plot. Nevertheless, the
hopefulness of the man, his CHEEKY tone
and happy spirit had their effect upon
me, and If il turned ont that the king
was wavering there was more than a
straw of hope floating down stream 10
me. My courage grew also when / put
together Sully's words with Belin's
news that BiroD was detained by the
side of the king. 1t surely meant that
this was done TO prevent the marshal
doing mischief elsewhere. If so, was
nevertheless on the horns of dilemma,
for by telling of the plot / would. if my
storywere believed, make matters hope
less, and advance d'Ayen's cause to the
misery of the woman loved.
On the other hand, by keeping silent
/ was in an equally hard case. My
pledge TO Sully prevented me from TAX
ing Belin fully into my confidence. and
hardly knowing what ! was doing, /
poured myself out another full goblet
of the chambertin. and drained it at a
draft.
Excellent" ,"said Beln, "there is moth
ing like Burgundy to steady the mind;
in another moment you will be yourself
again and think as do in this matter.
Courage. man! Pick your heart up. A
fortnight is a devil of a long time,
and"
M. lie Baron d'Ayen," and Vallon
threw open the door. aud atits entrance