New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-11
Chapter XII.


SNE magazines no one had seen but town
OYO was miles away and the bottom
seemed to have dropped out OF the
sky. Some of my friends settled at poker IN the upstairs
cardroom, some went to play billiards; bu II itit
Others down stairs horribly mixed and Scrappng bnSky
Our poor little Duke was melancholy iigure: J ne
detached way in which he looked out upon the ram told
me he was loncsome-iust plain, ordinary lonesome,
even if he did happen to be Duke, with secretary,
two Wallets butler and a chauffeur. lie didn know
poker, he didn't care for billiards. and ne had asked to
be excused from bridge. The girls who usually amused
and pcttcd him were either hilarious or grouchy. Mrs.
Cutler, who the only one besides myself that could
speak good French to him, was up stars with mead
ache and Natalie whom he adorcd, had quarreled with
him-or that's what everybody suspected.
| had not ceased to wonder about his Grace,-where
| had seen him. if | had and why should remember
him; but suddenly was ashamed OF my suspicious,
that vague something OF which was not sure My
heart melted; went to him. lie had never been sure
about and my position but he accepted me along
with a great many other American institutions he did
not comprehend.
Have YOU seen the gallery, your Grace" | asked.
III YOU wish we can pretend the gallery is the Louvre,
and the garden outside the Tueries Will you come
"Ah, MadcmoiSele, YOU one great genius. he re-
piled. "You divine without err. have feeling here
he put his hand over his heart Il have remember my
beloved France. | have what you call him over here
the big homesckness. | have the gallery and the
beautiful pictures; but | have not seen them with
Mademoscllc. Will Mademoiselc do me the honor!
II started for the gallery. | had been there many
times and so discovered had his Grace; but we made
detailed tour quite from new point OF view was
surprised at his knowledge OF the pictures their his
tory their value We were looking alien among
all these old masters, called "Thc Lion Hunter by an
entirely unknown American artist who nearly starved
in Paris until the late Mr. Hazard saw that picture and
bought it; when suddenly thought Of something
"The Lion Hunter was fair haired man with
most remarkable face weathcrbcatcn bronzcd the
tragedy of life and death in the tense lines about his
mouth and huge scar across his check.
"Do YOU know the Due dAubigny, your Grace |
asked.
He looked at the picture again before he answered
"Ah, Mademoisclle he replied THE mark he bears
is not the claw of a lion such YOU in the picture,
but a saber cut most ignoninious. One scandal, Tie
is my friend. ! am ashamed for him. And when
tried to look surprised "Madcnoscllc, you have not
heard? He is a thief.
AZ thief" | echoed, to gather my and wonder
what should say next. felt rather foolish having said
anything about the Due d'Aubgny after he answered
50 readily. "Iic is noble, your Grace. | cannot COM
orchcnd
"Noblcmcn may be thieves. AladcmoiSclc" He
smiled quick flashing smile: then, enthusiastically
French, he sad again. 1T makes my heart OF the
ache He was never trustworthy; but ali! he was
most lovablc. Is it not, Madcmoiscllc:'
Il do not know. replied. Il do not know him.
had gained nothing except the knowledge that he
knew the Due d'Aubgny and had sadlcned the poor
little Duke by the mention OF an crring friend hastily
spoke OF other hingS,-thc pictures, places we both
knew and loved in his beloved France.
We there an hour. much to my amazemcnt a
long most interesting hour, and wondered that I'll
ever been guilty Of suspcCng him OF anything but being
a splendid little French Duke who couldn't help II he
had ancient title and all the heireSScS wanted to
marry him. hated TO think that Natalie But then
that wasn't any of my business
THERE was an end to my happiness when was back
down stairs again. Lydia Abercrombe was desert