The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1906-08-22

duties. Eight o'clock had struck
on the great clock of Versailles,
and it was almost time for the mon
arch to rise. Servants, with clothes
thrown over their arms, hustled down
the passage which led to the ante
chamber The young officer, who had
been looking wistfully out of the win
dow at some courtiers who were laugh
ing and chatting on the terraces. turn
ed sharply upon his heel and strobe
over to the white and gold door of the
royal bedroom.
He had hardly taken his stand there
before the handle was very gently
turned from within, the door revolved
noiselessly upon its hinges and man
slid silently through the aperture, clos
ing it again behind him.
Hush said he, with his finger to
his thin, precise lips, while his whole
clean shaven face and high arched
brows were an entreaty and warning.
THE king still sleeps"
The words were whispered from one
to another, among the group who had
assembled outside the door. The speak
er, who was NJ. Bor1tems, head valet-de-
chambre, gave a sign to the officer Of
the guard and led him into the window
alcove from which he had lately come.
Good morning; Captain de Catinat.
Who commands at the main guard?'
Major de Brissac,"
"And you will be here?"
For four hours attend the king"
VERY good. fIe~gave me some In
struction for the officer of the guard.
He babe me to say siiat NJ. de Vivonne
was not to be admitted to the grand
lever. You are to tell him So
Il shall do So"
Then. should a note come from her
you understand me, the new one
Mime de Maintenon?"
Precisely. But it is more discreet
not to mention names. Should she send
note, you will take it and deliver it
quietly when the king gives you an
opportunity"
1T shall he done"
- il tie other should cone, as is
possible c;,CTgh-the other, you under
stand ne. TIE former
.,----e. &c Aiontespan."
''Ah, that soldieriy tongue of yours,
captain. Should she come, | say, you
VIII gently bar her way. with courteous
words, you understand. but on no ac-
count is she TO be permitted to enter
the royal ROOM
"Ne:y good, Bontems."
And now we have but three min
utes." He strobe through the rapidly
increasing group of people in the cor
rider with an air OF proud humility, as
befttel man who. if Ike was a valet
was at least the King Of Wallets by be
ing tie valet Of the Ing. Close by tn,
door stood Il line OF footmen resplen-
Gent il their powdered wigs. red pi1sh
coats and silver shoulder knots. lie
turned the handle once more and slip
PED into the CaTkcned room.
1t was L LARGE square apartment
with tvo high windows upon the fur
Their side, curtaineI across with price
less velvet hanGings. IN one corner o
narrow couch with rug thrown across
it showed where the faithful B0ntems
had spent the night.
In the very center of the chambe!
there stood large four post bed, with
curtains of Gobelin tapestry looped
back from the pillow. A square of pol
ished rails surrounded it. leaving a
space some five feet in width all round
between the Enclosure and the bedside
AS Bontems passed noiselessly across
the room, his feet sinking into the
mOsslike carpet. there was the heavy.
close smell of sleep in the dir, and he
could hear the long, thin breathing OF
the sleeper. He passed through the
opening in the rails and stood, watch
in hand, waiting for the exact instant
when the iron routine of the court de
manded that the monarch should be
reused. Beneath him, from under the
costly green coyerlet OF oriental silk,
half buried in the fluffy valenciennes
lace which edged the pillow, there pro
truded a round black bristle of close
cropped hair. with the profile OF a cary
ing nose and petulant lip outlined
against the white background The
valet snapped his watch and bent over
the sleeper.
81 have the honor to inform your
majesty that it is half past 8" said he.
."Ahn' The king slowly opened his
large dark brown eyes, made the sign
of the cross and kissed little dark