Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-05

it's work. There were frightened eyes
easy gestures and ready compliance the
guests arose to quah the toast to this new
queen.
As for the queen herself, she stood falter-
ing, her eyes averted, her limbs trembling.
John Law, tall, calm, self-possessed, did not
take his seat, but stood with set, fixed face
gazing at the woman who held the place Of
honor at the table Of the regent.
Come! Gomez" cried the latter, testify.
his wine working in his brain. why stand
you there, Monsieur Las, gazing as though
spellbound? Salute, sir, as / do, the chief
gem Of France, and her who Is most fit to
wear til!
John Law stood, as though he had not
heard him speak. There swept through
the softly brilliant air, over the flash and
glitter Of the great banquet board, across
the little group which stood about 1t, a
sudden sense of a strange, tense, unfamiliar
situation. There came to all a PRESENT.
ment Of some unusual thing about to hap
pen. Instinctvely the hands paused even
as they raised the bright and brimming
glasses. The eyes Of all turned from one
to the other, from the stern-faced man to
the woman decked in barbaric finery, who
now stood trembling, dropping, at the head
Of the table.
Law for a moment removed his gaze from
the face Of the regents guest He ficked
lightly at the deep cuff Of lace which hung
wrong" said he. Il regret that you do not
have your way In planning for me a sur
prise Yet l must say to you that l have
already met this lady"
met her? Impossible! Incredible! How,
Monsieur Las? We will admit you wizard
enough, and owner OF the philosopher 8
stone-owner of anything you like, except
this secret of mine own. According to
mademoiselle's own words, 1t would have
been impossible
None the less, what have said is true, -
said John Law. calmly, his voice even and
well modulated. vibrating q little, yet show
Ing no trace of anger nor of emotional I'M
control soy
but I tell you 1t could not be-" again ex-
claimed the regent.
mo. it is impossible" broke in the young
Due de Richelieu. Il would swear that had
such beauty ever set foot in Paris before
now, the news would 80 have spread that
all France had been at her feet"
Law looked At the impudent youth with
| a gaze that seemed to pass through him.
seeing him not. Then suddenly this scene
| and Its Significance its ultimate meaning
seemed to take instant hold upon him. He
| could feel rising within his soul a flood of
irresistible emotionste All at once his anger,
heritage of an Impetuous youth, blazed up
| hot and furious. He trod a step farther
forward, afterl.l1is fashion advancing close
| to that which threatened him
This lady your grace" said he "has
| been known to me Tor years. Mary Con-
| nynge, what do you incorporating here?''
| sudden silence fell, silence broken at
l length Dy the VOICE OF the regent himself.
Surely, Monsieur Las" said Philippe.
surely we must accept your statements.
| But monsieur must-remember that this is
| the table Of the regent, that these are the
friends Of thesregent We bring no recol-
| lections here which shall cut short the 10y
| Of any person. SIR. I would not reprimand
! you, but must beg that you be seated and
/ be cain!'
| Yet the imperious nature of the other
| brooked not even SO pointed rebuke AS
though he had not heard, Law stepped yet
a pace nearer to the woman, upon whom he
| now bent the blaze of his angered eyes He
| looked neither to right nor left but usually
commanded the woman until in turn her
| eyes sought his own.
This woman, your grace" said Law, al
length, was for eome time in effect my
wife, This do not offer as matter of In
terest. What I would say to your grace
| is this-she was also my slaver'
1 "Sirrah!' cried the regent.
| "Ah, dame! exclaimed the Due de Richie.
| lieu And even from the women abou,
there came little murmurs of expostulation
| Indeed. there might have been pity, ever