The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-12-25
Blu A. CONAN DOYLE

silence, madame. This is intoler-
abler'
1T is indeed intolerabler' cried the
angry lady. throwing all discretion to
the winds. "Oh. I am not afraid of
you. sire. have loved you. but I have
never feared you. / leave you here. /
leave you with your conscience and
your-your lady confessor But one
word of truth you shall hear before
20. You have been false TO your wife,
and you have been false TO your mis-
tress, but it is only now that find that
you can be false also to your word /"
She swept him an indignant courtesy
and glided with head erect out of the
room.
The king sprang from his chair as If
/ he had been stung. Accustomed as he
was to his gentle little wife and the
even gentler La VALERIE. such lam
guage as this had never before intrud-
ed itself upon the royal ears. And then
his whole soul rose up in anger at her.
Mt the woman who had dared to raise
her voice against him. He gave an in
articulate cry of rage and rushed to
the door,
"Sire" Nine. de Maintenon, who
had watched keenly the swift play of
his emotions over his expressive face,
took two quick steps forward and laid
her hand upon his arm.
II will go after her"
"And why, sire?''
ITO forbid her the court"
"But, sire
you heard her! 1t is infamous!
shall co.
But. sire. could you not writer"
NO. no; l shall see her" He pulled
open the door.
''Oh. sire, be firm, them 1t was with
an anxious face that she watched him
start off. walking rapidly, with angry
gestures, down the corridor. Then she
turned back and, dropping upon her
knees on the prie-dieu, bowed her head
in prayer for the king, for herself and
for France.
De Catinat, the guardsman. had en-
ployed himself in showing his young
friend from over the water all the won-el
ders of the great palace.
De Catinat had arranged that the
American should remain with his /
friend Major de Brissac, as the time
Hid tOLue IOullu lOT Ills OWN SccOnu
turn OF guard. He had hardly stationed
himself in the corridor when he was
astonished to see the king. without es-
cort or attendants. walking swiftly T
down the passage. His delicate face +
was disfigured with anger. and his /
mouth was set grimly. like that of a i
man who had taken q momentous res
olution
"Oficer of the guard" said he short.
Iy.
Eyes, sire
II wish your assistance"
II am ut your command, sire"
els there Il subaltern here?"
Lieutenant de la Tremouille is at
the side guard"
Every we'll You will place him In
You will yourself go to the
apartment of NJ. de Vivonne. If he is
not there you must go and seek him
Wherever ne is. you must find him
within the hour"
Yes. sire"
You will give him an order from
me. At 6 O'Clock he is to bs In his car
rage at the east gate Of the palace.
His sister. Nine. de Montespan. will
await him there. and be Is charged by
me to drive her to the chateau of Petit
Bourg. You will tell him that he is an
swerable to me for her arrival there"
Eyes. sire" De Catinat raised his
sword in salute and started upon his
mission.
The king passed on down the CORR !
Tor and opened a door which led him
nto a magnificent anteroom, all one
,laze Of mirrors and gold, furnished
o a marvel with the most delicate l
Ebony and silver suit on Il deep red
arpet of Aleppo. as soft and yielding |
IS the mos. Of a forest.
Without knocking. he opened the
loor farther and passed on into the '
ady's boudoir.
1t was a large and lofty room. very
Inherent from that from which he had