Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-03-06

| ''Sire." the duchess was saying In heI
 most persuasive manner, while you have Charles-once your keeper-iu your power, here in the chateau, you
 will surely punish him for the past and avenge yourself? You will make him revoke the treaty of Madrid or shut him up in one of Louis XI.'s '. oubliettes?'
 i T will persuade him if can," re. piled the king coldly, but never force him. My honor, madam. is dearer to me than my interests"
 The favorite said no more of cher ished project, knowing Francis temper 7 and his stubbornness when crossed. She merely shrugged her white shoul- ders and watched him closely. The monarch had not scrupled once to break his covenant with Charles, hold ing that treaties made under duress, by force majeure, were legally void. while now But the king was com posed of contradictions, or was her own Influence waning?
 She had observed a new expression cross his countenance when in the retinue of the emperor he had noted the daughter of the constable, such a tenderness as she remembered at Bay onne when the king had looked upon her, the duchess, for the nrst time. When she next spoke her words were the outcoNe of this train of thought. '"To think the jestress, Jacqueline, should turn out the daughter of that traitor. the constable of Dubrois," she observed keenly.
 "A traitor, certainly" said Francis, "but also brave man. Perhaps we pressed him too hard" he added retro spectively. We were young in years and hot tempered"
 "Your majesty remembers the girl-a dark browed. bold creature?' remark ed the duchess, smiling amiably.
 Dark browed, perhaps, madam. but I observed nothing bold in her de- meanor," answered the king.
 ''What, a jestress and not bold! A girl who frequented Fools hall, who ran away from court with the plai- sant!' She glanced at him mischie- vously, like willful child, but before his frown the smile faded. Involunta- rily she clinched her hands.
 Madam" he replied cynically, ''I have always noticed that women arc poor judges of their own sex.''
 And, conducting her to seat, he raised her jeweled fingers perfunctori- ly to his lips and, wheeling abruptly, left her.
 "Ah." thought Triboulet ominously. who had been closely observing them, "the king is much displeased."
 Had the duchess observed the mon- arch's lack of warmth? At any rate. somewhat perplexedly she regarded the departing figure of the king, then, humming lightly, turned to a mirror to adjust ringlet which had fallen from the golden net binding her tresses.
 Mere de Dieu, woman never held man or king by sighing," she thought, remembering the Countess of Chateau. briant, a veritable Niobe when the monarch had sent her home.
 But Triboulet drew wry face His little heart was beating tremulously. Dark shadows crossed his mind. Two portentous stars had appeared in the horoscope of his destiny-he who had been the foreign fool: she who was the daughter of the constable Almost fiercely the hunchback surveyed the beautiful woman before him. With her downfall would come his own, and he believed the king had wearied of her. How hateful was her fair face to him ut that moment! Already in imagination he experienced the bitter ness of the fall from his high estates and shudderingly looked back to his own lowly beginnings beggaxly street player of bagpipes, ragged, wretched, importunlng passersby for coppers, re- viled by every urchin. But she, meet ing his glance and reading his thought, only clapped her hands recklessly.
 ''H0w unhappy you lock-" she said.
 'Madam, do you think the duker- he began.
 "I think he will cut of your head" she exclaimed. and Triboulet turned yellow, but a few moments later took heart, the duchess was so lightsome.
 By my sword-if I had one-our jestress has made a triumphant re- turn" commented Caillette as he stood with the Duke of Friedwald near one of the windows, surveying the animat- ed scene. Already are some of the ladies jealous as Barbary pigeons. Her appearance has been remarked by the Due de Montrin and other gentlemen in attendance. and-look! Now the great De Guise approaches her. Here one belongs to everybody"
 The other did not answer. and Gail. lette glanced quickly at him. You will not think me overbold," he went on after a moments hesitation. "if mention what is being whispered by themg' including in a look and the uplifting of his. eyebrows the entire court.
 The duke laid his hand warmly on the shoulder of the poet fool. "Is there not that between us which precludes the questionw
 T should not venture to speak about it." continued Caillette. meeting the dukes gaze frankly. but that you hx, ~s1v