Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1899-01-05
"a "a. monsIeur De compte.-

> -t--' - - 49,
Monsieur"
send him up here, and Bisson. too
Vallon bowed and vanished as | said
Il do not know how 10 thank you
Belin."
'Pouf! a mere bagatelle. | thought
we were going to have a little amuse.
ment in the gardens of the Tuileries.
know of a perfect spot for a meeting
ca! cal" and he lunged twice in quartz
at an imaginary adversary. As he came
back from the second thrust. he said:
by the way, must tell yon-but here
they are" and Ravaillac came in, fol
lowed By Jacques, WALTON bringing ur
the rear.
As they entered / recognized the man
who was with Jacques and WALTON on the
Malaquais, and Belin, turning to
Jacques, said quietly: "Bisson, / am go
ing 10 lend Ravaillac here TO your mas
ter, to take your place whilst you 60
away to Ely. pledge You my word
that he is a good sword"
'rrue enough. N. lie Compile. We were
amusing ourselves with a pass or two
below. and he touched me twice to my
one, and as your lordship answers for
him, am content"
"That is well. most excellent Bison!
Ravaillac, you understand? Here is the
Cheyalier d'Auriac, your new master,
who will remain such until he sends
you back to me"
Rayaillac bowed without reply. He
was quite young, barely 20. and very tail
and thin; yet there was great breadth
of shoulder, and / noticed that he had
the framework of powerful man; his
appearance was much beyond that OF
his class; but there was sullen fe-
roeity ia his pale faee-the ewes were
set too close together. and the mouth
too large and straightly cut 10 please
me. Nevertheless, [ was practically
bound to accept Belin's recommends
ton. and after few orders were given.
the men were dismissed.
What was / about To say before
these men came in?' asked Belin.
Pm afraid cannot help"
"Of course not-o, yesl / recollect.
was about 10 tell you how got RIA
saillsc's service. lay you five crowns
to tester you would never guess"
"You have already told me with your
wager. You must have won him"
Exactly. You've hit it, and il was in
this way. About three months ago ]
was returning to Paris, attended but by
WALTON, and with only small sum with
me. At an inn at Neuilly, met an ae-
quaintance, Baron d'Ayen, one of the
last Of the mignons and confirmed
gambler"
II know him" / said, my heart begin
ming to beat faster at the very thought
of d'Ayen.
''Then, il makes the story more in
terestiug. We dined together, and then
had turn at the dice, with the result
that d'Ayen won every ecu that had
1T would be pity to stop now he
said. as rose declaring myself broken.
suppose we play for your horse.
compteY
"'No, thanks. | replied; luck is
against me, ANA have no mind 60 foot
il to my hotel Bnt IN tell you what.
haze rather taken fancy TO your
man. since ] once saw bin handle a
rapier. III lazy WALTON against him;
what do you cali hin..'
"'Rayailac. He is of Angouleme and
has been a Flagelant. viii he suit
your
~ shall have to find that out. Do
you accept the stakesp
Mon ami. | would play for my soul
IN this cursed inn.'
Very well, then. throw
The upshot of il was that Won, and
from that moment the blind goddess
smiled on me, aud after another hours
play left d'Ayen with nothing but the
clothes he stood in, What he regretted
most was the loss of his valise. i'm which
lay some cosmetiques he valued beyond
price; he got them from Golfer.
earned his undying friendship by Civ
ing him back his valise. lent him his
horse. which I had won. and came of
with so pistoles and a new man. OF
course. you know that d'Ayen has fallen
on his feet?''
II do not"
"rll tell you. Where the devil
have you been burying yourself all
these months? You must know that
the king is looking forward for another
Liancourt for n LADY, whom he destines
for a very high place. and d'Ayen is &c
be the happy man. II is an honor he
fully appreciates and he has been kind
enough to ask me to stand as one OF III /
sponsors at the wedding, which, by The
kings orders. comes off in a fortnight /
And YOU have promised ?"
''Yes, il was little amusement |
They say. however, that madame Is
furious. and that her temper is worse
than that OF Mile. d'Entragues, who, by /
the way. literally flung herself at the
king without avail. Her time will com, 4
soon enough. no doubt-but, good gra'
cious, mani What is the matter? Yor 4
are white as a sheet"
''It is nothing, Beiin-Yes. IL Is more