Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-19
A Prisoner.


Gerard had been taken away, and the In
slant he released her she turned upon him
in magnificent Indignation. She drew her
self to her full height and looked at MIN
with eyes flashing with anger.
Were | a man you should pay the pen
atty here now. But there are those IN my
household who Will not tamely see me mai
treated and If you consult your safety you
will avoid Malincourt II you come .here'
| will have you driven from my door.
She turned her back upon him ana APP
preached the governor.
For the moment you have your way, M lie
Due; but the day has not yet dawned when
the influence of my house of Malincourt
stands for naught in MorvaiX.
II will see you later mademoiselle, when
your indignation has somewhat spent ltsell
and you can better appreciate what mas oc-
Cured" With IA bow he moved away, leav-
ing Gabrielle free to go where she would;
Eager to have some one 10 Whom she
could pour out the tale OF her wrongs anu
on whose sympathy she could rely, Gabrielle
went tn the apartments of the duchess.
The two men watched her go, both moved
by widely different feelings. Each had
been much disturbed by her outburst.
De Probable, thinking naturally of him.
self, was disposed to regret the part he had
taken. With the doors of Malincourt shut
against him he saw the plans Tor MS own
future advancement in danger of collapse.
He had meant TO climb on Gabrielle's favor
with the duke to greater things.
But the governor was SCdtctly lSSS lui 10
than Gabrielle herself, and never being m
clined to blame himself laid the who-e fault
upon de Probable.
Gabrielle's fierce resentment had shown
the mistake of attacking Gerard IN her
presence; and the fact that he himself mad
given the orders only heightened his rage
against de Probable.
81 am to be an outcast, 1t seems, because
of this" said Probable, IN as nonchalant
an air as he could assume.
when a man blunders as you have ne
has no cause to quarrel with the cohse-
quences" was the blunt reply.
Put not your faith in princes, he SAID
lightly. IF you mean that having first
used me and now abused me you have no
further need of my services. say so, and
well make an end of things
Il have no use for blunderers like you,
declared the duke. sullenly.
Grant that blunder has been made
as of course it has-and say II you ike
that / made IT. whether 1t is better to
how to repair it?'' He paused a moment
TO note how this was taken, and then
added: AT least you have the man safe
under bolts and bars
"And in doing It have changed your
nieces passive resistance into active vio-
lent hatred"
"Oh If it comes to that, it would never
have been love match on her side,' and
he laughed.
ITO the devil with your SneerS, crleo
the governor fiercely.
"Life's too sour a thing to be taken so
seriously. l meant no taunt; no more
than fact. You would have had TO force
Il: and will have to do no more now. Her
rage will cool. AS l say you have the
man and can treat him at will, either as
the scamp de Cobalt or the spy 1 was able
to prove him. Give her some few hours
to think over his danger, and then see
how far she'll be ready to go to save his
Efe'
. who can the fellow be-" De Probable
took heart at the question. He was not
going to be thrown overheard at once;
ana he answered with gathering assur-
anCe.
Nay. rather what does 1t matter who
he is? He came here as Gerard de Cobalt;
he owned II to me; l can swear to that.
Treat him no other. l call him by his
name that your people might hear; what
j said to you before the arrest stands as
good now as then-deal with him for that
murder at Cambria. You have him tight
enough by that rope and answer his
reputation by simply disbelieving 1t and
regarding IT as made when he found him
self in mess. Gerard de Cobalt he was,
ana Gereard dc Cobalt L should let him
remain.
But who is he? And what does he
here?''
Have you no persuasive methods In this
castle of yours? Even spies can be induced
to speak in old Pierre's chamber. Have
him placed there, and you and 1 can visit
him later
10 i seek your ADVICE Wnere 10 place
my prisoners?" asked the governor, angrily.
But l will have him sent there" he added
after a pause.
''Ahi'' and de Probable smiled again cum
nngly. "All will soon be well again, then
and this little mistake made good. Few
men can long resist the cracking arguments
of the rack"
The governor was silent long enough for
de Probable to think of another scheme.
There is. OF course, another way. The
lever YOU have with Gabrielle is this preci-
Gus fellows life and safety, and If he
CHANGED TO get MANNED in the progress of
Promise her his life If she will consent to
marry you at once Then send him out of
the city-with an escort. Escorts have been
known to quarrel with their charges be-
fore now" he added drily This man. IL
he be in truth spy, may be dangerous
There is that monk, too. who should also
be put to the question. Perchance he
knows all that you need to learn"
We Will speak of 1t later must think"
said the governor.
Meanwhile Gabrielle had carried her
storm of wrath To the duchess and had
poured out her story with half-incoherent
vehemence.
"He should have proclaimed himself
Gabrielle and then all this trouble might
sense, but love and youth are contemptu-
Gus of common sense. To Gabrielle 1t
savOred of distrust of Gerard
''He did rightly. He could not do wrong
duchess she cried. His motive was
nobleness itself. We drove him into as
Stunning my cousins part; he did 1t for my
sake and mine only; and he could not
make himself known in his own name until
he had justified himself in my eyes. You
would not have had him do otherwise. |
would not. not for a thousand worlds
1T would have been less romantic but
very much simpler. my dear child" was
the practical reply. very kindly spoken
But we have to deal with the matter as
1t stands. Tell me why did the duke have
him placed under arrest?"
For no cause exception. l burn with
shame when l think of it. The duke be-
heVes that he cares for me-. Gerards life
Is In danger because he loves me and
love him That is the infamy of II all"
For some moments her friend made no
reply.
Il cannot believe ii, Gabrielle" she said
at last in voice of such pain that
Gabrielle turned and threw herself at her
side and kissed her
Forgive me. dearest friend oh, forgive
me. l did not think what l was saying
In my mad selfish sorrow / forgot the
suffering was causing you"
This then was the reason why he urged
me today. i understand now Ii comes as
The last ot many wrongs, the crown of SO
many sorrOws,' and deep and bitter sigh
escaped her.
Forgive me, dearest and truest forgive
me, whispered Gabrielle.
1t is not you who need seek forgiveness
Gabrlelle-and he need never ask it, He hid
this from me, pleading every other ground
policy eNpediency, the good of the people