The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-12-25
The Cleverness of Cardil1ac

-s-s' s-s-sa
so when / left Chateaudun the duke
was at that moment as near TO ths
bridge Of AmbOlse as YOU are at this
moment travelled seven leagues from
Chateaudun 10 Beaugencyr arriving here
at 4 O'Clock. The duke rode at least an
equal distance for, although, during th9
early part OF this day time was OF I'M
meHse value, II had ceased TO be 50
when 7 reached Chatcaudun and found
the duke still ahead OF me.
There was. therefore, no need thae
j should hurry 20 reach BeauBency pc
allowing the duke to have made the
same speed that J did, he was seven
leagues from AmJois bridge when 4
dlsmounted in front Of this tavern lL
Is now after o'clock. and DO nce
doubt that De Montreuil, fearing pur-
suit. Is already couple OF leagues
south Of the Loire and before Your
messenger could reach Blois, the duke
would be safe IN the strong castle OF
Lochcs. %
The lieutenant resumed his chair.
Time and the map were too strong TOE
him. and IS the disappointed heuten~
ant sat down again C,ardillacs exalta-
ton rose in the belief that he had nnsl~
iy tTiumpned- But In this ne was ms
taken; one more crisis was reserves
what YOU hive Just told me Of tbs
destination Of the Due de MontFstill
makes your mission seem an act OF
to take the daughter from a place oI
safety ard put her Into castle poorly
defended, within Few leagues OF ncE
father. while the country between boat5
richard and I0ches is under the conIroi
Of her fathers friend, the Due Eper~
non. You viii find 10 difficult to per-
suade nee that the authorities In Fari3
sanctioned any suen insane Pro1ecL 4
De Cardillac laughed heartily as na
rose TO his feet. bending over thS
table
why. lieutenant, you amaze mes
when even a civilian Ike myself latl~
or7,e The design. il seems TO me a mile
tary man should not need the eAplafisl-
tior you demand -.
the map. he continued -.
There is L.Oches, as you say Tef.
leagues away from Montrlchard- 11SLs
is the girl, IN an unprotected $500
We take pains 10 assure ouIselEeS - -
the duke learns where his daughter -
Nov-. although Montrichard IS known -
ne DoorIv defended. the duke is "-L
aware that a considerable army Is w.
in easy call He Knows men men I. No.
to rescue his daughter, ne must 1913
ar, Overwhelming force and DO Ihe lIlCA
in the shortest POSSIBLE space q -
THAT force makes q ulick mafcu AgL4
7 Oches 70 MCntrich2-d Our Sgles -
form us of every movement 1ue 10 -
1nent I.Oches castle IS oenuueu OF -
tenders the conirnandant Al L Sso
marches up the river ana occupies
i' : Yog see. the girl ceased to be
hostage the moment her father escaoe.t
from Paris. and so Is mace e-H
Jnsfnad when I.O1hes Castle Il oCcu@
pied by the kings men we 1aEe -
nlaced the Due q Epernon ana Ine LUZ
NJ MortreuiI with their men, oetWeeu
fFe f,s,per and neither millstonSs AOu
viii march on them from BeauBehGsf
another tachment from 6lols, t IlI1
f~or71 Tours and a fourth from LOcheS
itself we hold them in trap, ana
the threatened Instruction on benan o
the queen Is thus nipIed IN the DUO
after one battle"
But disputed the lieutenant, ting
DUO d'Epernou will seize MOntrichard
Castle. and establish himself there
s'In that case the instruction VIII %
ended without even a battle. You your
self admit that Montricharc IS badi X
provisioned We surround 8TOntrichard.
and within a short time IL falls without
stroke. through starvation.
"A very good plan commented tnH
lieutenant. nOdding, seeing before MN
after long waiting. And now, II you
Will forgive me for my extreme caution,
7 shall submit one Of your statements
70 a test. You say the Due de Mon
treuil passed through Chateaudun to.
day. his papers all IN order. As soon
as am assured that this transit ac-
tuallv occurred 7 shall bring forward No
further objections, but viii hold my
self subject 70 your commands"
Nom de DieUi' cried Cardillac iyT
despair. II cannot submit 70 such q
prepOsterOus suggestion before ever
your swiftest horseman can ride the
seven leagues and back, the time thus
lost viii ruin my plans. It would bs
more TO the point to refuse altogether
then 7 should know what u do
Fhe lieutenant spike soothinElv
mere VIII be no further time lost.
The district intrusted 70 nv care is
wide one. anG from each important
point a courier leaves every evening ~
nring me report. 7 make no dOubt
tHe man from Chateaudun Is nov wait
ing TO see me T shall have by7, -
and question him"
The Continuation OF This story VIII
he Found in Tomorrow.