The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-22

His Eminence no DOUBT knew al
xhis. With his intimate knowledge OF
the fotbles Of mankind, he found = an
aaay task enough to probe the inner
thoughts of the transparent soul before
hi1n. He OWNED the young mans
doubts and fears, the battle waged
within him betwixt an abstruse politi-
cal aim, and his own upright nature.
The game was continued In silence
Everingham's state of mind being ex-
pressed In the one bitter sigh:
sAh! ] go away with heavy heart
, feeling that ! have helped to commit
- treachery."
The Cardinal looked benevolently
conpassionate. At heart he was more
than glad to think that this blundsr-
Ing Englishman would be well out OF
the way Could he have foreseen the
marvellous turn by which Fate mean.
5 20 aid him in his intrigue, he would
never have made overtures to so clum-
~ an ally as Lord Everingham. But
at the time he had been driven into q
corner through the furious jealousy or
the Queen, who had well-nigh stag
&ered him.
His Eminence then did not know how
10 act For the first time In his life he
had been completely outwitted by the
events which he himself had helped to
bring about. They had shaped them
selves in exact opposition 70 his keen
est expectations. How to part Wes-
sex from Lady Ursula, with whom
his volatile Grace was probably by
then more than half in love, became an
almost insolvable problem.
The Queens ultimatum was almost
nat HIS Eminence saw himself and his
reffnue ignominiously quitting the
English Court, and returning-bafned,
wan0uished, humbled--to the throne OF
an Infatuated monarch, who never FOR
gave and always knew how to punish.
In despair the Cardinal had turned
to an ally. He knew that His Grace
was quite inaccessible. Towards all the
foreign ambassadors the Duke of Wes-
sex was always ensconced behind a
barrier of unbendable hauteus and or
9rigfd reserve. 1t would have been i'm
POSSIBLE to attack the lady of his choice
openly, and in offering his own help
10 Everingham, His Eminence vague
Jy hoped to arrive at some half-hidden
mystery, a secret perhaps In HIS
Cruces life which would have helped
him to strike in the dark.
Then Fate interposed: exactly ten
minutes too late, and when the Cardin-
Al had already saddled himself with an
0ver-scrupulous, vacillating, ultra non
est ally. He could not throw him over
without endangering the success OF ms
own schemes, and therefore brought
all his powers of assimilation into
play. to effectually hide the Impotence
which he felt.
The entrance of Don Miguel. Marquis
de Euarez, created a diversion.
ssAh, my dear Marquis" said His En-
znance with a sigh of relief. your ar
rival Ia most opportune. l prayg.y9pi
help me to persuade Lord Everingham
that we are not scheming black
treachery against His Grace of Wes-
sex"
Don Miguel came forward, a smile of
keenest satisfaction upon his lips.
ssWhy treachery?" he said lightly.
But Everingham. having heard all
there was to know was now in hur-
~ to depart. Having made up his
mind to go through with his purpose
to the end. he had but one wish; to
turn his back upon the events which
he had helped 70 bring about. and let.
them take their course.
with it all, he felt a keen anti
patty for these two plotters who had
drawn him into their net Wnlist act
ing in concert with these Standards, he
had an overwhelming desire to insult
them or throw his contempt in their
smooth, clever faces.
"Check and mate my lord Cardinal"
he said drily. as he toog advantage Of
His Eminence's absence of mind to
bring the game to successful close.
booted and spurred for his journey
northwards, and he had unhitched his
sword-belt when settling down to play.
Whilst he was buckling 1t on again,
Don Miguel approached him.
II netreat you, milor, do not talk of
treachery," said the young Spanfard
earnestly. Believe me that in this
matter your conscience is over-sensit-
i've. After all, what does His Emin-
ence propose? Only this, that for a
little while-a few days only, perhaps
His Grace of Wessex should be led
to believe, through the testimony of his
own eyes, that the Lady Ursula Glynde
Is not altogether worthy to become
the Duchess of Wessex. The wench
Mirrab will play her part unconscious
~, and therefore to perfection. No one
but His Grace shall be witness of the
scene which we propose to enact and
though his disenchantment will be
complete, do you think that he will
greatly suffer thereby? Surely you do
not imagine that he has fallen serious
" in love with Lady Ursula in one
hour; his own amour-propre will suf-
Ter a very transitory pang ct tout,
sera dit"
The Duke of wessex will never
break his heart or quarrel with
friend for the sake of woman" added
the Cardinal in his smooth. gentle
voice.
Like the bee. His Grace fingers over
a flower only whilst he finds the per-
3ume sweet continued Don Miguel.
"If he thinks the Lady Ursula false
he will turn to some other pretty maid
with an indulgent smile at woman's
Erailty."
All this sounded plausible enough,
and Lord Everingham, at war with his
own conscience. was only too willing
to be persuaded that he was in no way
-vronging his friend. One scruple
however, still held him back and would
mot be denied.
ssThere is one person in all this, my
lord marquis" he said, "whom I notice
YOU and His Eminence scarce trouble
10 think about"
sfWho is that. milor?
s'rhe Lady Ursula Cylinder
"Bah! What of herr"
"a girls reputation, my lord IS In
england held to be sacred"
srWhy should her reputation sunerE
who will gossip of this affair? You?
mi not believe it! His Grace OF Yves
sex?-perish the thought! Nay! TO sat
isfv that over-sensitive conscience OF
$780, v,iInr NAV I remind you that