Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-10-04

CHAPTER XIv.-CoNT1NuEp.

CHAPTER XIv.-CoNTINuED.
Somehow the strange things l had
seen since | left my lodging, the sur
prises 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 a rush. My heart heaved
suddenly in my breast. l strove for a
v of the old hardihood; but for the
moment I could not find a word.
"Well?" he said lightly, a faint smile
lifting his mustache. "You do not
speak. You left Auch with him on the
twenty-fourth, M. de Berault. So
much know. And you reached Paris
without him last night. He has not
given you the slip?" with sudden ami
nation.
mo, Monseigneur," I muttered.
"Ha! That is good" he answered,
sinking back again in his chair. For
the moment-but I knew l could de-
pend on you. And now where is he?"
he continued. What have you done
with him: He knows much and the
sooner l know it, the better. Are your
people bringing him, M. de Berault?"
mo, Monseigneur," l stammered,
with dry lips. His very good humor,
his benignity, appalled, me. l knew
how terrible would be the change, how
fearful his rage, when l should tell
him the truth. And yet that /, Gil de
Berault, should tremble before any
man! l spurred myself, as it were,
to the task. mo, Your Eminence," l
said, with the courage of despair. II
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.
"And why" he said, in a voice like
the rasping Of a file.
Because I took him unfairly" I
answered desperately. Because, Mon
seigneur, l am a gentleman and this
task should have been given to one
who was not. I took him, if you must
know" / continued impatiently-the
fence once crossed, l was growing
bolder-"by logging a woman's steps
and winning her confidence and betray.
Ing it. And, whatever l have done
Ill in my life-of which you were good
enough to throw something in my
teeth when I was last here-I have
never done that and I will mott"
"And SO you set him free?"
eyes"
After you had brought him to
Auch?"
Eyes"
And in point of fact saved him from
railing into the hands of the COM
mandant at Auch?"
Yes" answered desperately.
Then what of the trust l placed in
you, sirrah?" ne rejoined, in a terri.
Bile voice; and STOPPING still farther
forward, he probed me with his eyes.
You who pirate Of trust and conf
dence, who received your life On parcle
and but for your promise to me would
rave been carrion this month past.
answer me that! What of the trust |
placed in you?"
THE answer is simple" said.
Struggling my shoulders with a touch
OF my Did self. II am here to pay tn.
penalty"
And do you think that I do not
know why?' he retortcd, striking his
one hand on the arm of the chair with
a force which startled me. Because
you have heard. Sir, that my power
is gone! That I, who was yesterday
The kings right hand, am to-day dried
up. withered and paralyzed! Because
but have a carei Have a care!" he
continued not loudly, but in a voice
like a dogs snarl. You, and those
others! Have a care I say, or you may
find yourself mistaken yeti"
"As Heaven shall judge me-" an
swered solemnly, that is not true.
Until l reached Paris last night l knew
nothing Of this report. I came here
with a single mind, to redeem my
honor by placing again in your Emf
nence's hands that which you gave me
or trust"
For a moment he remained in tie
same attitude, staring at me fixedly.
Then his face somewhat relaxed. "Pe
good enough to ring that BELL" he
said.
1t stood on q table near me. I rang
1t and a velvet-footed man in black
came in and gliding up to the cardinal
placed a paper in his hand. The car
dinal looked at 1t while the man stood
with his head o%bsequiously bent: my
heart beat ~furiously. Very good" tie
cardinal said, after a pause, which
seemed to me to be endless. "Let the
doors be thrown open"
The man bowed low and retired be.
hind the screen. I heard a little bell
ring somewhere in the silence and in
a moment the cardinal stood up. "Fol!
low me-" he said, with a strange flash
Of his keen eyes.
Astonished, l stood aside while he
passed to the screen; then I followed
him. Outside the first door, which
stood open, we found eight or nine
persons-pages, a monk, the major
domo and several guards waiting like
mutes. These signed to me to precede
them and fell in behind us and In that