Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-12-20
UNDER THE
 RED ROBE By STANLEY J. WHITMAN
lcoDyright. .iss4. by Stanley J. wsyman.l

thing might this time come of it. But the landlord pooh-poohed the idea and I more than agreed with him. Even M. de Cocheforet. who was for moment inclined to build on it, gave up hope when he heard that it came only by way of Montauban: whence, since its i reduction the year before, all sorts of canards against the cardinal were al- ways on the wing. They kill him about once month, !" 1 our host said, with grin. Sometimes it is monsieur who is to prove match 1 for him. sometimes Cesar Monsieur the Duke of Vendome, you understand and sometimes the Quaen-mother But since NJ. de Chalais and the mar shal made mess of it and paid forfeit, pin my faith to His Eminence-that is his new title, they tell me-
 Things are quiet round here" I asked.
 1 Perfectly. Since the Languedoc business came to an end, all goes well, :" he answered :-=- ..-. Mademoiselle had retired on our ar l rival, so that her brother and were for an hour or two thrown together left him at liberty to separate himself | if he pleased, but he did not use the opportunity. A kind of comradeship, rendered piquant by our peculiar re- lations. had begun to spring up be- 1 tween US. He seemed to take pleasure in my company. more than once ral- lied me on my post of jailer. would ask 1 humorously if he might do this or that and once even inquired what I should do if he broke his parole.
 Or take it this Vray," he continued i hippantly. Suppose had struck you in the back this evening. in that cursed swamp by the river, N. de Berault: What then? Pardieu! am astonished at myself that did not do 1t. could have been in Montauban within 24 hours and found 50 hiding places and no one the wiser" ."Except your sister I said quietly. He laughed and shrugged his shoul. ders. Yes" he said. "I am afraid I must have put her out of the way too. to preserve my self-respect. You are right" And on that he fell into reverie which held him for few minutes. Then. I found him looking at me with a kind of frank perplexity that invited question What is it?" I said. You have fought a great many duels?"
 "Yes," said
 Did you never strike foul blow in one of them?" !! Never. Why do you ask2"
 we'll wanted to confirm an im- pression," he said. ITO be frank. M. de Berault, I seem to see in you two men"
 Two men?"
 "Yes. two men" he answered. One, the man who captured me: the other, the man who let my friend go free to- day
 Tt surprised you that let him go? That was prudence. NJ. de Cocheforet," replied. nothing more I am an old gambler-I know when the stakes are too high for me. The man who caught a lion in his wolf-pit had no great catch"
 NO, that is true" he answered. smiling. And yeti find two men in your skin"
 q dare say that there are. two in most mems skins" answered. with a sigh. but not always together. Sometimes one is there and sometimes the other"
 How does the one like taking up the others work" he asked keenI..
 I shrugged my shoulders. That Is as may be-" said. You do not take an estate without debts
 He did not answer for a moment and I fsncied that his thoughts had re- verted 10 his own case. But on sud den he looked at me again. will you answer me a question, NJ. de Berault ?" he said. with winning smile
 Perhaps" I said.
 Then tel melt is a tale that is l am sure. worth the telling. What was 1t that. in a very evil hour for me sent you in search of me-"
 The cardinal I answered.
 T did not ask who. he replied dryly. -'T asked, what. Yo1 had no gruGge against mel"
 No"
 No knowledge of mel"
 No"
 Then what on earth induced ycu to do it7 Heavens. man he con- tinued bluntly. rising and speaking with greater freedom than he had be- fore used. nature never intended you for 2 tip-staT! What was it. then '''
 rose too. l. was very late. and the room vas empty. the fire low. T will tell you-tomorrov.- said. T shall have something to say to you then. of which that will be part"
 He looked at me in great astonish- msnt; with little suspicion, too But put him o1. and called for a light and by going al once to bed. cut short his questions
 Those who know the great south rad 10 AEsn. and how the vineyards rise in terraces north of the toEn. one level Of red earth above another. green in summer. but in late autumn bare and stony will remember q particular plsna where the ruzd tvo leagues from
 
 top of the hiil four ways meet. and there. plain to he seen against the sky is fnssrpost. indicating which Esy leads to Bsrdssux. and which to Mon faubzr srS zFfrE tn pe-Svuazsr $.