Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1904-04-28
toopyright. 1902. BY Emerson Hough.l
CHAPTER xxxIII.
Ever SAID SIZE NAY.

lie COACH pTOSeeu6u St6duily Oh lis
way, passing in toward that quarter
where the high-piled, peaked roofs and
jagged spires betokened ancient Paris.
On every hand arose confused sounds
from the streets, now filled with a
populace merry as though some
pleasant carnival were just beginning.
Shopkeeper called across to his. neigh
Dor, tradesman gossiped with gallant.
Even the stoIid faces of the plodding
peasants, fresh past the gate-tax and
bound for the markets to seek what
little there remained after giving to the
king. bore an unwonted look, as though
hope might yet succeed to their sur
prise
"Ohei Marie, called one stout dame
to another, who stood smiling in her
doorway near ~ See the fine coach
coming. That is the sort you and
shall have one of these days, now that
the king is dead. God bless the new
king, and may he die youngi A plague
to all kings, Marie And now come and
sit with my man and me, for we've a
bottle left, and while it lasts we drink
freedom from all kings!'
''You speak words of gold, Suzanne, =
was the reply. Surely | will drink
with you, and wish pleasant and
speedy death to kings"
John Law and his companions heard
broken bits of such speech as this as
they passed on.
''Ah, they talk replied he at last,
turning toward his companions, "and
this is talk which means something.
Within the year we shall see Paris up
side down. These people are ready
for any new thing. But and his face
lost some of its gravity the streets
are none too safe to-day, my lady.
Therefore you must forgive me if do
not set you down, but keep you pris-
oner until you reach your own gates.
'Tis not your fault that your carriage
broke down on the road from Marty;
and as for my brother Will and my
self, we cannot forego a good fortune
which enables us at last to destroy a
certain long-standing debt of a car
riage ride given us, once upon a time,
by the Lady Catharine Knollys"
''At least, then, we shall be well
acquit on both sides" replied the soft
voice of the woman. 81 may, perhaps,
be an unwilling prisoner for so short
time. "
Madam, l would God it might be
forever!''
It was the same John Law of old who
made this impetuous reply, and indeed
he seemed scarce changed by the pass
ing of these few years of time It was
the audacious youth of the English
highway who now looked at her with
grave face, yet with eyes that shone.
Some years had indeed passed since
Law, turning his back upon the appeal
of the wide New World, had again set
foot upon the shores of England, from
which his departure had been so
singular. Driven by the goads of re-
morse, it had been his first thought
to seek out the Lady Catharine Knoll
lys; and SO intent had he been on this
quest, that he learned almost without
emotion of the kings pardon which
had been entered, discharging him o.
further penalty of the law Of England
Meeting Lady Catharine, he learned
as have others since and before him
that human soul may have laws in
flexible; that the iron bars of woni-
ans resolve may bar one out, even as
prison doors may bar him in He
found the Lady Catharine unshake-
able in her resolve not to see him OF
speak with him. Whereat he ragged, ex-
postulated by post, waited, wayiaid
and so at length gained an interview
which taught him many things.
Rejected, as he was now, by the new
ministry of England, none the less
every capital of Europe came presently
to know John Law, gambler, student
and inancier. Before every ruler on
the continent he laid his system OF
financial revolution, and one by one
they smiled, or shrugged, or scoffed
at him. Baffied once more in his dear
est purpose. he took again to play,
play in such Colossal and audacious
form as never yet had been seen even
in the gayest courts of a time when
gaming was a vice to be called ma
tional. No hazard was too great for
him, no success and no reverse sufl-
GENTLY keen to cause him any appar-
ent concern. There was no risk sharp
enough to deaden the gnawing in his
soul, no excitement strong enough to
wipe away from his mind the black
panorama Of his past.
He won princely fortunes and cast
them away again With the figure and
the air of a prince. he gained greater
reputation than any prince of Europe.
Upon him were spent the blandish-
ments of the fairest women of his time.
Yet not this, not all this, served to
steady his energies, now unbalanced,
speeding without guidance. The gold,
heaped high on the tables, was not
enough to stupefy his mind, not enough
though he doubled and trebled it,