Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-12
You. vIlot, are made admiral of the

You. virlot, are made admiral of tho
fleet"
Villot smiled, thinking how Francis had
but recently bestowed that office upon the
impoverished husband Of pretty Madame
d Etaille.
Thanks your majesty" he began. but
II some post nearer nome"
You are to sail at oncer'
But my wife"
viii remain at courty' announced tho
dukes jester with great decision.
Villot made wry face. The king In
motley smiled significantly. "A safe haven,
Villot! Besides, remeplber court without
ladies is like spring without flowers
movement resembling apprehension
swept through the company The epigram
had been Francis; the court-a flower bed
of roSes-was in consequence, thorny
maze for jester to tread. From her chair
at the far end of the room the young
man looked at the newcomer for the first
| time since his enforcement. Her fingers
yet played between the gilded bars; the
posture she had assumed set forth the
plant grace of her figure Above the 9TH
ers, she glanced at him. her hair very
black against the golden cage: her arm,
very white. half unsheathed from the great
hanging sleeve.
| You are over-bold," she said peculiar
| smile upon her lips.
| Nay: L have spoken no treason, mis-
| tress," he retorted blithely.
Not by word of mouth, perhaps, but by
imputatioE."
| He raised his brows with a gesture OF
| wanton protest. while the face before him
couded Her eyes held his her little teeth
| just cleaned between the crimson of her
| lips
81 presume you consider Charles the moro
fitting monarch she continued.
Was it the disdan of her voice? Did
| she read his passing thoughts? Did she
| challenge him to utter them?
'In TRUTH the jester said carelessly,
Charles builds fortresses, not pleasure pad
them
ladies'
She half smiled. Her glance fell. Her
hand moved caressingly. the sleeve waving
beneath.
Poor Jocko! Poor Jockor' she muir
INJURED.
! Triboulets glance beamed with delight.
| She casting her spell over his enemy.
oh" muttered Triboulet If the king
| could but have heardr'
| Perhaps 1T was a breath of air, but the
tapestry depicting the misadventures Of
| Momus waved and moved. Triboulet. who
noted everything. saw this and suffered an
expression of triumph momentarflY to rest
upon his malignant features. Had his
prayer been answered? "A spring without
| flowers" forsoothI Dearly cherished the
august gardener his beautiful roses. Great
| red roses; white roses; blossoms yet I'M
opened!
Following his gaze. a significant light
appeared in the young woman's eyes while
her arm fell to her side.
Now to Presumption sue for par
dom she whispered to herself
One by one the company too, turned in
| the direction Tribouiet was looking. In
portraiture the classical buffoon grinned
and jibed at them from the tapestry. and
| even from his high station above the clouds
| Jupiter, who had elected the offending
\ fool of the gods, looked less stern and
! implacable. An eKpectant hush fell upon
the assemblage, when suddenly Jove and
Momus alike were unceremoniouSly thrust
aside and, as the fold fell slowly back.
before the manY-hued curtain stood a man
of stately and majestic mien.
A man whose appearance caused deep
| seated CONSERVATION. whose forbidding as
pect made the very silence portentous and
rich in jewelry and precious stones. he
remained motionless, regarding the motley.
ga thering, while an ominouS half smile
played about his features. He said nothing.
but his reserve was more sinister than lam
guage. Capricfous. cruel was his face; In
his eyes shone covert enjoyment OF the
situation.
Would he never speak7 With one hand
| he stroked his beard; with the other he'
toyed with the lace on his doublet.
"You were talking. children" he said.
| finally. before I came in"
IF your majesty" ventured Triboulet,
| "has heard all. your majesty will not blame
-usr' And he glanced maievoientiy toward
the dukes jester. who. upon the kinea
abrupt entrance had descended from the
platform.
CTo be continued Mondayl