The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-01-12
CHAPTER NNNNI

VICTOR DE CARDILLAC had been
invited 20 the drs wing room Of
the Due de NonrreuL In The chateau
Of L9eHcS- The day was mild for FEB
from the town rose the shouts Of the
people. who although her majesty had
dISa puearei from their view, kept up
JOY gHS riot FH honor or her release
The Duo de EToutreUu entered fol
lowed u- his daughter. who wore the
same gown mat had aroused or car
diIlaC's admiration IN Elols- indeed ij
was in this attire thar she had Tor the
second tiEEe left the chateau Down the
ladder OF rope LHIr being an excursion
ON which Ur IHE-aCa was allowed. 50
THeTgEC had dressed in her best
Her father warmly greeted De car
GiIlac, and began &C. praise his bravery
and resource. WECDs r1 his surprise. the
girl inte-veued between the TWO men
Size turned to her father who was Tor
the moment. stricken dumb ar her uH-
expected conduct.
Dear father. sou are easily hood
vv5uked- being not nearly such q capable
judge Of human nature as I am n
de Cardiac deserves no praise What
ne did was done from selfish motives
Ny dear daughter protested the
duke thinking she had become oe-
meuJed through Imprisonment and
anxiety
sOh. T know whereof I speak and can
fsthom NJ de CardHIac-s cunning much
more accurately tna1 you DO lie
rescued the queen iu the hope OF re-
ward"
MY dearest Thereze. he has well
earned a reward and shall have Il
without stint All the treasLT e--
That IS extremely generous OF YOU.
father You have said enough and
what you say = extremely satisfactory
less Il pleaSes II de Cardiac. That
night In the forest, after our escape
from the convent practically promised
20 marry n &c Cardiac II he succeeded
&C.,
You WHAT Easoed the duke. with
6arkeued brow The poor man had as
UiTCd 10 q royal alliance for his only
dauEhJer-
Father this is a very critical mo-
meut with you Be careful what YOU
say I an sure Zcu would Ike 10 secure
the good VIII Of your future SOu-in-laV-
and e viii he futile coming 10 me after
ward pleading for my intercessiOu r.
At this umer you should make any
statement we are unable 10 forgive
You are quite helpless. TO you have
already pledged your word victor was
70 receive his reward without stint, YOU
said and I am the reward In sd-
diriOn have arranged with the
queen 10 issue II necessary, her royal
command that this marriage snail take
place. SO there vOu meet an obstacle
that even you cannot surmount
y have just gained the consent OF the
Archbishop Of Toulouse to marry us IN
the chapel royal here at T0CheS- and ]
took the liberty I'm your name Victor
she turned upon che young man her
radiant smile. and put her hand In his
"to ask the Able of Iiznay 20 assist
and he has most CraCiouSIy consented
The good able SAYS he knows no young
man so capable g NJ de CaTdiIiaC when
there IS q difficult task 10 perform
This took as a gentle hint that the
person who undertakes TO manage me
has his work cut out for him, therefore
7 cannot bear TO disarpoint a prince Of
the church Ike the archhishoP and a
great. though subtle. pTelats like the
Able OF Idgnsy. who are looking for
ward to the ceremony with much in
tereSt-
But what really settles everything Is
the fact that I desire the ceremony TO
take place
There was a long pause during which
ThereSe edged closer and closer to De
Cardiac Gradually the duke brow
cleared then ne said in his usual quiet
and definite tones
m de CardiIIac. If I had searched all
France, Z could find no man more 10
my liking than you as a husband to my
daughter"
The girl few 10 him. and flung her
arms around his neck
ooh, father father she cried 81
knew YOU would not diSaDDOiDt me.
You are the greatest man in all
T FraUCe--+
oh yes he Is. Victor" she continued
looking over her fathers shoulder You
q come only second
CTHE FND0