The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-12-26

/
seen Nothing had escaped him-the
diseonsolate faces OF monsieur and OF
the dauphin. the visit of Pere la Chaise
and Bossuet TO the lady.s room. her re-
turn. the triumph which shone in her
eyes as she came away from the inter
| view. He had seen Bontelns hurry off
! and summon the Guardsman and his
/ friend He had heard them order their
horses to be brought ont in couple of
hours time, and finally from a spy
/ whom he employed among the servants
be learned that an unwonted hustle
was going forward in Nine. de Main
lemons room. that Mile. Nanon was
half wild with excitement and that two
/ court n1illiners had been hastily sum-
mened to madame's apartment 1t
/ was only, however. when he heard
from the same servant that chamber
i was TO be prepared for the reception
/ that night of the archbishop of Paris
/ that he understood how urgent was the
/ danger.
! Nine. de Montespan had spent the
evening stretched upon a sofa in the
worst possible humor with every one
around her. There was the sound of
an opening door and of a quick step
4 in her anteroom. Was it the king. or
at least his messenger with note
from him?
/ But. no: II was her brother. with the
haggard eyes and drawn face of n man
who is weighed down with his own
evil tidings. He turned as he entered
fastened the door and then. striding
across the room. locked the other one
which led to her boudoir.
I'VE are safe from interruption" he
painted. II have fastened here, for
every second may be invaluable Have
you heard anything from the king?'
Nothing" She had sprung to her
feet
1.-THE hour has come for action, Fran
coise."
what is it?''
de Maintenon."
rom 1t IS impossible.'
"It is certain that he will marry her"
The woman flung out her hands in a
gesture of contempt and laughed loud
and bitterly.
You are easily frightened brother"
said she. "Ah. you do not know your
little sister. Perchance if you were
not my brother you might rate my
powers more highly. One day is all 1
ask to bring him back
But you cannot have it. The mar
riage is tonight
You are mad, Charles"
Il am certain of it," In q few bro
ken sentences be. shot out all that he
had seen and heard. She listened with
a grim face and hands which closed
ever tighter and tighter as he pro-
ceeded.
Il shall go and see him." she cried,
sweeping toward the door.
NO. no, FRANCHISE. Believe me, you
will ruin everything if you do. Strict
orders have been given to the guard
to admit no one to the king"
Had / only day, Charles, l am
sure that l could bring him back to
me. There has been some other in
fiuence here-that meddlesome Jesuit
or the pompous Bossuet, perhaps. Only
one day to counterfeit their wiles
Charles. it must be stopped; l say it
must be stopped. l will give anything,
everything, to prevent it,
What will you give, my sister?"
She looked at him aghast. what!
You do not wish me to buy your" she
said.
No, but l wish to buy Others"
''Ha! You see chance, Them
"Onc, and one only. But time
presses. 1 want money
How much:"
II cannot have too much-all that
you can spare.
With hands which trembled with ca
gerness she unlocked a secret cup
board in the wall in which she con-
cealed her valuables. A blaze of jew
elry met her brothers eyes as he
peered over her shoulder. At one side
We're three drawers. the one over the
other. She drew out the lowest one
1t was full to the brim with glittering
louis d'ors.
Take what you will.' she said.
"And Row your plan. Quick
He stuffed the money in handfuls in
to the side pockets of his coat. Coins
slipped between his fingers and tin
killed. and wheeled over the floor, but
neither cast glance at them.
Your plan?" she repeated.
I'VE must prevent the archbishop
from arriving here. Then the mar
rage would be postponed until tomor-
row night
But how prevent it?'
There are a dozen good rapiers
about the court which are to be bought
for less than / carry in one pocket. /
will gather them together and wait on
the road
And waylay the archbishop
NO: the messengers"
''Oh, excellent. You are a prince of
brothers.. If no message reach Paris
we are Saved Go: go: do not lose a
moment
1T is very we'll, FRANCHISE, but what
are we to do with them when we get
them? We may lose our heads over
the matter. it seems to me. After all.
they are the kings messengers, and
we can scarce pass our swords through
them
.No:"
There would be no forgiveness for
that
But consider that before the matter
is looked into shall have regained my
influence with the king"