Potosi journal., 1906-12-26
Oopyrashs. isaa, By se.alsy J. weyman.) }
CHAPTER vIII.-Coxr1NUEp.

The lieutenant said, tuggtng his gray
mustaches and standing like a ram
rod. I'VE shall leave you the house
and madam and you can take your
line to fiEd thu man. For ourselves,
We shall draw of our men to the vii.
lage and we shall take our line. That
is all, M. le Capitaine. is 1t not?'
Il think so," the captain muttered,
looking anywhere but at me.
"Then we bid you good-day, Mon
sieur," the lieutenant added. And in
4 moment he turned his companion
round, and the two retired up the walk
to the house, leaving me to look after
them in a black At OF rage and In
credulity. At the first flush there was
something SO offensive in the manner
Of their going that anger had the up
per hand thought of the leutenant's
words, and l cursed him to hell with
not forget them in a hurry: Was
playing the traitor to the cardinal or
to these women-which?" Mon Dieu!
II ever question-but there! some day
! would punish him. And the captain!
could put an end to his amusement,
at any rate; and | would. Doubtless
among the country bucks Of Auch he
but would cut his comb for him some
fine morning hehind the barracks.
And then, as grew cooler I began
to wonder why they were going, and
what they were going to do. They
might be already on the track, or
have the information they required un-
der hand; in that case l could under
stand the movement. But if they were
still searching vaguely, uncertain
whether their quarry were in the neigh
borhood or not. and uncertain how
long they might have to stay it seemed
incredible that soldiers should move
from good quarters to bad without mo-
tive
| wandered down the garden think
ing sullenly of this. and pettishly
cutting off the heads of the flowers
with my sheated sword After all, If
they found and arrested the man what
then? | should have to make peace
with the cardinal as best might He
would have gained his point, but not
through me, and I should have to look
to myself. On the other hand, II I
anticipated them-and, as a fact,
felt that | could lay my hand on the
fugitive within a few hours-there
would come a time when | must face
mademoiselle.
A little while back that had not
seemed so difficult thing. From the
day of our first meeting-and in
higher degree since that afternoon
when she had lashed me with her scorn
my views of her. and my feelings
towards her, had been strangely made
up of antagonism and sympathy; of
repulsion, because in her past and
present she was so different from me;
of yearning, because she was a woman
and friendless. Then | had duped her
and bought her confidence by returning
the jewels, and in a measure | had
sated nv vengeance: and then, as
consequence sympathy had again be-
gun to get the better, until now hard
1y knew my own mind or what l in
tended. stood there in the garden
with that conviction suddenly new
born in my mind and then, in a
moment. heard her step and turned
to find her behind me-
Her face was like April, smiles
breaking through her tears AS she
stood with tall hedge of flowers be-
hind her, I started to see how beauti-
full she was 81 am here in search of
you, M. de Barthe," she said, coloring
slightly, perhaps because my eyes be-
trayed my thought, Ito thank you.
Yon have not fought, and vet you have
with me, and she tells me that they
are gOing,'
"Going?" I said Eyes. Mademoiselle,
they are leaving the house.
She did not understand my reserva-
tion What magic have you used?"
she said. almost gaily-it was wonder
full how hope had changed her. More
over. am curious to learn how you
managed to avoid fighting"
after taking q blow?" l said bit
tcrly
Monsieur. did not mean that" she
said reproachfully. But her face
Clouded. saw that viewed in this light
in which | suppose she had not
seen 1.-THE matter perplexed her still
more.
took a sudden resolution Have
you ever heard. MademoiSelle." | said
Eravely, plucking off while | spoke the
dead leaves from plant beside me,
"of gentleman by name De Berault?
Known in Paris. so | have heard, by
Robriquet of the Black Death?"
"The duellist?" she answered, in
wonder. yes, | have heard of him.
He killed young gentleman of this
province at Nancy two years back. 1t
was sad story" she continued, shud-
dering. "of dreadful man. God keep
our friends from such!'
"Amen!" | said quietly. But, in
spite of myself could not meet her
eyes.
"Why?" she answered. quickly TAX
ing alarm at my silence. What of
him. NJ de Barthe? Why have you
mentioned him?'
Because he is here, Mademoiselle." ."
"Here?" she exclaimed.
Eyes, Mademoiselle," l answered So
berly. Il am he"
cuApTEp ~