The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-07-10

wealth. For your own sake. for the sake
| OF De Lorgnac you shall know the truth
IL listen, monsieur"
"Ill tell you. At a supper party given
| by that croquemitatne OF a king or yours
a certain matter was discussed. but the
| execution of II had TO be dropped. as no
| one OF those present who was offered the
| enterprise would accept II. Later on the
wine passed, and fool. after the fashion
Of your court. began TO boast openly OF
his conquests and spoke openly of your
favor"
Monsieur. how dare your
Madame, it Is the fashion among your
fine gentleman to lie like this. / will do
De Clermont the Justice TO say that it
was not he, for he was not there and the
man who spoke is dead. so let his name
pass. But Tavannes was there and had
TO be reckoned with. The king offered
10 have you married, and the marshal
burst out that he would give you to the
first man who asked"
"Ohi"
"Blaise de Lorgnac was on guard at
the door. He had heard every word. and
now stepped forward and claimed your
hand. offering at the same time to un-
dertake the affair for which an agent
could not be found His offer was ac-
cepted, and in the early morning, ma
dame. In the yard OF La Boucherie, where
had the honor TO be your husbands
second. your traducer met with his death,
and with his last breath confessed that
he had lied That was the very day, ma
dame, that you foolishly rode out with
De Clermont. Stay; there is yet a little
more, and that concerns the dispatch.
My business at Perigueux was to give
an order 10 DE Termes to receive at st.
Priest-Taurion a prisoner OF state, who
was to be handed over 10 him by myself
and De Clermont. i am here TO receive
ia Tor
who Is intrusted with the duty of taking
him alive. The duplicate dispatch. IL
there is such one-and you say you have
seen the cover-does not refer to you, and
DeClermont has lied. / Will settle with
him for using my name; but, madame,
you are as free as air. and may go where
you like, and for Blaise de Lorgnac's
sake 1 will help you all can-and this
Is ALL"
"Ohl don't know what to think"
You are free to go. i say and, as De
Clermont Will be here soon. and not alone.
i would advise an immediate departure.
1 will detach brace of lances TO act as
further escort, and let me give the order
now. i Will be back In a moment"
He did not wait for any reply. but, turn
ing on his heel stepped out OF the room.
and sat with my brain burning and my
head between my hands. i could not
doubt this story, and II ever woman
passed through furnace of shame and
anger i did so In those few minutes. I
now knew what De Lorgnac was. l now
for the first time saw De Clermont In his
true colors. with his mask off. and yet
and yet-perhaps Norreys was mistaken
about him / had proved myself TO be
so utterly wrong, TO have jumped TO con-
clusions so rashly that dared not sit I'm
judgment any more on soul. and while
fioundered on In this way Norreys came
back.
II have arranged everything. madame.
The orders have been given to your
people. They will be ready TO start In
half hour. About midnight you should
reach Millevranches, and I should halt
there and go on with the morning"
Monsieur, how can l thank you?
have no words"
Let the matter rest. Nine. de Lorg-
nae" And then his voice took a gentler
tone. al would not urge your going at
once except that we are on De Clermonts
own estates, and he has a hundred lances
with him at his Chateau de Ferrand.
1t Is shut out from view by the hills, but
Il lies yonder" He pointed to the west
through the open window. and as ne did
so an exclamation OF surprise burst from
him. and he crossed himself.
| followed his glance and saw high
I'm the heavens. hanging over the noun
famous pile OF reddening clouds that lay
I'm the west. the grim outline OF vast
fortress. The huge walls reflected back
with a coppery luster and red light OF
the sun, and Il was as II we could see
figures moving on the ramparts and the
fla sh Of arms from the battlements From
the flagstaff on the donjon a broad banner
Haunted itself proudly, and so clear and
distinct was the light that we made out
with ease the blazon on the standard and
the straining leashed ounces OF the house
OF Clermont- Ferrand And then the
clouds took a duskier red, and the solid
mass OF castle faded away into nothing.
I stood still and speechless. and Norreys
burst forth: "Sorcery as I live. Ma
dame, that was the Chateau de Ferrand."
] had never seen the like before. never
again did see a. nor do I wish to, and
II left me so chilled and faint that Nor
reys noticed II at once and called for
wine. And as he did 80 l fancied that
I heard the beat OF horses hoof but
paid no attention 10 It, and then the wine
came, and | drank. he standing over me.
I was just setting down the glass when
there was a grating at the entrance, n
long shadow fell through the doorway.
and De Clermont stepped In with a
CHEEKY GOOD day, NJ de Norreys. ] see
YOU have not been neglecting your time
here Arndieu Denisel Is a your You
seem 20 be forever dropping from the
clouds across my path" And he held out
his hand. But / took no notice. though
| rose from my chair. and Norreys mere
ly bowed frigidly I'm return to his greet
Ing De Clcrmont seemed In nowise dis
concerted, but there was an angry fash
In his eyes. and for a second he stood
tapping the end OF his boot with his rid
ing whip and looking from one 10 another
OF us with a half smile on HIS lips. Then
putting his plumed hat on the table and
drawing on his gloves. he drawled out
with yelled insolence In every tone OF
his voice. Upon my word. NJ de Norreys.
I congratulate you. and II II were not for
our business I would leave you In peace.
for madame seems 10 have learned the
| lesson that ~ Is we'll 10 be on with the
old love before you are on with the
new"
Tie had grasped the weakness of the
situation az glance and took fun adj
vantage Of n. but. though outwardly cool
| and self-possessed there was death in his
| eyes l could bear ~ no longer and turn
| ed 90 leave the room. He rose from his
seat. saying; Pray DO not leave US, mad
| amc-you look pale. though. aud perhaps
| need rest. trust. however your indispo-