The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-01
stories by MIR. STANLEY Weyman.

II is curious enough To think Of the great
King. Henry Of Navarro. doing the thing
that Mr.. Stanley j. Weyman reports in one
Of the tales in his volume Of short stories.
In Kings Byways" G.ongInans. Green
4 Coz. They had hanged Felix Porails
father over his own doorstep, and it was
dangerous business to take the body down.
because those who had put it there in
tended that IL should remain a. a warning.
and were ready 10 hang anybody beside
it who should be found meddling with their
work. The King had climbed a ladder and
lowered the body to Felix when they heard
the watch coming. Felix dragged the body
into the house and shut the door after him
When the watch had passed by he came
out again to look for the King He had
been puzzled because the oh apparently
had not discovered the King and had not
remarked the absence of the body Now
a. he issued from the house he was para
lived by what he saw. For there swung
the corpse dimly outlined in the fading
night, There! Certainly there" says the
story. Before the protruding eyes of
Felix the suspended figure all at once be-
came agi,ated: an instant, and ii slid gently
to the ground. 1t was the King He
bent double with silent laughter 20
We gods" he cried. saw you ever such q
trick? How | longed to kick. if it were
but my toe, at them, and forbore! Fools.
Did man ever see body hung in it's sword'
But il was a good trick. oh? ! had the
rope loose in my hand when they came,
and | drew it twice round my neck -and
one arm. trust me-and swung on gently
Ii is no, every one who would have thought
of that"
A good trick, indeed. and one that helps
us much to understand that long head"
which the historians have ascribed To
Henry. They needed quick wits in those
days. Once the young Vicomte de Nor.
terre came in, late a, night and kicked his
valet. who was aslee;, on a stool, The
Vcomte had been gambling md had lost
his honor. BY the conditions and turn of
the game he was bound to deliver over to
the Enemy the Kings town of Lusigny. of
which he was Governor. Now a. he kicked
the sleeping valet, Ia room which was but
family illuminated by the embers Of a far
spent fire, he cried out Get up, you rascal,
You pig, you dog. sleeping there AZ though
your master were not ruined by that scoun-
drel of a Breton! ! am ruined! Do YOU
hear' Ruined, Gil! Ihave lost allmoney,
land, Lusigy itselfat the cards"
The valet rose to his feet with yawn
Il am afraid, Vic, mtc," he sail that il
you have lost Lu.igi.y you have lost sorne-
thing which was not yours to lose.
Strange words from valet. Though
quietly pronounced, We are told that they
SON died in his hearers ears like thunder
He kicked the embcrs with his boot as he
spoke and the fire, blazing up, shone oi.
his face. II was the King, and he i'm
mediatey forgave the Nicomte and i'll
vented a stratagem. BY il the town of
Lusigny was delivered over to the enemy
as had been arranged. but the same night
the enemy's town of Cr6ance was taken
by Henry. The Captain Of Creance it
was who had played with the vicomte
and won. He rode into Lusigny without
opposition Now said he to himself,
as he sat on his horse in the middle of tho
market place and looked around on the
serried ranks Of his piksmcn and N. circle