Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-20

standing behind a screen
SIS that M. de Berault?" asked a
thin. high-pitched voice.
eyes, Monseigneur," I answered,
trembling.
"Then come, my friend, and talk
to me-"
went round the screen; and know
not how it was, the watching crowd
outside, the vacant antechamber in
1 which | had stood. the stillness-all
seemed concentrated here, and gave to
the man / saw before me a. dignity
which he had never possessed for me
when the world passed through his
doors, and the proudest fawned on
him for smile. He sat in a great
chair on the farther side of the hearth,
a little red skull-cap on his head, his
fine hands lying motionless in his lap.
The collar of fawn which fell over his
red cape was quite plain, but the skirts
Of his red robe were covered with rich
lace and the order of the Holy Ghost
shone on his breast. Among the null
titudinous papers on the great table
near him saw sword and pistols
lying; and some tapestry that covered
a little table behind him failed to
hide pair Of spurred riding boots.
But HEN spite of these signs of trou-
ble-looked towards me as advanced,
with face mild and almost benign.
a face in which strove in vain to find
traces of last nights passion. So that
1t flashed across me that If this man
really stood-and afterward l knew he
did-on the thin razor-edge between
life and death, between the supreme
Of earthly power, lord of France, and
arbiter of Europe, and the nothing.
ness of the clod, he justified his fame.
He gave weaker natures no room for
| triumph.
The thought was no sooner enter
tanned than it was gone. "And so you
are back at last, M. de Berault?" he
said, gently. II have been expecting
to see you since nine this morning."
"Your Eminence knew then"
muttered.
.'That you returned to Paris by the
Orleans gate last evening, alone?"
He fitted together the ends of his
fingers, and looked at me over them
with incrutable eyes. Eyes, knew
ALI that last night. And now of your
mission? You have been faithful and
diligent, lam sure. Where is hep
stared at him, and was dumb
Somehow the strange things I had
seen since I left my lodging, the sur
prises l had found awaiting me here,
had driven my own fortunes, my own
peril, out of my head, until this mo-
ment. Now, at this question, all re-
turned with rush. NY heart heaved
suddenly in my breast 1 strove for
SAVIOR of the old hardihood; but for the
, moment could not find word.
"Well?" he said lightly, a faint smile
lifting his mustache. 'rYou do not
speak. You left Auch with him on the
twenty-fourth, M. de Berault. So
much I know. And you reached Paris
without him last night. He has not
given you the slip?" with sudden ami
| nation.
mo, Monseigneur," l muttered.
cha! That is good" he answered,
sinking back again in his chair. "For
the moment-but knew l could de-
pend on you. And now where is hep
he continued. What have you done
with him: He knows much and the
sooner know it, the better. Are your
people bringing him, M. de Berault? p"
"No, Monseigneur," stammered,
with dry lips, His very good humor,
his benignity, appalled, me. I knew
how terrible would be the change, how
fearful his rage, when I should tell
him the truth. And yet that 1, Gil de
| Berault, should tremble before any
man! I spurred myself, as it were
to the task. mo. Your Eminence."
said, with the courage of despair. Il
have not brought him, because I have
set him free'
Because you have-what?" he ex-
claimed. He leaned forward, his hands
on the arm of his chair; and his gilt
tering eyes, growing each instant
smaller, seemed to read my soul.
Because have let him CO." I re.
peated.
| Anu WHY lie Sdlu, III q VOICE like
the rasping of file.
Because | took him unfairly" |
answered desperately. Because, Mon
seigneur, l am gentleman and this
task should have been given to one
who was not. took him, if you must
know" 1 continued impatiently-the
] fence once crossed, was growing
bolder-"by logging a womans steps
and winning her confidence and betray.
ing it. And, whatever have done
i'll in my life-of which you were good
enough to throw something in my
teeth when was last here-I have
never done that and will not!"
"And SO you set him free?"
Eyes"
AFTER you had brought him ia
Auch?"
Eyes"
And in point of fact saved him from
falling into the hands of the com
mandant at Auch?"
| YES" I answered desnerateIy