The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-07-02

| laughter. aroused my curiosity and j rc'
mained In my position, making, however
a bargain with my conscience by remov'
| ing my head from the carved oak of tho
door II was my duty 10 be where ] was
and. although I would make no effort "a
! listen, yet n those within were talking
OF me and loud enough for me 10 hear
thought II no harm TO stay, especially
as II was Henri who was speaking, Tor j
knew enough 10 be aware that no one was
safe from his scandalous tongue. / may
have been wrong I'm acting as / did, but
do not think there is one woman In n
thousand who would have done other
wise, supposing her 10 be as l was. but
one and twenty years OF age.
So thick. however, was the door that
my head once removed. | could hear but
snatches of the converse within.
ut is his price, madame" / heard the
king say. and after all. IL Is a cheap
one considering her escapade with De
Clermont Morbleu! But he is a sad dog"
And then came another surprise for the
grufr voice OF my uncle, the Marshal dc
Tavannes, added:
Cheap or dear. | for one am willing
that IL should be paid, and at once. She
has brought disgrace enough on our
house already. AS for the man, II poor he
Is noble and as brave as his sword. He
is well able TO look after her"
IF he keeps his head" put In the king.
while my ears burned at the uncompl'-
mentary speech OF my guardian and my
heart began TO sink. Then came some
thing did not catch from Catherine. and
after that a murmur Of indiscreet voices
AT last the kings high pitched tones rose
again. II was voice that seemed TO drill
its way through the door
"Enoughl IL is agreed that we pay In
advance Eh. Tavennes? Send for the lit
tie baggage. II she is. as you say. here,
and we will tell her at once. The matter
does not admit OF any delay. st. Blaisel /
should say that after thirty a man must
be mad TO peril his neck for any womanl
rose from my seat trembling all over
with anger and apprehension. and as
did so the queen mothers voice rang out
sharply:
mile, de Mieux!"
The next moment the door opened and
the dwarf MaJosky put out his leering
face.
Enter, madamoiselle!" he said. with a
grotesque bow, adding in rapid, malig-
nant whisper as | passed him, You are
going TO be married-to me-"
At any other time / would have spared
no pains TO get him punished for his in
science. but now so taken aback was at
what l had heard that l scarcely noticed
him and entered the room as N In
DIRE *si Indeed IL was only with an effort
that | recollected myself sufficiently TO
make my reverence TO the king. He called
out as | did so: "Mordieu! i retract,
Tavannesl / retractl Faith, | almost feel
as IL / could take the adventure on my
selfr'
slight exclamation OF annoyance es-
capped the queen, and Tavannes said
coldly:
Perhaps your majesty had better In
form my niece OF your good pleasure, ="
adding grimly. and / guarantee made
moiselle's obedience"
There was minute or 80 OF silence
during which the king was, as II were.
picking his words. while 1 stood before
him. Majosky shuffled down at Cathe-
rines feet and watched me with his
wicked, blinking eyes. l do not remember
10 have looked around me, and yet every
little detail OF that scene will remain
stamped on my memory until the day
die
Madame. the queen mother. was at her
secretary. her fingers toying with
jeweled paper knife and her
white face and glittering eyes fixed
steadily on me-eyes with that pitiless
look In them which we all knew so well
and which made the most daring OF us
tremble. A little TO my right stood De
Tavannes. one hand on the back OF a
chair and stroking his grizxled beard with
the other Before me. on cofrer, where
on he had negl9ently thrown himself,
was the king. and he surveyed me with
out speaking, with half approving. half
sarcastic look that made my blood tingle
and almost gave me back my courage.
in sharp contrast to the solemn black
OF GATHERINGS robes and the stern, sol
dlerly marshal was the figure OF the king.
Henri was dressed In his favorlte coloSs
orange, green and tan, with a short cloak
OF the same three hues hanging from
his left shoulder. His pourpoint was open
at the throat around which was clasped
a necklet OF pearls. and he wore three
ruffs, one such as we women wear, OF
lace that fell over the shoulders. and two
smaller ones q stin as starch could make
them. He wore earrings, there were
rings on his embroidered gloves. and all
over his person, from his sleeves TO the