Middletown transcript., 1901-01-05
La Toussiant
BY STANLEY J. WEYMAN.
had won by betting On Barradas.


He had the advantage in station and
popularity; and by far the larger number
Of those present sided with him. | lin
gered moment in curiosity, looking to
see the accuser with all his boldness give
way before the almost unanimous ex-
preston Of disapproval. But my former
Judgment Of him had been correctly
formed So far from being broWbeaten
or depressed by his position, 'sYou must
return my money! he kept on saying
monotonously. "You must return my
money. This man cheated, and you
won my money. You must pay or fight. "
"With dead mani" St. German re-
piled, gliding at him.
''No, with me-"
''Barradas will spit your' the other
scoffed. go and order your coffin, and
do not trouble me-"
II shall trouble you. If you did not
know that he cheated, pay; and if you
did know, fight"
II know?' st. Germain retorted iercely.
"You madman! Do you mean to say
that knew that he cheatedP'
II mean what sayT' St. Mesnin re-
turned stolidly "You have won my
money. You must return it. If you will
not return it, you must fight"
[ should have heard more, but at that
moment the main door opened, and two
or three gentlemen who had been with
the King came out. Not wishing to be
seen watching the brawl, moved away
and forgot st. Mesmin for the time, and
only recalled him next morning when
Saintonge, being announced, came into
my room in state Of great excitement
| and almost with his first sentence brought
out his name.
''Barradas has not killed him then?'
| said, reproaching myself in q degree
for my forgetfulness.
''No He, Barradas!" Saintonge an
swered.
"No?' I exclaimed.
"Yesp' he said. 81 tell you, NJ. lie
Marquis, he is a devil Of fellow-a devil
Of fellow! He fought, am told, Just
like Crillon; rushed in on that rascal and
fairly beat down his guard, and had him
pinned to the ground before he knew that
they had crossed swords!''
"Well," / said, ''there is one scoundre
the less. That is all.
"Ah, but that is not all y my visitor
replied more seriously. "It should be
| but it is not; and it is for that reason I
am come to you. You know st. Ger
main?'
II know that his father and you are
well, that you take opposite sides" 7" I said
smiling.
"That is pretty well known" he an
swered coldly. anyway, this lad is to
fight st. Germain tomorrow; and now ]
hear that NJ. de Clan, St. Germans
farther, is for shutting him up; getting q
letter de cachet, or anything else you
please, and away with him"
"What! St. Germainp' | said.
''Nop' M. de Saintonge answered, pro-
longing the sound to the utmost. "St.
| Mesminp'
"Oh," said, II see"
eyes" the Marquis retorted pettishly,
''but I don't. I don't see. And beg to
remind you, NJ. de Rosny, that this lad is
my wife's second cousin through her step
father, and that I shall resent any inter
ference with him. have spent enough
and done enough in the Kings service to
have my wishes respected in a small mat
ter such as this; and I shall regard any
severity exercised towards my kinsman
as direct offence to myself. Whereas
NJ. de Clan, who will doubtless be here
III few minutes, is
''But STOP" | said, interrupting him,
II heard you speaking Of this young fel-
low the other day. You did not tell me
then that he was your kinsman."
Nevertheless he is; my wife's second
cousin" he answered with heat
"And you wish him to-"
''Be let alonep' he replied, interrupt
ing me in his turn more harshly than l
approved. II wish him to be let alone.
II be will fight st. Germain, and kill or
be killed, is that the Kings affair that he
need interfere? | ask for not interfer-
ence, I'm. de Saintonge continued bit
terly, "only for fair play and no favor.
And for M. de Clan, who has never done
anything but thwart the King, for him
to come now, and-faugh! it makes me
sick"
eyes," | said dryly; II see"
eYou understand me?"
eyes" I said II think so.''
every well," he replied haughtily-he
had gradually wrought himself into
passion-"be good enough to bear my re-
quest il mind then; and my services also.
ask no more, NJ. de Rosny, than is due
to me and to the Kings honor"
And with that, and scarcely an express
sion Of ciyility, he left me.
Saintonge could scarcely have cleared
the gates before his prediction was fulfil
led. His enemy arrived hot foot, and
entered to me with mein SO much low
cred by anxiety and trouble that hardly
knew him. Saintonge had rightly antic-
ipated his request; the first, he said,
with trace Of his old pride, that he had
made to the King in eleven years; his
son, his only son and only child-the
single heir Of his namel
"But," | said, "your son wishes to
fight, NJ. de Clan?"
He nodded.
"And you cannot hinder him?''
He shrugged his shoulders grimly
ssNo," he said; che is St. Germain."
"Well, that is just my case" an
swered. 4'You see this young fellow St.
NTasn,ir r-oc commended to me- and ia