Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-06-07
u.-CoNrIruzD.


1t was of good size, but wore, l fam
cied, a gloomy aspect. A great yew
hedge, which seemed to enclose a walk
or bowling-green, hid the ground floor
of the east wing from view, while q
formal rose garden, stiff even in ne
elect, lay in front of the main building.
The west wing, whose lower roofs fell
gradually away to the woods, probably
contained the stables and g~ranaries.
I stood a moment only, but marked
all, and noted how the road reached
the house and which windows were
open to attack; then l turned and
FASTENED back. Fortunately, l met no
one between the house and the village,
and was able to enter the inn with an
air of the most complete innocence.
Short as had been my absence, l
found things altered there. Round the
door loitered and chartered three
fstrangers-stout, well-armed fellows,
whose bearing suggested a curious
mixture of smugness and independence.
Half-a-dozen packhorses stood tethered
to the post in front of the house; and
the landlords manner, from being rude
and churlish only, had grown preplexed
and almost timid. One Of the strangers,
I soon found, supplied him with wine;
the others were travelling merchants,
who rode in the first ones company
for the sake of safety. All were sub
stantial men from Tarbes-solid bur-
gesses; and l was not long in guessing
that my host, fearing what might leak
out before them and particularly that
l might refer to the previous nights
disturbance, was on tenteThooks while
they remained.
For a time this did not suggest any,
thing to me. But when we had all
taken our seats for supper there came
an addition to the party. The door
opened and the fellow whom I had
saen the night before with Madam de
{'ocheforet entered and took a stool by
the fire. l felt sure that he was n Of
the servants at the chateau; and in a
fash his presence inspired me with the
most feasible plan for obtaining ad-
mission which I had yet hit upon. l
felt myself growing hot at the thought
lit seemed so full of promise and OF
danger-and on the instant, without
giving myself time to think too much,
l began to carry it into effect.
I called for two or three bottles of
better wine and, assuming a jovial
air, passed it round the table. When
we had drunk a few glasses, I fell to
talking and, choosing politics, took
the side of the Languedoc party and
the malcontents in so reckless a fash
ion that the innkeeper was beside him.
self at my imprudence. The merchants,
who belonged to the class with whom
the cardinal was always most popular,
looked first astonished and then en-
ragged. But I was not to be checked.
Hints and sour looks were lost upon
me. I grew more o%utspoken with every
glass l drank to the Rochellois.
swore it would not be long before they
raised their heads again; and at last
while the innkeeper and his wife were
engaged in lighting the lamp, I passed
round the bottle and called on all fol
a toast.
ell give you one to begin," | Drag
ged noisily. ga gentleman's toast!
A southern toast! Here is confusion
to the cardinal and a health to all who
hate him!"
"Mon Dieu!" one of the strangers
cried, springing from his seat in
rage. 81 am not going to stomach that!
Is your house a common treason-hole,'
he continued, turning f%uriously on thu
landlord, chat you suffer this?"
"Hoity-toity!" I answered, COOL!
keeping my seat. What is all this
Don't you relish my toast, little man?'
"No-nor you'll" he retorted holly
whoever you my bel"
"Then l will give you another"
answered, with a hlccough. per
haps it will be more to your taste.
Here is the Duke of Orleans, and ma.
he soon be kfng!"
CIrA pTEp TIT