Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1904-03-04
toopyrisht ~ b. lnsryon Houeh.,
CHAPTER xxxy11.

toopynshA IN. b
CHAPTER XXXvII.
THE MIRACLE UNwRoUGHT.
You do not know my brother, Lady
Catharine."
Thus spoke Will Law, who had been
admitted but half hour since at the
great door of the private hotel where
dwelt the Lady Catharine Knollys.
"Twould seem, then, tits by no
fault OF his" replied Lady Catharine.
holly.
"And is that not well? There are
many in Paris who would fain change
places with you. Lady Catharine."
Would heaven they might" ex-
claimed she. Would that my various
friends, or the project of police, or
heaven knows who that may have
spread the news of my acquaintance
with your brother, would take me out
of that acquaintance"
"They might hold his friendship a
high honor" said Will.
"Oh. an honor! Excellent we'll comes
this distinguished honor. Sirrah, car
riages block my street, filled with those
who beseech my introduction to John
Law. am waylaid If step abroad,
by women-persons of quality, ladies
OF the realm, God knoweth what-and
they beg of me the favor of an intro
duction to John Law! There seems
spread. know not how, a silly ru-
10 =
did scarce more than name a convent
for her attendance, there are now out
all manner of reports of Monsieur
John Laws child, and-what do say
tits monstrous! l protest that l
have come closer than care into the
public thoughts with this prodigy, this
John Law, whose favor is sought by
every one. Honor!-'tis not less than
outraged"
lis but argument that my brother
is a person not without note"
But granted. We have seen his car
rage at your curb they say. insist
that 1t is a mistake. But we saw him
come from your door at such and such
an hour If he came, twas but for
meeting such answer as l have always
given him. Will they never believe
will your brother himself never believe
that, though did he have, as he him
self says, all France in the hollow of
his hand, he could be nothing to me?
Now l will make an end to this.
will leave Paris"
Madam, you might not be allowed
to co."
What! / not allowed to go! And
what would hinder Knoliys of Ban
bury from going when the hour shall
arrive?"
1.-THE regent"
"And why the regent?"
Because Of my brother"
"Your brother!"
'Assuredly. My brother is to-day
king of Paris. II he liked he could
keep you prisoner in Paris. My brother
does as he chooses. He could abolish
parliament tomorrow If he chose.
Ny brother can do all things-except
to win from you. Lady Catharine, one
word OF Kindness. Of respect. Now,
then. he has come to the end. He told
me to come to you and bear his word.
He told me to say to you that this is
the last time he will importune, the
last time that he will implore. Oh,
Lady Catharine! Once before car
ried to you message from John Law
from John Law, not in distress then
more than he is now, even in this hour
Of his success"
Lady Catharine paled as she sank
back into her seat. Her white hand
caught at the lace at her throat. Her
eyes grew dark in their emotion.
Eyes, madam" went on Will Law,
tears shining in his own eyes, twas
I. an unfaithful messenger, who, by
an error, wrought ruin for my brother
and for yourself, even as did for my
SELF Madam. hear me! I would be q
better messenger to-day"
The old wrinkle of perplexity gath
cred between the brows Of the woman
before him. Her face was clouded,
the changeful eyes now deep covered
by their lids.
LdChlu6 LuO VlCCloc WOlN lOl LAoI
crucial moment, Will Law broke fur
Their on into material details. ITO
be explicit. as have said,"l resumed
he, Everything seems to center about
my brother, the director-general Of
finance. He took the old notes of the
government, worth not half their face,
and in q week made them treble their
face value. The king owes him over
one hundred million livres to-day. My
brother has taken over the farming
of the royal taxes. And now he forms
little Company of the Indies; and to
this he adds the charter Of the Senegal
Company. Not content, he adds the
entire trade Of the Indies, of China
and the South Seas. He has been
given the privilege Of the royal farm
ing of tobacco, for which he pays the
king the little trifle of two hundred
million livres, and assures to the king
certain interest moneys, which, need
not say, the king will actually obtain.
In addition to these things, he has
lately been given the mint of France.
The whole coinage of the realm has
been made over to this Company of
the Indies. My brother pays the king
fifty million livres for this privilege,
and this he will DO within fifteen
months. All France is indeed in the
hands Of my brother. Now. call John
Law an adventurer, gambler, if you
will, and If you can; but at least adj
NIT that he has given life and hope to