Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-31

sterHiy resolved as ever to carry his purpose
through; nothing should be suffered to come
between him and it; but the last few hours
had revealed certain obstacles to the i'm
portance of which even his selfish rage
could not blind him.
He had had convincing proof that in
threatening Gabrielle he would provoke far
greater and more dangerous antagonism
than any he had yet encountered at any
time of his government.
The first sign of this had come from the
duchess herself She had sent for him soon
after Lucette had left the castle, and after
avowing her share in procuring Gerard's
escape, had met his storm of invective with
a stubborn resistance eliminating in SOL
emn declaration that If harm done to
a hair of Gabrieles head, she would have
herself carried in her bed out into streets of
Morvaix and denounce him and his acts to
the citizens, and If that did not avail she
would take the matter, if 1t cost her her
life, to the King of France himself
He had laughed at her threats. but they
had gone home none the less, and had rem
dered him i'll at ease.
More was to come, however. Babillon
was right in saying the city reused by
the news that Gabrielle was fugitive from
the castle troops. She was beloved in Nor
walk by people of every class rich and poor
alike; and hundreds of them were ready to
spend their lives in her defense.
The governors agents in the city had
themselves had been to the castle to seek
assurances of her safety from the governor
Hot words had passed on both sides but
the governor had found it discreet to APP
pease them by giving the assurances of her
safety and explaining that the object of the
pursuit was merely prisoner, murderer,
who had escaped from the castle
Hints had been given him, too discreetly
ana almost tlmorouSly, by some of his off
GERS that the concern on Gabrielie's account
was not confined 10 the city but had also
spread TO such of the troops as were Nor
Walk men, and that reliance upon them in
any attack upon her could not be fully
placed.
Considerations of this disquieting char
acter could not but produce an effect even
- upon the iron of his WILL but he still saw
a way to gain his end without open con-
met with the forces supporting the Malin-
court influence He could coerce Gabrielle
through her lover. If Gerard could be re-
captured he would have once more the
means of secretly compelling the consent
which 1t might be dangerous to force from
her by open violence. She would consent
10 De his wife to save Gerard.
ana here 1t was that he found the position
at Maincourt so disconcerting. He did
not doubt that Gabrielle was in the maisou
with Gerard and he had gone there antici-
pating no more opposition to his entry than
the presence of a large body of troops could
at once remove. But instead of that he
found the maison barred against him and
held by force which his soldiers eye
showed him both powerful and ably
GenfelSe,
That he could, carry the place with the
resources al his command was not, of
course, open to question; although there
would be stout resistance involving blood
shed and the loss of many lives on both
sides. 1t was not this which made him hes
itate. But to batter the maison TO pieces
and burn it while Gabrielle was inside with
the defenders, was at once to subject her to
imminent personal danger and to rouse
every one of her supporters in the city
to active interference.
There was another course open, however;
10 starve those in Malincourt to surrender.
1t involved delay, always distasteful to his
1mpetuouS, oVerbearing will but ii was less
dangerous and in the end would be equally
effective. Thus he decided to adopt it. and
at the same time to keep up a sufficient
show of force to intimidate those in Malin-
court He could easily surround the house
so that not a soul could leave it. and by
an occasional feint could harry those de-
Tending it and thus hasten their submits
sion.
First, however, he would make sure that
Gabrielle was really in Malincourt, and at
the end of the hour of grace he had allow
cd he caused another summons for ad-
mission to be made and when as before
Pascal appeared in answer to it, he demand
ed to speak with Gabrielle.
She came az once, with Gerard at her side
and very proud and defiant she looked
Il wish you to understand the nature OF
mademoiselle, and the consequences be-
gan the governor
Il understand it perfectly. my lord she
answered reSOlutely
You are harboring at Malincourt a pr s.
oner of mine, and this neither the laws of
France nor 1 myself can permit"
There is no one in Malincourt my lord
who can rightly be termed your prisoner.
Whom do you mean2'
The man who stands at your side at
whose escape from my prison you con-
nived."
You mean the Lord Gerard de Bourbon.
II is by his commands that the doors of
Malincourt are closed against you. And
they will remain closed, my lord"
They cannot remain closed against the
forces at my disposal"
IF you as governor of MorvaiX think you
dare to use violence against the son of your
suzerain, the great Duke de Bourbon, you
must act you will"
II demand that that man be given UP to
me"
+.The blood of the Bourbon soldiers here
Will be shed freely in defense of their
master. and for the rest the responsibility
is yours, my lord, not mine"
Il give you this last chance to avoid a
conflict
Gerard whispered to her before she an
swered.
You ask me to surrender, and am au-
thorized by my Lord Gerard de Bourbon
to answer you thus. Cry a truce for
forty-eight hours and we will come to you
voluntarily TO the castle"
Il VIII not give you forty eight seconds
was the angry reply, and with that the
governor turned away.
He rapidly completed his dispositions for
the tented attack which commenced almost
Immediately. 1t was delivered with much
show of force from four different points
around the house, and was accompanied by
a great deal of musketry firing both
sides But this. owing to the darkness,
did little or no harm TO either party.
The result satisfied the governor that
there really was considerable body of men
opposed to him. and he drew off his troops
and surrounded the maison, and left in
structons with the officer in command TO
keep up the pretense of an attack and to
make one or two demonstrations during the
night. Then he rode back to the castle,
carrying with him the conviction that in
day or two at most Gerard would be again
In his hands.
Inside Malincourt a very different view
OF the position was taken. The attack was
regarded as the proof of the governors in
tention to make good his threat to storm
the maison and burn 1t; while the ease with
which it was beaten off only served to
rouse the suspicion that it was no more
than the preface 20 o much more serious
effort.
HIS object is 10 test our strength" said
Gerard to Pascal, land to see whether
really are in any force. We may look for
the real fighting later. II We had known,
would have saved our powder"
we could ill spare it, Slight as the