Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-01-26


seat whilst I summon my wife-An-
nette! Annette!"
| limped in and sat down, escorted by
expressions of compassion from Pantin,
who mingled these with shouts for An
nette. In little time Nine. Pantin APP
peared, and never have / seen so great
a resemblance between husband and
wife as between these two. There was
the same small, shrivelled figure, the
same clear-cut features, the same white
eyebrows standing out prominently
over the same gray eyes, their height,
walk and tone of voice even were al
most the same. Madame, however, had
an eye to business, which her husband,
although / understood him to be
notary, had not discovered to me, and
whilst he went off to see, as he said, to
the arrangements for the horses, Nine.
Annette struck a bargain with me for
my lodging, which closed with at once,
as | was in sufficient funds to be a little
extravagant. This matter being ar
ranged by my instant agreement to her
terms, she showed me to my rooms,
which were on the second floor, and
commanded 4 good view of the river
face, and, pocketing a weeks rental in
advance, the old lady retired, after rec
ommending me to an ordinary where
the food was excellent and the 'FRONT.'
gnac old.
| spent the remainder of the day do
ing nothing, going forth but to sup
quietly at the Two Ecus, which l found
f., Ao
tin had given it, and returning early to
my rooms.
Jacques came in presently and lit the
tall candles that stood in the grotesque
bronze holders that projected from the
wall, and then drawing the curtains, in
quired if l needed his services further
that night.
81 don't think so, Jacques, but stay!"
"Monsieur."
"How do we stand?"
80, we'll enough, monsieur. Better
really than for long time. We have
three horses and their equipment, al
though one of monsieur's pistols is
broken, and full $50 crowns"
"a perfect fortune-are you sure of
the crowns?"
"As l am of being here, monsieur"
"Well, then, there is something | want
you to do, and attend with both ears"
"Monsieur."
II want you to take the two horses
we got at Evreux and so crowns, and go
back to Ely. Keep ten crowns for your
SELF and give 40 to the smith and his
daughter, and take them with you to
Auriac. The forester's lodge is vacant;
let them live there, or, if they like, there
is room enough in the chateau. ! will
give you letter to Bozon. He wants
help, and these people will be of service
to him. After you have done this sell
one of the horses-you may keep the
proceeds-and come back to me. If am
not here you will get certain news of me,
and can easily find me out-you follow"
Exactly"
"Then, when will you be prepared to
start?"
"As soon as monsieur lie chevalier is
suited with another man as faithful as
l."
"Eh?"
"Sangdieu! monsieur, I shall never
lbIRtb W Nltl tIt Nlltlltl anu Tie OIu
steward, Bozon, said when ! came home
last without you. ] believe if I were to
do so again the good cure would eXcom-
municate me, and Maitre Bozon would
have me flung into the bay to follow. If
| were to go back and leave you alone
In Paris, anything might happen. No!
No! My fathers have served Auriac for
200 years, and it shall never be said that
Jacques Bisson left the last of the old
race to die alone, never"
my friend, you are mad; who the
devil talks of dying?"
Monsieur, l am not such a fool as
perhaps l look. Do l not understand
that monsieur has an affair on hand
which has more to do with rapier than
a ribbon? If not, why the night ride,
why the broken pistol and the blood
stained saddle of Couronne? If mon
seur had come to Paris in the ordinary
way we would have been at court, fiut-
tering it as gayly as the rest, and cock
irg our bonnets with the best Of them,
instead of hiding here like a fox in his
lair"
"Verv well, Jacques; but remember
if l get other temporary help that you
approve of you will have to 60"
in that case, monsieur, it is differ
ent."
"Then it must be your business to see
to this, and now good night"
Good night, monsieur" and he took
himself off.
had made up my mind to lay my in
formation before Sully. That he was in
Paris | knew, having obtained the infor
nation from Pantin, and it was my in
tention 10 repair the next day to the
hotel de Bethune, and tell the minister
all. The night was one of those in
which sleep would not come, not be-
cause the place was strange one. |
was too old a campaigner to lose rest
because the same feather pillow was
not under my head every night; but
because my thoughts kept me awake.
What these were l have already de-
I