Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1900-10-11


thoughts With folded arms he stood
growing from time TO time; He is a
sharp u&g, He is bright" Suddenly
he seized a pistol, stepped behind the
idiot, ana ured at the floor close to his
feet. Iae H&me and smoke leaped to
the ceiling, but the fellow remained
perfectly impassive.
The King laughed.
well, what do you think OF him
now?" he asked Don't you believe he
is really deaf?"
The general was white with anger,
his beard fairly bristled. his heart
was bursting with rage and one could
almost hear its beats intermingled with
the ticking OF the clock. Silence again,
All, said the king. tired Of all these
futile experiments, he is nothing but
a tramp. Who captured him?"
"Kohn Of the Yellow Hussars, your
majesty, a shrewd officer
so much the worse. Look at that
head. It reveals nothing. 1t is a dead
soul before you. There is only little
life in the trembling of the arms and
legs and the froth on his chin" The
king looked disgustedly out Of the win
dow and the aides-de-camp followed
his example.
His majesty rose to leave.
But the general stamped his foot and
exclaimed.
Sire. you are mistaken Don't go!
- ,i
doubt, as our poets say, is more tNan
conviction, it surpasses truth ITSELF !
beg you to remain? This man is moth.
ing more than an abnormally skiIltul
impostor. He acts well. For
you are admirable, sir" he said, turn.
ing to the prisoner, and glazing at him
so closely that the mans eyes reflected
the image of the vindictive old officer.
The fellow made no sign.
Nevertheless, remarked the king,
"everything seems against such pos
sibility. This bewildered, unfortunate
filthy wretch"
The general tore off the idiots collar,
nuttering between his teeth: Its a
good idea. am going to see. VIII he
have taken that precaution, too? He
is courtier, he wouldn't have had
time"
The collar fell in rags, and beneath
the rags the skin was black with dirt.
Sire, insisted the disconnected gen.
eral, 81 demand that this man be de-
tanned on this same spot, and | ask for
the honor of few minutes COnversa-
ton with YOU"
Follow me-" replied the king, They
left the room together.
Il swear that l am not mistaken,
sire!" growled the general.
you are simply obstinate" said the
king,
"No, no! l beg your majesty to have
patience. There are other methods,
one especially"
"Whch?"
"Well, sire, we have a Frenchman to
deal with. The man will not betray
himself. He has studied his role too
we'll for that. You know that heroic
race, spontaneous and frivolous, never
theless >"
They turned down a corridor and
talked with lowered voices. One could
hear only hurried whisperings, then,
after a few moments. the sound of a
carriage being driven rapidly away.
The carriage returned, bringing back
some one, and the king and the bear
again entered tie room where the idiot
continued to drivel pathetically
With the exception of the king, who
leaned back in his chair with a dis
gusted expression on his face, every
one watched the spy, and the king )
incredulity gradually spread to the Off
GERS, secretaries and the very grena-
diers on guard.
During the absence Of the king aud
the general, the poor imbecile had
smashed chair wept and laughed al
ternately and shouted with all the force
of his lungs. A goose-quill stuck in an
ink pot had scared him. They had kept
him in the middle of the room by force,
and, forgetting everything at last he
stood rocking his head gravely from
side to side 1t was enough to make
ones heart ache.
sire" said the general, eve are go
ing to coufound this spy. He is well
known at Versailles as a court gallant.
Now, there is a lady OF HallberstaGt,
who was once lady-in- waiting to the
Queen Lecsynska, and she knows all
the faces Of the French court by heart
I have sent for her, your majesty, and
with your permission we will confront
the marquis with her"
Let her enter"
Two guards opened a door. and the
share" quiet and distinguished, en-
tered softly with a feline step.
Madame, do you know this French
MANI asked the king.
The woman looked at the prisoner
searchingly.
mo. sire"
VERY we'll" broke in the general;
we will call you again If we need you.
Kindly go out of the other corridor"
In order to do this 1t was necessary
to cross the room and pass near the