Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-08-18

/
er who was NJ. Bontems. head vaietde-
chambTe. gave sign 20 the officer OF
The guard and led him into the window
alcove from which be had lately come.
Good morning. Captain de Catinat.
Who commands az the main xuardT'
Major Dc Brissac."
"And you viii be heref"
For four hours attend the king"
VERY good He gave me some in
structioa for the officer OF the guard.
he babe me 70 say that NJ. de Vivonne
was not 10 De admitted 20 the grand
lever. You are TO tell him so"
Il shall do So"
Then. should a note come from her
you understand me. the lew one
Nine. de MaintenonTr
Precisely. But il is more discreet
not 70 mention names. Should she send
a note. sou viii take IL and deliver Il
quietly when the king gives you an
opportunity"
1T shall be done"
But IL the other should come. as Is
possible enOugh-the other, you under
stand me. the former
Nine de Montespan."
"Ah, that soldierly tongue OF yours.
captain. Should she come. say. you
viii gently bar her way. with courteous
words. you understand. but on no &C
count IS she to be permitted 10 enter
the royal room"
Very good. Bontems."
And now we have but three min
utes." He STROBE through the rapidly
increasing group OF people in the cor
ridOr with an air Of proud humility. as
beftted man who. n be was a valet
was at least the king OF Wallets by be
| ing the valet OF the king. Close by the
door stood line OF footmen resplen-
/ dent ia their powdered wigs, red plush
coats and silver shoulder knots. lie
turned the handle once more aud slip
| ped into the darkened room
il was a large. square apartment.
with two high windows upon the fur
ther side. curtaineG across with price
less velvet hangings. In one corner a
narrow couch with a rug thrown ecross
II showed where the faithful Bontems
had spent the night
In the very center Of the chamber
there stood large four post bed. with
| curtains OF Gohelin tapestry looped
back from the pillow A square OF pol
ished rails surrounded IL. leaving a
| space some five feet ia width all round
between the Enclosure aud the bedside.
As B0ntems passed noiselessly across
the room. his feet sinking into the
mosslike carpet. there was the heavy.
| close smell OF sleep In the air. aud he
L could bear the long. thin breathing OF
the sleeper. lie passed through the
| opening Ia the rails and stood watch
Ia hand. waiting Tor the exact Instant
when the iron routine OF the court de
manded that the monarch should be
| reused. Beneath him. from under the
| costly green covcrlet OF oriental silk
half buried iu ;he duffy valenciennes
lace which edged the pillow. there pro.
4 truded n round black bristle OF close
| cropped hair with the profile OF curry
Ing nose aud peiulant Up outlined
against the white background. The
valet snapped his watch aud bent over
the sleeper
Il have the honor 20 inform your
majesty that IL is half past :" said he
All The king slowly opened bis
large dark brown eyes. made the sign
of the cross and kissed little dark
reliQuary which BE- drew FROM under
his nichtdress. Then he sat up DO bed
did you give my orders 20 the 9th
Ger OF the guard. Bontemsf'' be asked
Yes. sire"
who Is on duty"
| Major de Brissac at the main guard
and Captain de Catinat In the cor
Fidor"
de Catinat. Al. the young man who
stopped my horse az Fontainebleau.
remember him. You may give the sig
nal. Bontems"
The chief valet walked swiftly across
10 the door and threw u open. In
rushed the officer % the ovens and the
four red coated. white wigged foot
men. ready handed. silent footed. eact
Intent upon his own duties The one
seized upon Bontems rug and couch
and 10 an instant bad whipped then
| OF into an antechamber. another had
/ carried away the silver taper stand
while third drew back the great cur
tains OF stamped velvet aud let a hood
or light into the apartment
| They were hardly gone before a more
august group entered the bedchamber
| Two walked together ia front. the one
a youth little over twenty years OF age
middle sized. incllning 20 stoutness
with slow, pOmpouS bearing. "a vel
| turned leg and "a face which was come
| ~ enough in a masklike fashion. hut
/ which was devoid OF any shadow o.,
expression except perhaps Of an occa
siOnal lurking CLEAN OF mischievou-
humOr. His companion was n man OF
forty, swarthy diSnified ana solemn
AS the pair faced the king there was
sufficient resemblance between the
three faces 10 show that they were Of
| one blood ana 10 enable a stranger e
| guess that the older was monsieur, the
younger brother OF the king, while the
| other was Louis the Dauphin, his only
| iaO34fr, - chilli