The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-08-03
Am Awaken Am Asleep What an Embrogliol"

Synopsis Of preceding chapters; King
Louis NJ Of France and a trusted cOmpHn-
Ion. Tristan iHermite. enter the Frcone
tavern incogulto and become Interested IN
the company Of gamblers and hrawler5,
men and women. most conspicuous among
whom are Huguette Du Hamal 81 Ia
wench whom the men call the abbess and
Fran OILS Nlllop. yagabond adyeuturer
and poet. Louis buys wine FOR Nlion. Who
Is moved to relate his adventures lie re
latcs that he wrote verses to a beautiful
woman whom he did not know and was
severely beaten by her friends, After the
Carousal only the kim and Tristan are !c.t
playing cards and Yillon Is doing I'm the
corner when a knock Is heard ON the tavern
door. The visitor proves 70 be Katherine
De Naucalles, the kings ward the lady
10 whom Villon wrote th' verses. she asks
Nlllou 70 Kill Thbaut d'AuSsigny the gran
constable who Is TRYING 20 force her 10
ma ny MIN and Nlllon consents Thibaut
NTH him and they night The constable Is
apparently killed and the king revealing
himself. takes Nlllon and companions into
custody. Vlilon Is drugEed and awnkes to
ind himself nrraved In fne linen addressed
10y attendants as Count Of MGntcorhicr,
grand constable Of Franco within ~ the
kings Int for what purpose the poet can
not imagne)
He was about to M himself another cup
when n shadow fell az his feet, the shadow
Of olivier Le Daln standing before him with
bis air u emphasized respect which was
beginning to phil upon the trunshGurcd
poet
Your dignity viii forgive me, but It rs
the kings wish you should pass Judgment
on certain prisoners"
Nlllon stared az BIN.
III And hereT'
Such Is the kings pleasure"
what prisoners"
Certain rogues and yagabouds, mankind
Sp1d womankind, taken 9rawlng in the
flrcone tavern last night"
Nillon strOkcd his chin thought.
fully, An idea seemed TO take
command Of his confused mind lie q
was chance To learn something Of the
reality that lay at the core OF nil thIs
mystery Of roses and wine and fine ralment.
He leaned forward cuuously and almost
whispered 10 the attendant barber:
Tell ~. is Master Francois Yllion, INNS.
ter Of the arts, rhymer at his best vaga.
bond AT his worst, ne'er-dowcl at all sea
sons, and scdpegroce in all moods, among
themT
Olivier smiled complacently as those IN
office nre accustomed 10 smile at the hu.
mors OF great men.
Your dignity is pleased To lest Shall /
send You the prisoners" Nillon caught at
the offer sharply,
Can do WITH chem as / wish?"
=, AoeormeY as you wish Such is the
villon leaned Anck III reulgned surrender
70 an astonishing situation He hud
nights hut never dream like this dronln.
set thief TO try a thief" he phloso.
Ihlzed. We'll, bring them IN
olivier bowed and disappeared silently
along the rose alley by which he had conli.
When he was alone again Vllon SLAPPED
his forehead rtsOundingly, as II he hopcd h
scare his senses back into sanity by Violent
assault.
"oh, my poor head" he moaned. Am
awake? Am asleep? What nm cmbrog.
sense Of dislike to his rcarec,fm NJ.
tendant surGed up through his perplexlty
THAT damned follow In black Is confound,
eddy obseQnious,' he muttered 81 wonder
II | could order him TO be hanged; he has a
Even as this kind reflection came into his
head. his medtatlons were disturbed Inv Tho
tramp OF many feet ana the rattle and
clank Of weapons, and small company OF
soldiers came wheeling round Into the rose
garden from the side of the palace, vuarI
Ing number of men and women, in whom
villon instantly recognized his familiar
friends Of the Flrc0ne tavern. AT the head
Of the soldiers marched dappcr gentle
man, courtier soldier or oldler-courter. i
thing OF silk aud steel. half dandy. hall
man,at.arms, eNquisitely attlrcd ana Ma
gravity aware Of his own attractions. He
too, was familiar to the poet. for he was nc
other than the pink and white gcntlcmar
whom he hnd seen acting as escort Ia Knth
crime on the day when he first behold hcr
and whose name, as he had learned on tn,
previous evening from Katherne's own lips
was Noel De JOYS.
''Ihe puppet who bangles after my lady.
he grumbled to himself. He jars tht
dream"
vilon. felt profoundly sorry for his i'm
prisoned plnyfellows, and profoundly no
tile TO the pink and white gentleman. III,
friends looked so wretched. so woebegono
so bedraggled. while their captor looked SO
point-deyice and self.satisfed that yIloa
tclt fierce indignation burn within him
over the injustices OF the world
How hang-dog my poor devils look and
Tow dirty" he thought to himself, MS the
toldiers ranged their prisoners IN a line
before him at the base OF the terrace. and
their prinked and fragrant captain came
tripping forward and saiuted Villon. pre-.
fenting to him at the same time q piece
OF paper, covered with writing.
''My lord" he said dapperly. "here are
the names of these night BIRDS"
Vilion took the paper and looked straight
~ Into the young mans eyes.
Have we ever met beforei" he asked.