The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-29

tion?'
"At once answered the apparently APP
peased master Of the fortress, wiping his
lips. Zone day our western outpost brought
in messenger, and, when We had stripped
the knave, upon him we found NINA
ture and a letter from the princess to the
duke. The latter was prettily writ, with
here and there a rhyme. and moved me
nightly. The eagle hath its mate, L
thought, but the vulture of Hochfels is sin
gle, and this reflection. with the sight or
the picture and that right, fair script, sad
dened me.
"And then on a sudden, came the inspira-
ton. Why not play a hand in this interna-
ti0nal marriage Charles and Francis were
bringing about? commanded the only road
across the mountain; therefore. cid COM
mand the situation. The Emperor and the
King should be but the wooden figures, ana
L would pull the strings TO make them
dance. The duke, your master. why should
ne De more than a name? The princess
letter told me she had never seen her be-
trothed. What easier than to redouble the
sentries in the valley, make prisoners or the
messengers, clap them in the fortress dun
geons, read the missives, and then dispatch
them TO their respective destinations by men
Of my own?,'
Then that was the reason why, on my
way through the mountains, your knaVes
attacked me?' said the listener quickly.
Exactly; to search YOU How you slipped
through their hands / know not" And he
glanced at the other curiously.
Ihey were but poor rogues, answered
the Jester quickly.
Certainly are you not one!' exclaimed
the free baron, with a glance of approval
at the slender figure of his antagonist. Two
or them paid for their carelessness. The
others were so shamed. they told me some
great knight had attacked them. fool in
motley! he laughed. mo wonder the rogues
hung their heads! But in deceivng me- ne
master TO run into an unknown peril-his
ignorance that fool Of the duke, or fool
wearing the emblem of the Emperor. had
gone to Francis's court
You were saying, Sir Free Baron, you
intended TO read the messages between the
princess and the duke, and afterward to dis
patch them by messengers OF your own!'
interrupted the PLEASANT.
Such were my plans. Moreover, / pos
sessed clerk-a knave who had killed an
abbot and fled from the monastery-a man
of poetry, wit and sentiment. Whenever the
letters lacked for ardor, and the lovers had
grown too timid, him l set to forge post
script, or indite new missives, which the
rogue did most prettily, having studied
l0vemaking under the monks. And thus,
Sir Fool. L courted and won the princess
"Of certainty, your wooing was at least
dpy S Knf the Of es shs had
my master known the deception, you
would. perhaps. have paid dearly for it"
Your master, forsooth!' laughed the out
law lord. "A puny scion OF WORKOUT an
cestry! Such a woman as the princess
wants a man of Drawn and muscle; no
Weakling or the nursery.
We'll" said the fool, slowly, you became
intermediary between the princess and the
duke, and the King and the Emperor. But
to come into the heart of France; to the
Kings very palace-did you not fear detec-
tion?''
"How?" retorted the other, raising his
head and resting his eyes, bloodshot and
heavy, on the FOOLS impressive features.
The road between the two monarchs is
mine; no message can now pass. The En-
he
way here is long, and'-wlth smile-I
have ample time for the enterprise ere the
alarm can be given.
And you paved the way for your coming
by altering the letters of the duke, or forg-
ing new ones?'' suggested the listener.
How else? A word added here and there;
postscript, or even a pagei AS for their
highnesses' seals, any fool can break and
mend seal. In week the duke will won
der at the princess's silence; in fortnight
he will become uneasy; in a month he will
learn the cage has been left open and the
bird hath flown. Then, too, shall the gates
of the dungeon be set ajar, and the true.
but tardy. messengers permitted to go their
respective ways. Is it not a nice adventure?
Am i not a filter leader than your duke?"
Undoubtedly" returned the jester He
sits at home. while you are here in his stead.
But what will the princess say when she
learns?"
Nothing. She loves me already"
The fool turned pale; the hand that held
his glass, however. was firm, and he set the
she may weep little, but it will pass
like a summer shower. Women are weak;
women yielding. Have l not reason to
know?' he burst out. Il, "a"
Brusquely he arose from his chair, leav-
ing the sentence uncompleted. Sternly he
surveyed the jester.
why not take service with meY' he con-
tinued, abruptly. Austria is ripe to revolt
against the tyranny of the Emperor. With
the discomfort in the Netherlands, the dis
sensions in Spain. Europe is like field, cut
Nsx1x
He paused TO allow the force of his words
to appeal to the others imagination. What
say your he continued. will you serve
me?'
.'The matters worth thinking over" an
swered the fool, evasively.
''Well, take your time,' said the King S
guest, regarding him more sharply. "And
now, as the candles are low and the flask is
empty, you had better take your leave"
At this intimation that the other consid-
cred the interview ended, the fool started
to his feet and deliberately made his way to
the door opening into the corridor
"Good-nighti' he said, and was about to
depart when the free baron held him with a
word.
Hold, Why have you not attempted to
unmask me-beforeP'
Steadily the two looked at each other; the
eyes of the elder man, cruel, deep, all-ob-
serving; those of the younger steady, fear
less, undismayed Few of his troopers could
withstand the sinister penetration of Louis
of Hochfels's gaze, but on the jester 1t
seemed TO nave no more erect IMAM the
casual glance of one of Francis's courtiers.
"You knew-and yet you made no sign?''
continued the master of the fortress.
Because like strong play and did not
wish to spoil it-too so0n!'
The ouestioner's brow fell; the lids half
yelled the dark, savage eyes, but the mouth
relaxed "Ah, you always have your an
swer." he returned with apparent cordiality.
"Good-night-and, by the by, our truce is at
an end
.sThe truce-and the wine,' said the jester
as with a ceremonious bow, he vanished
amid the shadows in the hall.
Slowly the free baron closed the door and
locked it; looked at the cross and at the
bed but made no motion toward either.
thought the self-styled duke. Does he seek
for higher rewards by betraying me? Or is
it, then, Triboulet told the truth? Is he an
aspiring lover of the princess? Or is he
only faithful to his master? Why have
failed to read him? AS though film lay
across his eyes. that index to a mans soul,''
Motionless the free baron stood. long pom
richly-chased clock began to strike must
cally, yet admonishingly. Whereupon he
glanced at the cross, hesitated, then, not
ing the lateness of the hour, and with. per-
haps, a mental reservation to retrieve his
negligence on the morrow, he turned from
the silver, bejeweled symbol and immedi-
ately sought the sensuouS bodily enjoyment
of a couch fit for a King or the Pope him.
self.
CHAPTER TX.
THE FLIGHT OF THE FOOL.
Another festal day had come and gone
The crimson shafts of the dying sun had
succumbed to the frightening shadows OF