Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-23

the feast they knew would follow the pa
geantry, clapped their hands and flung up
their caps at the least provocation for re-
joicing. Upon the two testers this scene
of jubilation was lost, Caillette merely
bending closer to the other, with:
But why have you not denounced him to
the kng?"
Because of my foolhardiness in tacitly
accepting at first this free booter as my
master"
Caillette shot keen glance at the other
and smiled. His eyes said: "Foolhardiness!
Was 1t not, rather, some other emotion
Had not the princess leaned more than gra-
ciously toward her betrothed and
Il thought him but some f1imsy adven-
turer." went the dukes fool. hastily,
land told myself l would the play play
ed out. holding the key to the situation,
and
You underestimated him."
Exactly. His plans were cunningly laid,
and now-who am l that the king should
listen to me? AT best, If 1 denounce him,
| they would probably consider it a bit of
| pleasantly, or-madness."
| Yes reluctantly assented Caillette Tri-
| boulet's words, "a fool in love with the
! princess"' recurring to him; 1T would be
undoubtedly even you say"
The dukes jester hooked down thoughtful
| ly. He had only half-expressed to the
| French PLEASANT the doubts which had as
sailed him since his interview with Louis of
| Hochfels. Who could read the minds of
| monarchs? The motives actuating them
Should he be able to convince Francis OF
, the deception practsed upon him, was 1t
altogether unlikely that the king might not
| be brought to condone the offense for the
| sake of alliance with this bastard of
PfalZ-Urfeld and the other uncomfortable
J free barons Of the Austrian border against
| Charles himself? Had not Francis in the
past. albeit openly friendly with the en-
peror. secretly courted the favor of the
powerful German mobiles in Charles own
twp InI I,
| infidel Solyman. been a covert attempt to
undermine the emperor's lower?
| For the day when, as young men. both
had been aspirants for the imperial throne
of Germany and Francis had suffered de-
| feat, the latter had ass-Iuously devoted
| himself to the retributory task of gaining
| the ascendancy over his successful rival
And now, although the tempering years
| had assuaged their erstwhile passions and
| each had professed to eschew war and its
violence. might not this temptation prove
| too great for Francis to resist a last blow
/! at the emperors prestige? How easy to af-
| feet disbelief of a fool, to overthrow the
| fabric of friendship between Charles and
| himself, and at the same time apparently
not violate good faith or conscience!
The voice of Caillette broke in upon his
! thoughts.
You will not then attempt to denounce
him."
| The fool hesitated "Alone-out of favor
/ with the king, like not to risk the out
| come-but-if 1 may depend upon you"
| Did ever friend refuse such a CALI" ex-
| claimed Caillette, promptly quick glance
| of gratitude flashed from the others eyes.
There is one flaw in the free baron's
! position" resumed the dukes fool more
| confidently; "a fatal one twill PROVE IL it is
| possible to carry out my plans. He thinks
| the emperor Is in Austria. and his follow
ers guard the road through the mountains.
| He tells himself not only are the emperor
| and the Duke Of Friedwald too far distant
| to hear OF the pretender and interfere with
| the nuptials, but that he obviates even the
contingency of their learning Of that mat
| ter at all by controlling the way through
which the messengers must go. Thus rests
| he in double security-but an imaginary
one"
What mean your" asked Caillette, at
| tentive1y. from his manner giving fuller
credence to the extraordinary news he had