Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1902-01-14

DE TROIS
Ely r. X SCRlBNER
Copyright. 1901. by +. Z. S-ribner-
Ely r. e. SCRIBNER
Copyright. 1901. by F. L. sribner.

E
was my duty to guard the royal per
son. when Louis. wh had approached
unobserved. confronted me.
Nj de Mare" said he. you are
brave man.
Sire replied |. knowing twas th'
prelude TO one OF those missions Wit.
which his ma jcsty was pleased to hon
or me. being of the IDusketeer il fol
lows"
And have proved yourself of much
discretion" continued the king. there
fore" then sinking his voice to a whis
per. THE Chevalier de Trois is known
TO you:"
| had myself conducted the chevalier
10 the Bastille not three months be
fore.
The prisoner of the Basti,le: Cor-
tainly. sire. for twas by your com
mand r.
Louis looked upon the ground.
Faith" murmura ed lie. Il had forgot
ten Perhaps he hath escaped or
From the Bast.lew cried /. 1T were
impossible"
The king bit hin lips. And for what
t Trois:" asked he abruptly.
Now. il was MT my business TO in
/ quire concerning the crimes of prison
ers of state
He is II gentleIaan Of much promise"
continued the King. breaking in upon
my reply IT'S ill fitting that so
brave cavalier rot in the dungeons of
the Bastille What think you. NJ. de
| Marc"
Ills indeed beyond comprehen-
sion" replied |. somewhat troubled at
/ the royal mood. "A word from your
! ma jesty. which | will gladly carry to
| the governor. Will
The king smiled sourly. And the
good Cardinal Mazarin:' he asked
Think you. sir. my minister would ia
vor the freeing of the Chevalier de
| Trois:'
! 1t was. then. Mazarin and not the
| king who had brought about the inn
| prisonment of the unfortunate De
| Trois.
If the Chevalier de Trois has of
Tended the minister" said l. me
| thinks. sire. he will remain in the Bas
/ tile. 'Tis no light thing to
\ flush of anger overspread the
kings countenance. Faith" cried he.
am | ever to be thrust behind Il cur
tain by this thieEing prelate: Is he
then king of France and | puppet
that his whims must stand? NJ. de
Trois must be freed
The meaning of his words came to
me. 1t was his pleasure the chevalier
be set at liberty: but. though king Of
France he shrank from Drawing the
displeasure Of his powerful minister.
If NJ. de Trois reganed his liberty. 1t
must be secretly and apparently
against the wishes of the king.
Sire" replied |. none can per-
chance escape from the Bastille. but
there lie other prisons in France. The
Fortress Dauphine"-
His ma jesty raised his brows inquir-
incly. And what Of the Fortress Dau-
phue. NJ de Marc?" asked he.
An order commanding me to con-
duct the Chevolier de Trois from the
/ BaStille. sire. At Dauphine. less strong
Is guarded. perchance"-
The king caught at my meaning.
Come said he. casting upon me a
| look of gratitude. within the hour It's
my pleasure the Chevalier de Trois be
taken from Paris and imprisoned in
the Fortress Dauplsine. | will direct
my secretary to prepare the order
The Fortress Dauphne was situated
some leagues from Paris. The garrison
consisted Of some 1a0 men commanded
by four officers and n governor whose
liking for the wine cup was well
known to the occupants of the fortress.
| 1t was TO this prison that | conducted
the Chevalier de Trois on the after
noon of that day in which his majesty
had spoken TO me in the garden.
Upon my delivering the order to the
prisoner in his chamber in the Bastille
he had turned pale as chalk. thinking
1t nothing else than a prelude to his
speedy execution. for famous heads
man dwelt in the vicinity Of nauphine.
Once upon the road however having
commanded my two musketeers 10 fall
back that | might ride by De Trois'
side. made haste to end his torment.
He listened to me as one dazed 10y an
unexpected blow.
Come" said |. having laid the mat
ter before him. lit now remains with
yourself to gain your freedom. ] can
but open in part the way to you"
Then il is the kings wish that es
cape" asked he.
AS TO that" replied l. tits not my
business nor thine. NJ. de Trois. to seek
TO know the wishes of his majesty.
Suffice il that | offer TO you a way
whereby you may gain your liberty.
IF you fear the danger Of
He smiled bitterly Il could scarce
stop at that" said he ~ha wing already
committed my soul to Cod
But" continued l. you will readily
perceive great danger lies in the under
taking. The Fortress Dauphine is gar
risoned by fvescore men. Were any 10
oppose
Five thousand would scarce turn
ne from my purpose" replied he