The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1901-06-27
100 oooo o0oo oGoooc3o oCoooc
: The QUEENS
ROSES Ss &e =,
By S. Levett Yeats
Copyright, 1901, by S. Levett Yeats
20 oCao oG0o oG9o oGoo oG0o oG'
CIIAPTEI, III.

THE WORD OF A PRINCE.
The apartments assigned to me in
virtue of my office lay In tho wing Of
the Louvre looking toward the old
chapcls Of st. Thomas, st. Nicaise and
the Qulnzc Vingts. A balcony jutted
out from my window, and sitting there
one could see below the strange mass
of gray and brown buildings that
clung like wasps' nests to the walls
of the palace, to be matched only In
suualor by the high and tottering
houses, crowding and jostling each
other on the opposite side Of the mar
row street. Here projecting gallery
and OyCrhanging turret formed al ar
cadc, beneath which the grass thrust
its slender sword blades between tho
Green and slippery stones OF the pave
mrnt. and 1t was cool and dark as n
cellar, even on the hottest days In
SUMMER.
IT was to this refuge l had escaped
from the Stitling throng Of the court.
When Lorgnac had stepped forward to
accept the ambassadors wager, l felt
as II load was removed from my
heart He looked SO calm and con-
iidrnt that ] was sure he had perform
cd his taSk-that the prince had quit
ted Paris and that Chantonnay's
scheme would miScarry. Yet, never
thrlrSS, ! lonGrd to be alone. and, talk
Ing my opportunity, which came easily
enough, | had slipped away to my bal
cory. here TO enjoy the cool evening
hrrrZc coming in puflS across the Seine
here TO think and to argue myself
-, a Nv, bpll r1,nt
YOU will.
rumpon sat on the baluStrade and
locked at me. Tho creature had an In
t"llgrnrc almost human. He under
stood voice and gesture perfectly, and
lad taught him to do things that were
scarcely credible. There as he sat,
glHvrly surveying me with unwinking
black eyes, it seemed to me that ho
WAS reading my inmoSt thoughts and
was showing; Il silent sympathy for me
by sitting stu as stone, indulging nci-
th"r in gnmhol nor antic, nor even
touching the little heap Of nuts that lay
on II platter beside him.
SO uuaintly grave was the little beast
that he distracted me in spite OF my
self, and. rising, | approached him, say
ins, with n laugh:
'Nvu, lninr oracle! Can you now
show mo Il way out Of my trouDlcs?"
For answer he crcpt closer to me,
and we two looked down into the yard
beneath, where Il little doorway lud
into the Rur st. Thomas dc Louvre.
The doorway and the yard were uScd
as passage To and from the street by
the lower servants Of the palace and it
was ordinarily open until close upon 10
at night In summer. An archer was on
guard there, and his tall figure caught
my eye rs he paced backward and for
ward ut his post. l stood for a minute
or so watching him, when l heard a
step behind me and my name called
out. l turned and saw Lorgnac.
IL knocked twice." lie said. "but you
did not answer, SO l came in, as
guessed you would be cloud gathering
here"
"Therc IS some wine in the flask
there" l answered, pointing to little
table where Il tlagOn Of D'Arbois stood
but he shook his head and took q place
beside me, running his hand gently
over pompon's fur.
"Well," said, "has Chantonnay paid
you?"
"Not yet" he laughed, ::but ne will
.onight."
$50 the prince has goneT'
eyes. / found him in the house and
told him how things were. All thai
WAS needed was n horse, and I gave
him mine."
equlpmeht If there IS Var, WHi al and do fanc fyGS
the peace was broken today"
"Oh, NJ. de Chantonnays pistole
will provide thatw
Hein! But YOU arc quick In COMING
back after seeing the prince OFF,
Il did not see him off. Be quiet. lit
tie beast" And he put Pompon on on
side.
"Not see him Off"
mo. l was on duty and could not
He gave me his word that he woul,
start In an hour, and by this ther,
should be couple Of leagues betwccl
him and Paris"
"lf they pursue"-
"Who Is to pursuc2 And they vii
be fleet hoofs that will overtake Car
tOuchc."
'l'ut If he is not gomez"
'lmpoSNblc! He knows the risk"
lh"n, | said, 'nothng remains, ole
friend, but the wars for you and my
pears for me. | should like to soc
BcSnc once more"
lie made no answer and we botl
leaned together over the balustradt
nnd looked down into tho yard. 1t was
dusk now, and the archer appeared
W TFmT
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