The Weiser semi-weekly signal. (Weiser, Washington Co., Idaho) 1904-1911, 1905-02-25

me. 1 did not know" He sat down
composedly. ''To what do l owe this
pleasureT tentatively.
Jarrat leaned elbows on the table
and regarded him. You are no fool,
he said at length. "All the better"
NJ. Armand wore look of polite III
Quiry.
my word for it." said Jarrat sudden
ly, '-there are richer paymasters than
Louis XVI"
Tie other fronted him fiercely, men
acingly. What mean your be cried.
Jarrat laughed You see that
know what was the marquis business
in the colonies"
lie went and closed the door.
Now" he said, returning. M. Ar
mand, master secretary, clerk of dead
master, have proposition 30 make
to you"
"And IT," said the young foreigner
slowly haif hour later, looking across
into the ferret eyes IF l do this
what you call itf-masquerade; If /,
the humble secretary. the clerk, as you
have said II, become changed for the
purposes of my lord the earl to the
courtier, the NOBLE
He paused They were sitting at
ease now, and ON Jarrat's face salts
faction was spread thinly, like oil. The
negotiating mood became him, and his
companions distrustful look had van
ished into something that smacked
more of friendfiness.
Think you not" the latter finished,
that these Virginians will know the
differenceT'
"'Sbloodr' scoffed Jarrat 'What
know they here in the desert of French
mobiles? No more than my lord bishop
of London's scullery maidr
An expression of curious intentness
lurked in Armand's face. He was 81
lent searching the other with half
smiling gaze
"And the life. Like you balls and
dances with the quality? You shall be
sought after. Would you set the fash
ions for the gallantA? They will jostle
the lackeys to hob with you. Gads
life The colonials are cubs at boot
licking lordl The fat of the land
tell you-rides, hunts, dances, wenches
and a merry season.
The secretary's eyes sparkled. ''You
think l would do it well?- he asked
naively. "Ah, you never saw my mas
teri He was real nobleman He
was born so. One cannot learn it,
monsieur 1t is in the blood But l.?
I? l have not the ton, the address ?"
He looked inquiringly at the other.
''Pshaw" Jarrat said. 81 suppose
your master was fine enough, but fine
feathers will do 1t. There's not one of
them win scent the difference. l know
them.-
NJ. Armand's lids were dropped, his
face thoughtful.
you wish me-" he reflected slowly,
ITO do two things. My master, as you
have guessed-he was to be the eye of
the king of France in the Virginias.
Very good You want me to be that
eye. Only I shall see things always
bad for the Wings, eh2 And you would
have me write such letters as you shall
frame, but In my masters hand, SO
Louis shall be fooled, so he shall think
the Virginias loyal to the English
crown, 50 ne shall no longer plan to
offer the aid of France"
'Sooth," applauded Jarrat, at couldn't
be palmer. You have written 30 your
masters hand and should know his sig
nature Neither De Vergennes nor
Beaumarchais need be the wiser, and
be sure no one in the colonies win be-"
And If in spite of what wereswritten
him this foolish king should still wish
to comfort?'
why. then the message he sends to
his dear marquis Will come safe to you.
and we shall chuckle over 1t in our
closets But small chance of that. The
king leaned upon your master. A dozen
letters of the proper complexion and he
VIII forget he ever dreamed of fleets
a-saihng westward"
You have the true finesse, M. lie
Capitaine" NJ. Armand said gravely.
Permit me to congratulate you
The reward is a tidy one" Jarrat
licked the words lingeringly. "'Twould
take you longer to earn a commission
In your own country"
In France to be an officer in the ar
my one must prove descent from a fam
lily ennobled for at least a hundred
years."
Nor are doubloons 10 be plucked
from the bushes by any stool pigeon"
1T is not too much. monsieur the
frenchman interposed, because You
pay me for what know of my master
habits, speech, writings, SEAL, all. 1 |
can write so that the king of France |
viii never know be is dead-never tin I |
choose. He will send no other; no-not |
III he has found 1t out But when he
does what then? Shall escape his
WRATH Shall not be an alien, an ex-
lie from my countryr"
Jarrat bent toward him and smoke
'miilngly In the arrogance Of full