The Washington times., 1903-02-08
sire. I have a favor to ask


/ Louis glanced at her keenIy-
Our effort has been to anticipate
what mademoiseIIe wishes. But it seems
/ that we have failed"
your majesty has always been
thoughtful"
And this favor that you have in
mind?'
Is that you viii be generous
Your speeches do not agree"
viii You grant my favor"
As mademoiseUe has given me no op-
portunity to judge what manner Of IA
vor she expects. it is hardly a fair ques-
ton" replied Louis, adroitIy evading q
direct answer.
But will you?"
Perhaps it is already granted"
Really, SIRE"
The brooch which the Partisan Jewel
er was exhibiting to US yesterday"
DO not attribute it to ingratitude
nor to my not valuiug any gift tina.
comes from your majesty, but grant me
another favor in place Of it. sire"
DO you mean
4 ask for the lives Of the Comte ana
Comtesse de Louesme." murmured
jeanette. kneerng at the feet of the
King.
Mon Dteu. VIII those precious law
breakers haunt me to my grave? Be
sides. mademoiseue. the thing you ask
is impossible"
Impossible? Is anything impossible
for the King Of France"
Nothing but what you ask"
TT is only mercy that I ask
They have committed murder"
No; they only defended themselves
from persecution.
-Ha, Who was your informant? ."
This young girl. She fmpIores your
clemency."
1T is what the Comtesse de Moyen
asked-but 7 am powerless to act"
Then I shall go with my petition to
the Due de ChoiseuI," replied the daring
woman, starting to rise. An angry flush
passed over the face Of the King.
Think you De Choiseul is master
here?'' he demanded. sharply
When your majesty is powerIess to
.reprieve two simple and unfortunate VIC
tins of a conspiracy"
"MademoiseHe. it is Impossible"
"tAggai91a that foolish word. when
Fou-.'
1T is impossible for me to deny such
a charming petitioner" continued the
King. Rise, mademoIseIIe; your place
is not at my feet. but at my side.
shall instruct my lord chancellor to
grant the Comte and Comtesse de
Louesme a reprieve pending a further
investigation
My King"
''There-there, let Us dismiss the sub
iect. Politics will be the death Of US
all But this is the first favor you have
asked Of me, and / am glad that it was
prompted by such an unselfsh motive"
To this jeanette murmured a word of
protest, but the pleasure she derived
from her double triumph was hardly
concealed. She had accomplished her de
sire in gaining a .reprieve for the De
Louesmes, andashe had awakened the
strongest passion of which Louis was
capabIe-jealousy Of his royal authority
His majesty led the way to the steps
Of Petit Trianon, and, much TO the yex-
alton Of the Duchesse de Grammont AID
Nine. de Brionne. who were unobseryed
spectators of the scene, tenderly babe the
new fayorite adieu and saw her disap-
pear in the perfumed interior with her
companion.
He fingered at the foot Of the stair
few moments as though mentally con
trasting her with Nine de Pompa-
dour. who had seldom OF never asked a
favor for another-unless it was a Iettre
de cachet. Nine. de Pompadour had
wasted nineteen years in dying, only to
leave Versailles for the last time in a
peItfng shower. On observing the
funeral cortege from a palace window the
blase monarch had only remarked. with
q yawn. that madame la marquise had
chosen q bad day for her Journey. The
King now turned and whistIed TO his
dogs.
CHAPTER XIV.