Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-03-11

lowed close by rush of humanity
which the guards and the Swiss to-
| gether had much pains to force back
into the anteroom.
How, now, Monsieur Las, how
now?" fumed the regent, his heavy
face glowing dull red, his prominent
eyes still more protruding, his fore
head bent into heavy frown. ''You
deny entrance to our person, who are
next to the body of his majesty?"
did you have delay?" asked Law,
sweetly. "'Twas unfortunate"
"Twas execrable!"
"True. 1 myself find these crowds
execrable."
NAY, eXecrable to suffer this an
noyance of delay!"
"Your graces pardon said Law
coolly. you should have made an
appointment few days in advance"
What! The regent of France need
to arrange a day Wien he would see Z
servant"
Your grace is unfortunate in his
choice of words" replied Law, blandly.
I am not your servant. am your
MASTER"
The regent sank back into chair,
gasping, his hand clutching at the hilt
of his sword.
Seize him! Seize him! To the bas-
tile with him! The presumer! The
impostor!"
Yet even the guards hesitated before
the commanding presence Of that man
whom all had been SO long accustomed
to obey. With hand appraised, Law
gazed at them for one instant, and
then gave them no further attention.
Yet these words I must hasten to
qualify" resumed he. "True, am at
this moment your master, your grace,
but two minutes hence, and for all
time hereafter, shall no longer be
your master. Your grace was once SO
good as to make me head of certain
financial matters, and to give me con-
troll of them. The fabric of this Mes
sasebe, which you see without, was all
my own. 1t was this which made me
master of Paris, and of every man
within the gates of Paris. So far, very
we'll. My plans were honest, and the
growth of France-nay, let us say the
resurrection of France-the new life
of France-shows how my own plans
were made and how we'll knew that
which was to happen. l made you
rich, your grace. gave you funds to
pay off millions of your private debts,
millions to crafty your fancies. l
gave you more millions to pay the
| debts of France. France and her re-
gent have again taken position Of
honor in the eyes of the world. You
may we'll call me master of your fate,
| who have been able to accomplish these
things. So long as you knew your
master, you did well. Now your grace
has seen fit to change masters. He
! would be his own master again. There
cannot be two in control Of concern
like this. Sir, the two minutes have
elapsed. ! arm your humble servantn'
| The regent still sat staring from his
chair, and speech was yet denied him.
There are your people. There is
your France" said Law, reckoning as
he turned toward the window and
pointing to the crowd without. There
| is your France. Now handle 1t, my
master! Here are the reins! Now
drive; but see that you be careful how
you drive. Come, your grace" said
he, mockingly, over his shoulder.
Come, and see your France!"
There, there, Monsieur Las, did
you wrong, perhaps" said he. "But
as to these hasty words, pray recon
slider them at once. Twill have bad
effect should breath of this gel
at1oat. Indeed, twas because of some
1 such thing that came to see you this
morning. A most unspeakable, most
incredible thing hath occurred. II
comes to me with certain confirmation
that there have been shares sold upon
the street at 10000 livres to the &C.
1 ton, whereas, as you very we'll know
5000 should be the lowest price to.
4 day."
"And what of that, your grace?" said
Law, calmly SIS it not what you
planned? Is 1t not what you had beer
expecting?"
"How, sirrah! What do you mean?'
"Why, mean this, your grace" saiG
Law, calmly, that since you have
taken the reins, it is you who mus
drive the chariot shall suggest ne
plans, shall offer no remedy. But, il
you still lack ability to see how anG
why this thing has attained this stu.
alton, I will take so much trouble a,
to make it plain"
go on, then, sir" said the regent
SIS not all we'll? Is there any danger?'
| "As to danger" said Law, Eve can
not call it time of danger after the
worst has happened"
what do you mean?"
''Why, that the worst has happened
But, as was about to say, shall tel
you how it happened"
The gaze of the regent fell. His
hand trembled as he fumbled at hi.
sword belt.
"Your grace" said Law, calmly, Twill
do me the Kindness to remember tina
when first asked of you the charter
of the Banque Generate, to be taker
privately in the name of myself ant
my brother, l told you that any banker
merited the punishment of death If HI
issued notes or bills of exchange with
out having their effective value SAT-
J in his own strong boxes"
"Well, what OF thar" queried tn,
regent, weakly.
Nothing, your grace, except tina
your grace deserves the punishment
of DEATH"
"Jow siri Good Godin
"If the truth Of this matter SHOULD
ever become known. those people GU
. there that France wonder. would fea,