Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-05-11

would have it the cavalcade should
tarry a few days. They cen stopped
at my door," he went on Ostentatious.
~. and called for a glass of wine for
the princess. lis true she took IL with
n frown, but the h%ardships Of journey.
ing do not agree with grand folks"
These last words the jester, absorbed
In thought, did not hear. With his
back to the man, he stood gazing
through the high window. apparently
across the street. But between the two
houses on the other side Of the thor.
oughfare was n considerable open
space. and through this. far away on
the mount, could be seen the chateau,
"And yet It was q handsome caval.
cade.' continued the proprietor. his
prediction for pomp overcoming his
churlishness; 1.-The princess on a stecd
with velvet housings, set with precious
stones; her ladies' attired in eastern
silks; behind, the men of arms-Fran.
els troops in rich nrmor. the dukes
soldiers more simply arrayed. At the
head of the procession rode
Have the horses brought out at
once"
Thus %brusquely interrupted. the inn.
keeper stared blankly at his guest
who had left the window and now
stood in the center Of the room con-
fronting him. And the breakfast?"
asked the mar.
II have changed my mind and dd
not want it," was the curt response.
Hastily making his way to the room
Of the young girl, the jester knocked
on the door.
Are you awake. Jacqueline;"
"Yes," answered a voice from within.
I'VE must ride forth as soon as pos.
sible. The duke is at the chateau"
AT the chateau" she exclaimed in
surprise. Then after a pause: And
Triboulet saw us. He will tell that you
are here. l will come down at once.
Watt she added, as an afterthought
seized her.
He heard her step TO the window.
Il think the gates of the chateau are
open,' she said. Il am not sure; 1t Is
SO far
DO you see any one on the road
leading down.
NO, CduIe Tic answer.
"Nor could 1. But perhaps they have
already passed.
Again the Jester returned to the tap.
room. where he found the landlord pol.
fishing the pewter tankards.
The horses:' said the fool sharply.
THE stable boy will bring them to
the door," was the response. and the
%innkeeper held n pot in the air and
leisureIy surveyed the shining surface.
The r%eckoning!"
Deliberately the man replaced the re-
ceptacle IN the table and, pressing his
thumbs together. began slowly to cal.
culate. Bottle of wine. 10 sous; capon,
20 sous: two rooms when the Jester
took from his coat the purse the young
girl had given him. and, selecting 8
coin. threw ii on the board. At the
sight Of the purse and its golden con.
tents the countenance Of the proprietor
Modified. His price forthwith varied
with his changed estimate Of his
guests condition. 1.-TWO rooms. 90
sous: fodder. 40 SOUS" he went on.
"That would make
Keep the COIN" said the PLEASANT.
"and have the stable boy make haste"
With new alacrity the innkeeper
thrust the pistole into a leathern pouch
he carried at his girdle. A guest who
paid so we'll could afford to be eccen-
trio. and If he and the young lady
chose to travel without breakfast it
vas obviously not for the purpose of
economy. Therefore. exclaiming some
thing about "a lazy rascal that needed
stirring up" the now interested land
lord was about to go to the barn him
self when, with a loud Gathering. a
party of horsemen rode up to the tav-
ern. The door burst open. and Tri-
boulet, followed by a tall, rugged look
ing man and Il party OF troopers, Ell
tered the hall.
Swiftly the jester glanced around
him. The room had no other door than
that before which the troopers were
crowded. lie was fairly caught in II
trap. Remorsefully his thoughts flew
to the young girl and the trust she
had imposed in him. How had he re-
warded that confidence? BY a temerity
which made This %treachery on the part
of the hunchback possible. Even now
before him stood Triboulet. bowling
ironically.
II trust you are well:" jeered the
dwarf, and. with n light. dancing step.
began to survey the other from side