Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-06-18


woman and queen"
There was no need to mention names.
1 understood perfectly and for her sake
would have willingly given my life
twice over. But as looked at Lor-
gnacs burning, eager eyes l read in
them the same secret that kept lock-
ed in my heart. He too! All! Was
there man who did not love her? l
answered him gravely:
"My head and arm are with you to
the end. And now do not waste time
or give me half condolences. What am
to do for you"
II must get the prince from Paris at
once. But he is penniless and dare not
60 for money where he will be known,
and I"-he laughed bitterly-"have but
q brace Of Henris."
"Where is the prince nowT
"In my house."
"In the Rue Tire Boudin"
Precisely. have no other"
II know that and should not have
asked. No one knows he Is there"
~ keep no servant, and you and l
alone know this"
so that If Conde can slip out of
Paris there will only be D'Aramon's
word to say he was here"
Exactly"
"Then, mon cher, things are not so
black as they look"
With this l unfastened my purse
from my belt and handed 1t to L0r.
gnas saying:
"rhere are 40 fat crowns there. They
will carry the prince to Marienbourg."
"De Besme, you are indeed friend"
And Lorgnac took the purse as he add
ed, 81 shall get him of ut once, and
you must let her know he is gone"
I?"
eyes; manage 1t somehow. l have
no chance Of speaking to her, but you
have a hundred opportunities. A word,
hint, will suffice"
Every we'll. And now hasten. 1 will
do my best"
ut is check to Spain, think" he
said, with laugh, and turned to 60,
but staid him.
Ts there anything else, lie Brus-
quetY And our eyes met. Then
said slowly:
"Aiy friend, when this is over you
had better seek the war, and l shall
20 back to grow pears at Besme."
He made no answer, but our hands
met in a warm clasp. II had let him
see that knew his heart, l had also
let him read mine. So we stood for
moment, and then, wringlng my hand,
he went off without another word.
watched him until he was lost to
view behind the hawthOrns and then,
calling Pompon, took my watch back
to the Louvre. I made little detour,
passing my oak, and reached the ivy
grown wall, where a little wicket led
to the ladies' terrace. had pass
key given to me by the king himself
and, opening the gate, crossed the ter
race and hastened toward the Pavilion
du Roy, where the court was held.
This faced the river in all the elegance
of its modern construction. 1t had
been built on the site Of the Great
tower, the pride of his ancestors, which
Francis, the late king, had demolished
to make room for his new structure.
I went up the crowded stairway,
Pompon Mt my heels, exchanging q
word with one, jest with another. AT
the archway leading into the audience
rooms the throng was so great that rol
the moment could find no passage.
looked round and called out:
"Way, way for the king of the cap
and bells!'
There was a laugh, and a merry voice
called out:
"There is room for your majesty here
and for your prime minister too"
1 looked at the smiling eyes and the
curved, laughing lips, and Pompon and
I were by the speakers side in mo-
ment. 1t was Mile. de Folk, whom we
used to call the Phoenix, the same for
whom poor Laval jousted in scarlet ar
NOR at the last tourney held by the late
king.
80 your majesty has not attended
the council?' And she opened her Sill
yer bonbon box.
"No, mademoiselle; yet my most
faithful subject and myself have been
employed on high affairs Of state"
81 am sure they will benefit from
such united wisdom" And she gave a
sweet to Pompon.
"Hein! And is there no tribute for
me2~ I grumbled.
81 always thought the honor went 70
the king, but the spoils to the minister,
but If your majesty will accept an OF
fering"- And mademoiselle held out
her box. With a bow, l helped my
self to a dainty morsel. and at the
same moment the strains Of music
floated toward us, and the Phoenix
clapped her hands.
",Tis the courantow she cried. "The
oueen of Scots and the Princess Eliza
beth dance in this. wish l could
see." -.
"Trust to your knight, mademoiselle."
And she put a small hand in my arm
So. with laugh and jest and sometimes
an elbow In the ribs Of gay courtier,
at last succeeded in gaining corner OF
vantage for my partner and myself. i.
There were many fair women ana
brilliant cavaliers in the dance. There
was the Princess Elizabeth, after
ward the hapless wife Of the tyrant OF
Spain. There were others l could
name, but had no eyes for them, nor,
indeed, had any one else. Every look,
every glance, was bent on tall, grace
ful figure robed in white, with clus-
ter of red roses at her bosom. With q
| laugh in her eyes and smile on her
Inns she fioated through the dance like
a thing of air. Aye! have lived long
at courts. have seen the fairest OF
INV land, and women are fair IN
France, but never one to bo the peer OF
nv oueen-of Mary Of Scotland.
as she not lovely" 1t was the
Phoenix who cut in upon my thoughts
and answered her:
H.