Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-03-16

Of passage, but before he could enter
young man sprang up and barred the
way.
II would see the Marquis de Ia
Trouerie," said Jarrat.
"You cannot see him, monsieur" The
young mans tone was very firm.
''Who are you?"
"The marquis secretary, monsieur"
Jarrat took a gold crown from his
pocket and offered it to the other with
the easy effrontery of one perfectly
certain Of his ground Every under
ling, it was his belief, had his price,
from lackeys to prime ministers. 1t is
theory which on the whole works not
badly.
The man before him, however, was
of another sort. He put the coin back.
sieur," he repeated.
Cannot, you whelpw said Jarrat,
with his tongue ON his lip and in the
soft tone which with him covered a
White boil of rage. A copper lantern,
pierced with holes, threw yellow beams
down the passage, and in this glare the
young man on the threshold saw his
face, evilly beautiful and distorted.
The coin ratified on the floor.
The young Frenchman stopped to
pick up gold piece. monsieur has
dropped his CROWN" he said, holding
it out.
Jarrat took it and thrust it into his
pocket. "It was too small n douceur,"
he said easily, "eh, master secretary 2"
Most of those on the ship did not
know, SO insular We're the prejudices
of the Anglo-Saxon, that the Marquis
de Ia Troueric was parsonage in his
own country. Even Caron de Beau
marchais, son of matchmaker, that
airy, naive, fantastic charlatan who at
the age of twenty four had washed his
hands at his fathers shop, changed his
clothes and gone to court to give the
four daughters Of Louis XIV. lessons
on the harp-even he was less welcome
Mt the Tuileries or less a favorite of
the young Queen Marie Antoinette than
this same nobleman now aboard the
Two Sisters.
1t is perhaps not to be wondered at
that the passengers knew little of such
things and doubtless for the most part
cared less. Two Annapolis merchants,
loyal since the nonimportation agree
ments had pinched their pockets; a
brace of London factors looking for
likely agencies; n Virginian fresh from
study in the Middle Temple, bound for
the woolsack ut Lancaster; British
quartermaster journeying to Boston
what should such a company know of
Gallo pedigrees or the chatter Of the
French court?
A diplomat might have found in the
presence of the marquis something to
ponder. For at that time strange
things were stirring. Louis XVI,
young, enthusiastic, unaccustomed, was
learning for the first how exceeding
difficult it is to be king. NJ Turgot,
mis- grim old minister of finance, logical,
pitiless, cold as a dogs nose, was pull
ing one way; Beaumarchais, brilliant
as chameleon, fascinating, egotist, in
l.timate Of a French queen, was pulling
another.
And what was the bone of conten-
ton? Whether France should give her
treasure to the secret aid of the Amer
lean colonies. With such counsels in
the air England slept, like surly bull
dog, with one eye open. She watched
at home, and her astute ambassador,
Lord Stormont, kept hawks eye upon
the Tuileries.
So, in itself, there was an interest for
those who knew, attaching to the sud-
den journeying to America of this man,
SO near to the French counsels, at once
noble, a courtier and republican.
And this interest was intensified for
Jarrat, who, mindful of the letter he
carried of confidential import, Rugged
the reflection that he knew the reason
for it.
Jarrat, like many another schemer,
made the error of undertaking the in.
tellectuality of an opponent. He had
small idea that the marquis young
secretary was observant in his turn.
1t was nevertheless the fact. But NJ.
Armand, who had scented him very
early, kept his cabin, and no one
aboard-the ship carried no leecll-saw
his master.
-Four days after the episode of the
gold crown Jarrat tried the skipper
again.
Master Elves chewed bitter cud and
wore habitual dfoop to his eye. Now
the courtesy came as thickly as cold
weather treacle.
"The Marquis de la Trouerie," he an
swered, "ain't on the ship"
Jarrat stepped back heavily. "Not
on the ship, fiend plague me! He is on
the ship"
"Maybap We know better nor l." an.
II