The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-02-27

OF sly malice peeping through q grav-
ity of his demeanor. THE chancellor
would see you In his room, young sir"
CHAPTER III.
The chancellor was lodged IN the
great chamber on the southern side of
the courtyard, n room which we
in which tradition said that King
Henry vi had once slept. 1t
was on the upper floor, and for this
reason free from the damp air which
in autumn and winter rose from the
moat and hung about the lower range
OF rooms. 1t was besides of easy ac-
cess from the hall, q door in the gal
lery of the latter leading into an ante
room, which again opened into the
tapestried chamber, while a winding
staircase, starting from a dark nook in
tho main passage Of the house, also led
to this state apartment, but by an
other and more private door.
l. reached the antechamber with a
stout heart in my breast, though a lit
tie sobered by my summons, and feel
ing such a reaction from the heat of
a few minutes before as follows a
plunge into cold water. In the ante
room I was hidden to wait while the
great mans will was taken, which
seemed strange to me, then unused to
the mummery Of court folk. But be-
fore l had time to feel much surprise
the inner door was opened, and / was
told to enter.
The great room, which l had seldom
seen In use, had now an appearance
quite new 10 me. A dull red fire was
glowing comfortably on the hearth
stone, before which a posset stool was
standing. Near this, seated at q table
strewn with a ~profusion Of papers and
documents. was a secretary writing
busily. The great oaken bedstead, with
it's nodding tester, lay in q background
Z shadows. which played about the
figures brotdered on the hangings or
were lost in the darkness Of the cor
ners, while near the fire, in the light
cast by the flXed above the
hearth, lay part of the chancellor's
equipment. The fur rugs and cloak
Of sable. the saddle bags, the dispatch
boxes and the silver chatting dish gave
an air Of comfort to this part of the
room. Walking up and down in the
midst OF these, debating a sentence at
every other turn, was Stephen Gardi-
ner.
As I entered the clerk looked up
holding his e suspended. His mas
ter, by a quick nod, ordered him to
proceed. Then, signaling to me in a
like silent fashion his command that
l should stand by the hearth, the bishop
resumed his task OF composition.
For some minutes my interest in the
man. whom / had now an opportunity
or scrutinizing unmarked and at my
leisure, took up all my attention. He
was at this time close on 20, but looked,
being still tall and stout, full 10 years
younger. His face, qua and sallor,
was indeed wrinkled and lined; his
eyes lay deep in his head; his should
ers were beginning to bend, the name
or his neck to become prominent. He
had lost an inch of his full height. But
his eyes still shone brightly, nor did
any trace or weakness mar the stern
character OF his mouth or the crafty
wisdom of his brow. The face was the
face OF a mai austere, determined, per-
maps cruel: of a man who could both
think and act.
My curiosity somewhat satisfied,
had leisure first to wonder why I had
been sent for and then to admire the
prodig1ous number Of books and papers
whlch lay about, more indeed than
had ever seen together in my life.
From this l passed to listening. idlv
at first and with interest afterward, to
the letter which the chancellor was
debating. 1t seemed from it's tenor
TO be a letter to some person in au-
thority, and presently one passage at
tracted my attention, so that I could
afterward recall it word for word.
II do not think" the chancellor pro-
nounced. speaking in a. sonorous voice
and the measured tone of one whose
thoughts lie perfectly arranged in his
head, that the Duchess Katherine will
venture to al the step suggested as
possible. Yet Clarence's report NAV he
Of m en Let the house therefore
be watched II anything ~savoring of
flight be marked, and take notice
whether there be q vessel In the pooI
adapted to her purpose. A vessel trad
ing to Dunquerque would be most
likely. Leave her husband till I re-
turn when l will deal with him round
ly."
missed what followed. It was
upon another subject, and my thoughts
Jagged behind, being wholly taken IN
with the Duchess Katherine and her
fortunes. / wondered who she was.
young or old, and what his step could
be she was said to mediate, and what
the jargon about the pool and Dun
querque meapt. I was still thinking
OF this when l was aroused by an
abrupt silence, and looking up found
that the chancellor was bending over
the papers on the table. The secre-
tary was leaving the ROOM.
AS the door closed behind him Gardi-
ner rose from his STOPPING posture and
came slowly toward me-. a roll of papers
In his hand Now" he said tran
GULLY, seating himself in an elbow chair
which stood in front OF the hearth, u
will dispose of your business, Master
Cludde."
He paused. looking al me in q
shrewd, masterful way. much as if
| thought at the time, little knowing
how near the truth my fancy vent
were a beast he was about to buy,
and then he went on. II have sent
for you. Master Francis" he said dry
ly. fixing his piercing eyes On mine,
because l think that this country does
not suit your health. You conform,
but o conform with a bad grace, and
England is no longer the place for
such. You incite the commonalty
against the queens allies, and Eng
land is not the place for such. Do not
contradict me. l have heard you my
self. Them" he continued, grimly
thrusting out his jaw in a sour smile,
you misname those whom the queen
hOnors, n were DR.. S~tephens-you
take me, Master Malapert?-such q
man as his predecessors you would rue
he word. For a trihe scarce weightieI
Wolsey threw a man to rot six years in
a dungeon, boy!"