The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-27
[copYRloHr 1903: The Bowrn-MERRnL coMrAnrl

were enabled to carol and make merry Win
permeated the hall, arising from a screen
of shrubbery at one end of the room where
in sang a hundred silver-toned birds.
AT the kings table Caillette reclted
merry roundelay, and Triboulet roared out
tale after tale, each more full-favored than
the one that went before 1t, finging smart
sayings at marriage and drawing ludi-
crous picture of the betrayed husband.
Villot, lily in his hand, which he regarded
ever sentimentally, caroled the boisterous
espousals of yokel and cinder wench.
while Marot and bishop contended in a
heated argument regarding the translation
of certain passage of Ovid's Art OF
Singularly pale, unusually tranquil. the
| dukes fool furtively watched his master
and the princess. In contrast TO his COM
| posture. Jacqueline's merriment seemed the
more unrestrained; she laughed like a
witch; her hands flashed with pretty ges-
| lures, and she had so tossed her head her
hair floated around her, wild and disor-
dered.
"Why are you so quiet?" she whispered
| to the dukes fool.
rs there not enough merriment, mis-
tr . he answered gravely -.
said. And you would do we'll to remem-
| Der your office.
What do you mean?" he asked absently.
THAT you have many enemies; that you
| cannot live at court with jaundiced coun-
| tenance. Heigh-ho! Alackaday! You
should HE yourself back to the woods and
Her sparkling glance returned to the exo
hilarating scene. Well had the assemblage
been called court of love. Now soft eyes
| invited burning glances, and graceful heads
swayed alluringly toward the handsome
cavaliers who momentarily had found lodg-
| ment in hearts which, like palaces, had
cesses strains of music filled the room with
tinkling passages of sensuous but Elusive
harmony; dream of ardor, masked in the
daintness of minuet.
no ha nf Ia nr
rested one of the dukes hands; with the
other he lifted his glass-a frail thing In
fingers better adapted for sword hilt or
massive battle mace.
Drink. princess" he said. bending over
her, ''to--our meeting!'
Her eyelids fluttered before his look: her
breast rose little. The scar on his brow
held her gaze as one fascinated, but she
drew away slightly and mechanically
sought the tiny golden goblet at her elbow;
Dreamily, dreamily, sounded the rhythmical
music; heavily, so heavily hung the per-
fume in the air, Full of mist seemed the
hall; the king. the queen, the countess, all
OF the party. unreal. fanciful. The toucn
of the goblet chilled her lips and she put
1T down quickly.
us not the wine to your liking?" he
asked, his hand tightening on her chair.
Perhaps it is too sour for your faster
Nay; thought it rather sweet, she
| answered. "Oh. 1 meant not that"
1T is sweet wine PRINCESS he said ,s set
our Austrian vintage. Not white and thin
and watery. but red-red as blood-red as
your hearts blood-or mine"
Crashi from the hand of the dukes Jester
had fallen goblet to the floor. The princess
started, turned; for a moment their glances
bridged the distance from where she sat to
the fools end of the table; then hers slowly
fell; slowly, and she passed hand, where
on shone the kings ring, across her brow;
looked up, as though once more to span
infinity with her gaze, when her eyes fell
short and met the dukes. Deliberately he
lifted his filled glass.
Red as your hearts blood-and mine
my love!" he repeated; and then stared
sharply across the table at his jester.
TribOulet, staggering in his chair, so high
his feet could not touch the floor, surveyed
the broken glass the duke and the duke s
fool. For some time his vigilant eyes had
been covertly studying the unconscious for
eign jester, noting sundry signs and symp-
toms. Nor had the princess's look when the
shapen buffoon; alert, wide-awake. his
mind, quick to suspect, reached a sudden
conclusion; a conclusion which by rapid
process of reasoning became conviction.
Privileged to speak where others must need
be silent, his profession that OF prying
subtlety, which spared neither rank nor
power so that 1t raised laugh, he felt no
hesitation in publishing the information he
had CLEANED by his superior mental nimble-
ness.
"Ho! ho" he beloved. the better to at
tract attention to himself. THE duke sent
his fool to amuse his betrothed and the fool
hath lost his heart to his mistress"
The king left off whispering. Catharine
turned from the chancellor, Diane ceased
furtively to regard Caillette, while the
Queen of Navarro laughed nervously and
murmured:
Princess and Jester! 1t will make an
other tale"
But Henry of Navarro looked gravely
down. He, and Francis's queen-a passive
spectator at the feast-and bishop, whose
interest lay in the truff1ed capon, alone fol-
lowed not the direction of the dukes eyes.
The fair favorite of the king clapped her
hands, but the monarch frowned. not hav-
ing forgotten that night in Fools Hall when
the jester had appointed rogues TO offices.
What is this? A fool in love with the
princess?" said the king. .ominously:.
Even so. your Majesty" cried Triboulet.
but moment ago Duke Robert did whis-
per to his bride-to-be, and the FOOLS hand
trembled like leaf and dropped his glass.
Ira! la! la, What a situation Holy Saint
Bagpipe! Here's a comedy in high life!'
"A comedy" repeated the duke, and half
rose from his chair, regarding his fool with
surprise and anger.
Now Triboulet roared. Had he not in the
past attained his high position of favorite
jester to the king by his very foolhardihood?
And were not trusting lovers and all too
confiding husbands the legitimate butt Of
all testing?
Look at the fool" he went on exultantly.
Does any one doubt his guilt? He is silent;
And. indeed. the foreign jester seemed
momentarily disconnected, although he
strove to appear Indifferent.
4
els, darkening. HE saved his neck once
only by trick"
"Oh. the duke would not mind now If you
were to hang him, Sire answered Tri-
boulet, blithely.
"True!'' smiled the king, 1.-THE question
of breach of hospitality might not occur
What have you to say fool?" he continued
turning to the object of the buffoon's in
sidious and malicious attack.
Laugh whispered Jacqueline, furtively
pressing the arm Of the dukes fool
Laugh, Or
The touch and her words seemed to arouse
him from his letbargy and the jester arose.
but not before the princess, with flaming
cheeks. but proud bearing, had cast a quick
glance in his direction; a glance half ap-
pealing half resentful. Idly the joculatrix
regarded him. her hands upon the table
playing with the glasses, her lips family re-
peating the words Of roundelay:
For love is madness:
While madness rules,
Fools in love
Remain but fools.
Sing hoddy-doddy,
Noddy!
Remain but foolsr'
With the eyes of the company upon him.
the dukes fool impassively studied the
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