The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-08

Here he rose from his seat and began
to pace the room, as he continued,
Nothing would satisfy the prince bat
that l should ride to Paris-see her
our Queen-and ride back and tell him
1 had done SO. l was not to exchange
word. On my faith as a gentleman!
l bore no message"
And you have seen her-the Queen
of Scotland?"
Yes But she saw me, too; it was
on the ladies terrace that we met"
"Alone?"
No! One of her tirewomen was with
her-and the short of it is that lass
and fool-have promised to bear let
ter to the prince"
My blood ran cold.
"You!" I burst out. YOU" And
then l rose, too. and in bitter jest
handed him my cap and bells.
Take that! My baton, and the ape
too. if you will! Ass and fool you
called yourself. and l agree. Take my
office! You are better fitted for it than
L.
BE still" he said hoarsely IT could
not say no. She is woman and a
Queen"
And Blaise de Lorgnac. seigneur of
Lorgnac of Tully, and Malezieux,
Knight of the Kings Order, is man
of honor"
1 put my hand on his shoulder, and
he stood glowering at me. I felt his
frame SILVER, and then he mumbled
as if speaking to himself. Il have
given my word. This once and no
more!" My hand dropped to my side.
And this letter-you have it?"
Not yet! l receive 1t in an hour,
and time presses-au revoir!" He
wrung my hand. and was gone.
For a moment listened to his de-
parting footsteps, and then boiling the
door carefully, came back to my seat.
Taking up the kerchief, l put 1t before
me and began to reflect.
"Enfn" l exclaimed, speaking my
thoughts aloud. why not look at that
kerchief? There are a thousand chances
to one that it belongs to some one you
never knew or heard of. In which
case there will be no harm done. on
the other hand, if 1t does belong to
someone you know, 1t might give a
clue to a somewhat mysterious affair.
1t seems to me that stilted notions
of honor have no place here, and you
will be an idiot as well as fool to
miss your chance"
With this l held up the pretty lace
thing, and IL fell in light, loose fold
in my hand. l swear II it had NOT been
for Chantonnay / would have troubled
no more about the matter; but as it
was, I seemed to hear that low cackle
of his: a presentiment of evil to come
seized me, and without more ado,
spread out the kerchief and examined
it carefully.
II was, as I have said. of lace. II
was scented with musk, and in one cor
ner was an embroidered o, and moth
ing more. There was no crest, and l
could make nothing Of it. Amidst the
galaxy of fair danes at the court. /
could think of no one whose name bore
this initial, and there was no crest to
serve as n pointer Some little bour-
geoise. after all! A vulgar intrigue!
Half unconsciously. put the bit Of
lace in my pocket and, picking up my
Lutte, made my way to the Pavilion du
Roy. with Pompon at my heels.
] was far from easy in my mind.
This affair of LorRnacs was bad, and
II discovered meant the scaffold for
my friend. There was yet another thing
that moved me powerfully. and per-
haps those who read may guess what
it was She Is dead and gone. and
Lorgnac is gone, but the memory of a
sweetness and grace. such as the world
has never seen. Is still with me. My
I Queen! Ny Queen.
And so Il was with bitter heart
that ] sought the gay revels. so bitter
that all thought OF my jest on the
Spanard was gone. ] stood a little
apart under the lee Of a pillar or vein
cd marble. watching hungrily for a
! face, ! longed 10 see. The King was
! there, tall and grim. the Queen was
! there, toe, and Madame Diane Ia con-