Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-12-06
UNDER, THE
 RED ROBE
Ccopyright. .lss.. by Stanley J. weyman.,
By STANLEY J. WHITMAN

iuS. IHOuSHI oi' tllS pal ioi GU SoSuo- foret, and the dainty table, and the stiffness, and the scented pot-herbs; and, though was too old a soldier to eat the worse because my spoon lacked washing, I felt the change and laid it savagely at mademoiselles door.
 The landlord, watching me stealthi- ly from his place by the hearth, read my thoughts and chuckled aloud. Palace fare, palace manners!" hS muttered scornfully "Set a beggar oh horseback and he will ride-back to the inn!"
 Keep a civil tongue, will you!" I answered, scowling at him.
 "Have you finished?" he retorted. I rose, without deigning to reply, and going to the fire drew off my boots, which were wet through. He, on the instant, swept off wine and loaf to the cupboard, and then, coming back for the platter I had used, took it, opened the back door, and went out, leaving the door ajar The draught which came in beat the flame of the lamp this way and that, and gave the dingy, gloomy room an air still more miserable. rose angrily from the fire and went to the door, intending to close it with bang.
 But when reached it saw some thing between door and jamb which stayed my hand. The door led to a shed in which the housewife washed pots and the like. I felt some sur prise, therefore, when found light there at this time of night; still more surprise when saw what she was do- ing.
 She was seated on the mud floor, with a rushlight before her, and on either side of her high-piled heap of refuse and rubbish. From one of these, at the moment caught sight of her, she was sorting things-horrible, filthy sweepings of road or fioor-to the oth- CT; shaking and sitting each article as she passed it across, and then talk ing up another and repeating the &C., tiop with it, and so on: all minutely, warily, with an air of so much pa- tience and persistence that stood wondering. Some things-rags-she held up between her eyes and the light, some she passed through her fingers, some she fairly tore in pieces. And all the time her husband stood watching her greedily, my platter still in his if her cfr narprotinr fascinated him.
 I stood looking, also, for half min ute, perhaps; then the mans eye, raised for a single second to the door way, met mine. He started, muttered something to his wife, and, quick as thought, kicked the light out, leaving the shed in darkness. Cursing him for an ill-conditioned fellow. walked back to the fire laughing. In twinkling he followed me, his face dark with | rage.
 "Ventre saint gris!' he exclaimed, thrusting it close to mine. "Ts not a mans house his own?"
 Ut is, for me-" I answered coolly, shrugging my shoulders. And his wife: if she likes to pick dirty rags at this hour. that is your affair"
 Pig of a spy!" he cried, foaming with rage.
 was angry enough at bottom, but had nothing to gain by quarreling with this fellow; and curtly bade him remember himself. Your mistress gave you your orders" said contemptu- ously. "Obey them."
 He spat on the floor, but at the same time he grew calmer. You are right there" he answered spitefully. What mater. after all since you leave to- morrow at six? Your horse has been sent down, and your baggage is above. |"
 ''I will go to it. retorted. "I want none of your company. Give me a light, fellow!"
 He obeyed reluctantly, and, glad to turn my back on him. I went up the ladder, still wondering faintly, in the midst of my annoyance. what his wife was about that my chance detection of her had SO enraged him. Even now he was not quite himself. He followed me with abuse. and. deprived by my de- parture of any other means of show ing his spite. fell to shouting through the floor. bidding me remember six o'clock and be stirring; with other taunts. which did not cease until he had tired himself out.
 The sight of my belongings-which I had left a few hours before at the chateau-strewn about the floor of this 1 garret. went some way towards firing me again. But I was worn out The indignities and mishaps of the even ing had, for once. crushed my spirit, and after swearing an oath or two began to pack my bags. Vengeance I would have; but the time and man. ner I left for daylight thought Be- yond six o'clock in the morning I did not look forward: and if lOnged for anything 1t was for a little of the Ar maEnae I had wasted on those lOuts of merchants in the kitchen below. It might have done me good now
 I had wesrily strapped up one ba- and nearly filled the other. when I came upon something which did, for the moment. rouse the devil in me This vas the tiny oTangeoolored sschet which msdemoiseIle had dropped the night I first saw her at the inn. and which it sill be re- msmbsrsd I picked up. Since that night had not seen it. and had as good as ro----ssr~ IA Nr- aS I fr1Hn1 m nv