The Winslow mail., 1900-06-14

Arezzo with my men as soon as possible,
gave Castor the rein and rode out of Rome.
AT Citta del l'ieve got my first news of De
Briconnet. At Cartona he was but two
hours ahead of me, and when on the after
noon of the second day | reined in the stag
gering Castor at the gates of the Villa Ac-
colt, where the king was, saw in the
courtyard dead horse his sides still bleed
ing from the spur marks, and Judged that DE
Briconnet had barely beaten me by head
for all his II hours start. So once again |
had entered the Villa Accolti And as |
sprang to the ground, loosed the girths over
Castor's heaving tanks, and resigned the
reins to a willing groom who led the poor
beast to rest, all the past came back to me
with vivid force, and looked around, al
most expecting to meet again the glances OF
scorn and contempt, to hear once more the
Kisses, the mockery, and the foul reproach
of that day.
The cardinal was right enough when he
said that high junkets were to be held. And
the day seemed to be one OF merry ry-maklng.
Flags were flying from all parts of the villa,
and the wide grounds were full of the toll
lowers of the court, and the townspeople
either watching or engaged in sports OF
wrestling, archery and other games.
CARDINAL"
The sonorous voice of the ushers pealed
this out, and found myself at the entrance
to the gallery leading to the great hall where
had been tried.
"Not here, sir-to the left" My way was
barred by an equerry in violet and gold.
Not So De Brienne, the king receives
these dispatches in person" and Bayard had
linked his arm in mine.
But, my lord!"
81 take the blame," and Bayard, blazing in
full mail, led me through the gallery, whose
sides were lined with the archers OF the
Scottish Guard. Archers in name only now,
and, little as my time was, | could not for
bear glancing at these fine troops, who, al
though few in number, bore an unequaled
reputation for service in the field. The
doors at the entrance to the hall, which were
guarded by two gigantic men-at-arms, were
opened only at fixed intervals to let people
in and out, and by this means an attempt
was made to avoid overcrowding There
were a considerable number of us, and, hav-
ing to go slowly, we had time to exchange
few words.
81 suppose De Briconnet has passed ?"
| asked; che could only have just arrived,
for his horse lies dead at the gates"
81 doubt it. All posts are received by DE
Vesc, whose wrath we are going to brave.
If De Briconnet came in here direct, he was
probably stopped and sent to the seneschaPs
apartments"
"If so, as he was the first conner, he should
present the dispatches" | urged; 81 bear
but duplicates?"
"There is no time to think of that now,"
replied Bayard, and as he spoke the doors
unfolded, and in a crash of music and the
murmur of voices, above which now and
again trlled q peal of clear feminine laugh
ter, we entered the hall. At first we were
unobserved, for the interest of everyone was
gathered to the center of the room, where
to the strains of music a game of chess was
being played with living figures. The king
himself took part in it, and | had good op-
portunity of observing him. Time had not
changed Louis much, although his reckless