Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1906-05-17
CHAPTER I.
Copyright, 1854, BY stanley J. werman.l
AT zAToN's.

the fool, little knowing the man with
whom he had to deal, and as little how
to lose like a gentleman, flung tho
words in my teeth. He thought, I1a
be sworn, that | should storm and
swear and rufle it like any common
cock of the hackle. But that was
never Gil de Berault's way. For a
few seconds after he had spoken l did
not ever look at him. l passed my
eye Understanding, bien %entendu--
round the ring of waiting faces, saw
that there was no n except De POM
bal I had u to fear; and then at
last I rose and looked at the fool with
the grim face l have known, impose on
older and wiser e
Marked cards, M. l'Anglais?" l
said, with a chilling sneer. "They
are used, l am told, to trap players
not unbirched schoolboys."
"Yet l say that they are marked"
he replied holly, in his queer foreign
jargon. "In my last hand l had
nothing. You doubted the stakes.
Bah, Sir, you knew! You have swim
died mel"
Monsieur Is easy to swindle-when
he plays with a mirror behind him."
l answered tartly. And at that there
was a great roar of laughter, which
might have been heard in the street,
and which brought to the table every
one In the clearinghouse whom his vio-
lence had not already attracted. But
I did not relax my face. I waited
until ill was quiet again, and then
waving aside two or three who stood
between us and the entrance, | pointed
gravely to the door. There IL a little
space behind the church Of st. Jacques,
M. IEtranger," | said. putting on my
hat and taking my cloak on my arm.
Doubtless you will accompany me
thither?"
He snatched up his hat, his face
burning with shame and rage. with
pleasure!" ne blurted out. ITO the
devil, if you like!"
! thought the matter arranged, when
the marquis laid his hand on the young
fellows arm and checked him. This
must not be-" he said, turning from
him to me with his grand fine gentle
mans air. "You know me, M. de
Beranlt. This matter has gone far
enough"
'Too far, M. de Pombal!" l answered
bitterly. "Still, if you wish to take
the gentlenan's place, | shall raise no
objection"
"Chut, mani" he retorted, Struggling
his shoulders negligently. II know
you, and | dc not fight with men Of
your stamp Nor need this gentle
man"
Undoubtedly" I replied, bowling
low, eff he prefers to be caned in the
streets"
That stung the marquis. "Have
a care! have a care!" he cried holly.
'You go too far, M. Berault."
"De Berault, if you please" I OBJ
jected, cycling him sternly. "My fami-
ly has born the de as long as yours,
M. de Pombal."
He could not deny that and he
answered, "As you please" at the same
time restraining his friend by a ges-
ture. But none the less, take my
advice" he continued. "The cardinal
has forbidden dueling, and this time
he means it! You have been in trouble
once and gon. free. A second time it
may fare worse with. you. Let this
gentleman go, therefore, M. de Berault.
Besides-why, shame upon you, mani"
he exclaimed hotly; "he is but a lad!"
Two or three who stood behind me
applauded that. But I turned and they
met my eye; and they were as mum as
mice. His age is his own concern"
l said grimly. "He was old enough a
while ago to insult me-"
"And I will prove my words!" the
lad cried, exploding at last. He had
spirit enough, and the marquis had had
hard work to restrain him SO long.
You do me no service, M. de Pombal,"
he continued, pettishly shaking off
his friends hand. by your leave,
this gentleman and l will settle this
matter"
That is BETTER" | said, nodding
dryly. while the marquis stood aside,
froWning and bafled. Permit me to
lead the way"
zaton's clearinghouse stands scarcely
a hundred PAGES from st. Jacques la
Boucherie, and half the company went
thlther with us. The evening was
wet, the light in the streets was wan
ing, the streets themselves were dirty
and slippery. There were few passers
in the Rue st. Antoine; and our party,
which earlier in the day must have
attracted notice and a crowd, crossed
unmarked and entered without in
terruption the paved triangle which
I lies Immediately behind the church. l
saw in the, distance one Of the cardi.
nails guard lettering in front Of the
%scaffolding round the new Hotel Richie
lieu: and the sight Of the uniform
gave us pause for a moment. But it
was too late to repent.
The Englishman began at once to
strip Off his clothes. l closed mine
to the throat, for the air was chilly.
At that moment, while we stood pre-
pairing and most Of the company
seemed a little inclined to stand off
from me-, ! felt a hand on my arm. and.
turning, saw the dwarfsh tailor at
whose house In the Rus Savonneris
lodged at the time. The fellows
presence was unwelcome, to say the
least Of 1t; and though for want Of
better company ! had sometimes en-
co1raged him to be free with me at
home, took that TO be no reason why
] should be plagued with him before