Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-08-19
CHAPTER III.
THE SPUR OF LES ESCHELLEs.

CHAPTER III.
THE SPUR OF LES EsCHELLEs.
~E LORGNAC was gone.
Through the open window
| ~ overlooking the courtyard that
let in the warm summer even
| ing we heard him give an order to his
men in a quick, resolute voice, far diff
ferent from the low tones in which he
had spoken before, and then he and his
troop rode off at rapid trot In the d.
rection, as 1t seemed, Of the Porte st.
Honore. could hardly realize that
was free and that De Lorgnac had re-
signed me without struggle. All that
could think Of was that he was gone,
and with a quick gasp Of relief turn
ed to my friend.
"Oh, madame, how can thank you:
What shall l say?
"Say nothing to me, my child. but
rather thank the good God that there
was little Of honor left in that man.
And now. before we start. you must
have some refreshment."
II cannot-indeed, no. am ready
to go at once. l want to put leagues
between me and Paris"
You must be guided by me now,
Denise" And as she spoke servant
brought in some soup and flask Of
wine. Despite my protests was forced
20 swallow something. though | felt
that was choking. yet the little from
tignac drank, not being used to wine,
seemed TO steady my shaking limbs and
restore my scattered faculties.
AS we put on our cloaks and demi-
masks preparatory to starting Nine.
de Termes kept saying to herself: II
cannot Observation-Disclosures de LorSnac
to lend himself to thing like this! !
would have staked my life on him.
There is something behind this. Child"
and she put a hand on each Of my
shoulders and looked me full in the
eyes, have you told me all? Have you
withheld nothing
HAS he not himself admitted what
/ said, madame? If that is not enough,
| will add every word of what ! know"
And as we stood there detailed what
l have already told. forcing myself to
60 on with the story once or twice
when 1 felt myself being unnerved and
finishing quickly: And, madame. l
was taken by storm. Indeed | hardly
know even II this is not some frightful
dream"
Would It were So" she said. and
added: Denise, believe every word
you say. and yet there is something be-
hind De Lorgnac's action. know him
well. He would never lend himself to
be the tool of others. Once, however.
at Perigueux you will be safe with the
vicomte and myself. and it will be
long arm that would drag you thence
nothing short of that of the Medicis.
But Catherine owes much to De
Termes. And now let us start"
What was my surprise when we
reached the courtyard to hear my maid
Mousette's voice. and saw her perch
ed on little nag. already engaged IN
Irritation with one of the men. When
l spoke to her, she pressed her horse
forward and began hurriedly.
II was sent here with madame's
things" she said. Il am afraid the
valises are but hastily packed. and
much has had to be left behind. but
madame will excuse me. know. II
was all so quick. and | had so little
time"
We were, including Nine. de Termes'
servants, who were well armed. par
| ty of about twelve. small enough 10
face the danger of the road in those
unsettled days. but no thought OF this
struck me. and. as for Nine. de Termes.
she would. do believe. have braved
the journey alone. so anxious was she
to be by the vicomte's side. for be-
tween herself and the stout old soldier
who held the lieutenancy Of Perigord
there existed the deepest affection
As we rode down the Bourdonnais
could not help thinking to myself how
noble spirit 1t was that animated my
friend. Not fer one moment had she
allowed her own trouble to stand In the
way Of her be>ping me. Her husband
whom. as I have said. she dearly loved.
was Ill, perhaps dying. and yet In her
sympathy and pity for me she had let
no word drop about him except the
CHEEKY assurance Of his protection
Nevertheless as we rode on she ever
Kept turning toward Lalande. her
eauerry, and bade him urge the lag
ging baggage animals on. Passing the
Grand Chatplet, we crossed the arms
of the river by the Pont au Change
and the Pont St Michel and kept
steadily down the Rue de Ia Harpe TO-
ward the Porte st. Martin. We gained
this not a moment too soon, for as the
last of the baggage animals passed II
we heard the officer give the word to
lower the drawbridge and close the
gates. The clanking of the chains and
the creaking Of the huge doors came to
me with something Of relief In them.
for 1t seemed to me that l was safe
from further tyranny from the Hotel
de Scissors, at any rate for this night.
As we passed the huge silhouette OF
the Hotel de Luxembourg we heard the
bells Of st. Sulpice sounding compline.
and then from behind US the solemn
notes rang out from the spires OF the
city churches. Yielding to an impulse
could not resist, l turned in my sad
die and looked back. letting my eyes
run over the vast dim outlines Of the
city, 30 softened by the moonlight that
II was as II some opaque. fantastic
cloud was resting on the earth. Above
curved the profound blue Of the night.
with hae and there star struggling
to force its way past the splendor OF
the moon. All was quiet and still. and
the church bells ringing out were as
message from bis creatures to the Most
High.
HOOD FIRM