The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-06-26
% OODo oC0O oCN3OO OOC"JOOt1t'0Ot'S
: Ghe QUEENS
ROSES & es
BY 8. Levett Yeats
Copyright, 1901, by S. Levett Yeats
no oGsao cosoo oSoo oo0o o00o 90
BY 8. Levett Yeats
CHAPTER III.
fHE WORD OF A PRINCE.


The apartments assigned to mo in
virtue Of my office lay In the wing Of
the Louvre looking toward the old
chapcls OF st. Thomas, ST. Nicaise and
the Quinze Ningts. 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 wnSps' nests to the walls
OF the palace, to be matched only In
suualor by the high and totterlng
houses, crowdlng and jostling each
other on the opposite side Of the mar
row street. Here projecting gallery
and ovcrhanshg thrret formed an ar
cadc, beneath which the grass thrust
its slender sword blades between the
green and slippery stones of the pave
mcnt, and 1t was cool and dark as a
cellar, oven on the hottest days In
summer.
1t was to this refuge I had escaped
from the stilling throng of the court.
When Lorgnac had stepped forward to
accept the ambassadors wager, l felt
as if II load was removed from my
heart. lie looked SO calm and con-
ildcnt that | was sure he had perform
cd his task-that the prince had quit
ted Paris and that ChantOnnay's
scheme would mscarry. Yet. never
thclcss, l longcd to be alone. and, TAX
Ing my opportunity, which came easily
enough, had slipped away to my bal
couy, here to enjoy the cool evening
brcvzc coming In puffs across the Seine
-hcrc TO think and to argue myself
out OF my folly or madness, call 1t what
You will
pompon sat on the balustrado and
looked Mt me. Tie creature had an In
tclligcnce almost human. He under
stood voice and gesture perfectly, anu
had taught him to do things that were
scarcely credible. There as he sat-
Eravcly surveying me with unwinliing
black eyes. it seemed to me that he
was reading my inmost thoughts and
was showing II silent sympathy for me
by sitting still as II stone, indulging nei-
thcr in gamhol nor antic. nor even
touching the little heap Of nuts Il vt lay
on u platter beside him.
SO quantity grave was the little beast
that he distracted me in spite Of my
self, and rising. approached him, say
ing, with Il laugh:
show me It way out Of my troublesY
For answer he crrpt closer to me,
and we two looked down into the yard
beneath, where Il little doorway l0d
into the Rue st. Thomas de Louvre.
Tie doorway and the yard were used
as a passage to and from the street by
the lower servants of the palace, and 1t
was ordinarily open until close upon 10
at night in summer. An archer was on
guard there, and his tall figure caught
my eye as he paced backward and for
ward at his post. | stood for Il minute
or SO watching him. when l heard q
step behind me and my name called
ont. | turned ana saw Lorgnac.
Il Knocked twice." he said. "but you
did not answer, so l came In, as
guessed you would he cloud gathering
here"
"Thcrc IS some wine in the flask
there" | answered, pointing to little
table whore 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.
"Wcll," l said, "has Cbantonnay paid
you?"
"Not yet" he laughed, "but he will
.onight'
$50 the prince has goneT
"Ics. | found him in the house and
told him how things were. All that
was needed was a horse, and I gave
him mine"
You will be hard put to for your
cquipihcht II there Is war, and fame,
the peace was broken today"
"Oh NJ. de Chnntonnay's pistoles
will provide thatw
"IIcin. But you are quick in coming
pack aitcr seeing the prince orr
Il did not see him off. Be quiet, lit.
tie beast" And he put Pompon on one
side.
Not see him OFF,"
NO. | was on duty and could not.
lie gavo me his word that he would
start In an hour, and by this there
should be couple of leagues between
him and Paris"
IF they purSuc'1-
"Who Is To pursue? And they Will
be fleet hooiS that will overtake Car.
touchc"
'i' 1t If he. Is not gone"
'lmpoSSiblc. lie knows tho risk"
hen, i said, nothing remains. old
friend but the wars for you and my
pears for me. | should like to see
BcSmc once more"
lie Wadc no answer, and we both
leaned together over the balustradc
ana looked down into the yard. 1t was