Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1903-01-29
oaut was traitor, Villain"
1 nl1is, 1aai1.th leanenad hut he lie,

Louis mirth deepened, but he kept
the gravity of his speech.
Take care, sweeting, lest you vale
out of your depth. But you women are
life interests you, plead for 1t to my
lord, the grand constable"
The girl made gesture of despair.
''Thibaut is pitiless," she said. Her
mouth hardened as she thought of the
man she hated and of her own failure
to thrust him from her path, but it
softened on the next words of the king.
''frhibaut is no longer in office. Try
your luck with his successor.
She leaned forward beseechingly.
His name sire?"
Louis looked at her thoughtfully.
He is the count of Montcorbier, he
said. "He is stranger in our court,
but he has found a lodging in my
heart. He came under safe conduct
from the south last night. He is rec
commended to me highly by our brother
of Provence. 1 believe he will serve me
we'll. and 1 am sure he will always be
lenient to loneliness"
The king smiled affably as the ready
lies slipped smoothly from his lips. He
was amusing himself immensely with
the threads of the fairy tale he was
spinning.
You Shall have audience with him."
The king paused. He caught sight on
the steps of the dark familith figure
of the royal barber, who was approach
ing him deferentially. He called to
him:
olivier, by and by. when my Lord
of Montcorbier takes the aid in the
garden. bring this lady to him. You
upderstand?'
lie turned to katherine again and
once more tlckled her chin with the
ying rose.
Now, go. girl, or my wife and your
queen will be wanting her roses
Katherine again saluted the king and
went Slowly up the steps into the pail
acc. Louis watched her as she went,
watched her until she was out of
sight, and then turned sharply upon
his servant
well, goodman barber, what of
Francois yillon?'
"a pot of drugged wine last night
sent him to sleep in prison. This
morning he woke in q palace, Tapped
in the linen of royal bed. He has
been washed and barbered, sumptu-
ously dressed and rarely perfumed. He
is so changed that his dearest friend
not seem to know himself. He carries
himself as if he had been a courtIer all
his days.
The king chuckled.
IL have little doubt that when the
jackass wore the lions skin he thought
himself a lion. But is he not amazed?"
Too much amazed, sire, to betray
anaZement His attendants assure him,
with the gravest faces, that he Is the
grand constable of France. l believe
he thinks himself In a dream, and, find
ing the dream delicate, accepts it,"
Remember" said Louis, ito keep to
the tale. This fellow came here from
Provence last night. None must know
who he is save you and I and Tristan.
Blow 1T about to all the court that he is
the count of Montcorbier, the favorite
friend and counsellor. l have a liking
for you, Olivier as you know, and iris
tan and l are very good friends, but
neither of your heads are safe on their
shoulders if this sport of mine be
spoiled by indiscretions."
Olivier bowed deeply.
II cannot speak for Tristan sire" he
said but can speak for myself The
god I1arpocrates is not more symbolical
than | when 1T is my business to hold
my tongue"
ut is WE'LL" said Louis. IT will an
swer for Tristan. Have this fellow sent
to me here
With another reverence Olivier left
the king and assembled the steps into
the palace. The king shifted penSlVely
at the rose which Katherine had given
to him. The perfume seemed to sooth
him and he unused, summing himself and
feeding his fancy with the entertain
ment which playing with the lives of
others always afforded to him.
This Jack and Jill shall dance to my
whimsy like dolls upon wire. 1t would
be rare sport if Mistress Katherine dis
dained Louis to decline upon this beg
gar. He shall hang for hooking me.
Eut he carried himself like a king for
all his tatters and patches, and he shall
taste of splendor."
CHANGING up at the terrace he per-
ceived the returning figure of Olivier
lie Dain, and guessed that his bench
man was serving as herald to the new
grand constable. Behind Olivier came
| II little cluster of pages. and behind
them again the king could see shining
| figure in cloth of gold.
| Here comes my mountebank," he
said to himself, "as pompous as if he
We're born to the purple" He moved
| swiftly to the door of the tower anG
entered it, disappearing as the little
procession descended the steps into the
rose garden. There was a little grating
| in the door of the tower, a little grating
| With a sliding shutter. and through this
grating the king now peered with in
| finite entertainment at the progress OF
! the comedy himself had planned Oil
| vier had spoken truly when he sale
! that Master Nillon had been greatly
changed. The barbers own handiworl
= had so cleansed and shaved his coun