Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-05-24
I.-CoNTrSuEp.

Nevertheless, q little later, when l
found myself on my way to the Hotel
Richelieu under so close a guard that
I could see nothing except the figures
that Immediately surrounded me, I
wished I had given him the money.
At such times, when all hangs in the
balance and the sky is overcast, the
mind runs on luck and old supersti-
lions, and is prone to think a crown
given here may avail there-though
there" be q hundred leagues away.
The Palais Richelieu was at that
time in building, and we were required
to wait in a long, bare gallery, where
the masons were at work. | was kept
a full hour here, bordering uncom-
fortably on the strange whims and fam
cies of the great man who then ruled
France as the kings lieutenant-gen-
eral, with all the kings powers; and
whose life I had once been the means
Of saving by a little timely informa-
ton. On n occasion he had done
something to wipe out the debt; and
at other times he had permitted me to
be free with him. We were not I'M
known to one another, therefore.
Nevertheless, when the doors were
at last thrown open, and l was led
into his presence, my confidence under
went a shock His cold glance, that,
rowing over me, regarded me not as
a man but an item, the steely glitter
of his southern eyes, chilled me to the
bone. The room was bare, the floor
without carpet or covering. Some of
the woodwork lay about, unfinished
and in pieces. But the man-this man,
needed no surroundings. His keen,
pale face, his brilliant eyes, eve his
presence-though he was of no great
height and began already to stoop at
the shoulders-were enough to awe the
boldest. I recalled as I looked at him
a hundred tales of his iron will, his
cold heart, his unerring craft. He had
humbled the kings brother, the splen-
did Duke of Orleans, in the dust. He
had curbed the queen-mother. A doz-
en- heads, the mobiles in France, had
come to the block through him. Only
two years before he had quelled Ro-
chelle; only a few months before he
had crushed the great instruction in
Languedoc; land though the south
stripped of its old privileges, still
seethed with discomfort, no one in this
year 1880 dared lift a hand against
him-openly, at any rate. Under the
surface a hundred plots. a thousand
intrigues, sought his life or his power;
but these, I suppose, are the hap o.
every great a
No wonder, then, that the courage
on which l plumed myself sanl
low on sight Of him; or thai
it was as much as l could do to min
gle with the humility of my SALUTE
some touch of the sangfroid of old &C
workmanship.
And perhaps that had been bette,
left out. For this man was withou
bowels. For a moment, while he stool
looking at me and before he spoke II
me, I gave myself up for lost. Their
was a CLINT of cruel satisfaction in hi
eyes that warned me before he spoke
what he was going to say to me.
II could not have made a bette
catch, M. de Berault," he said, smil
ing villainously, while he gent.
smoothed the fur of a cat that ha'
sprung on the table beside him. IA
old offender and an excellent exam
pie. | doubt it will not stop with yor
But later, we will make you the wal
rant for flying at higher game"
"Monseigneur has handled a swor
himself" I blurted out. The very ROOF
seemed to be growing darker. the al
colder. l was never nearer fear in m
life.
"Yes?" he said, smiling delicatel.
"And so?"
"Will not be too hard on the faiI
ings Of a poor gentleman"
"He shall suffer no more than
rich one" he replied suavely, as h
stroked the cat. Enjoy that satisfa'
ton, M. de Berault. Is that all?"
"Once l was of service to your en-
i%nence," I said desperately.
Payment has been made" he al
swered, more than once. But for ths
I should not have e you, M.
Berault."
THE kings facet" cried, snatcl
ing at the straw he seemed to hol
out.
He laughted cynically, smooth
His thin face, his dark moustache, an
whitening hair, gave him an air
indescribable keenness. II am not IL
king" he said. Besides, I am to-
you have killed as many as six me
in duels. You owe the king, Their
fore, one life at least. You must pa
It. There is no more to be said, M. {
Berault," he continued coldly, turnir
away and beginning to collect son
papers. "The law must take !
course"
I thought he was about to nod
the lieutenant to withdraw me, and
chilling sweat broke out down n
back. I saw the ~scaffold, ] felt Il
cords. A moment, and it would be Il
late! IT have a favor to ask"
stammered desperately, IF your EN-
nence would give me a moment alone
"To what end?" he answered, tur
ing and cycling me with cold disfavo
II know you-your past-all. 1t CT
do nc good, my friend"
Nor harm!" I cried. "And I am
dying man, Monseigneur!"
That is true" he said thoughtful
Still he seemed to hesitate; and .
heart beat fast. At last he looked
the lieutenant. you may leave us
he said shortly. Now" when the {
fcer had withdrawn and left us alor