The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-11-25


your papers will be safely walled up
in place that have thought OF, and
OF which no one has any knowledge.
1t would be Well-nigh impossible for
any one to find them there, unless
they tore the whole place down, stone
by stone, and it would take something
to do that" he added, with a laugh,
for my ancestors, the old feudal
barons, were solid builders and one
might almost as well try to tear down
the rock ITSELF"
But will you not have to take some
one into your confidence to do this"
asked the Prince. 81 do not wish any
one but yourself to know of their hid
ing-place."
you need have no anxiety" an
swered his friend, Il am a regular
Jack-of-alltrades and particularly
good mason and paper hanger. All
will be done while the rest of the
family are asleep"
Mind, you do not hide them so we'll
that you forget where you put them"
laughed his royal visitor.
mo fear of that, your Highness. I
will conffde my secret to my wife or
son should I be sick unto death,
though I could answer for both of
them as for myself"
We'll, now, I must not delay any
longer said the Prince with a sigh,
and I thank you thousand and
thousand times, my best of friends,
and only hope you will not get into
any trouble through your devotion to
me-"
The Duke led his guest through two
or three deserted rooms and out of
side. door opening upon narrow path
in the upper park, for the back of the
castle was actually built in the rock,
so that from several of the upper
stories one could step out upon the
mountain-side.
The two men had closely wrapped
themselves up in long, heavy cloaks
with hoods which they drew we'll over
their faces, thus shielding themselves
from the pelting rain and at the same
time hiding their features. They
walked noiselessly on the sodden,
fallen leaves, which mercifully dead
ened the sound of their footsteps, and
listened with beating hearts to every
rustic in the branches, dreading to
find some one lying in wait for them.
They kept in the deepest shadow of
the great trees and walked silently,
until, after what seemed an endless
way through the binding storm, they
came to a cross-road where a light,
close carriage was standing, and the
Prince, after taking an affectionate
leave of his old friend, drove away at
full speed.
The Duke stood a few minutes
anxiously watching the carriage until
it was out of sight and even the sound
Of the horses hoofs had completely
died away. Then with infinite pre-
cautions, he went noiselessly back to
the chateau, and stealthily climbing
up back staircase, made his way
to an almost disused and dismantled
part of the house. All night he might
have been seen at work with bricks,
cement and wall paper, and it was
only just as day was beginning to
break, gray and dreary, that he
fastened softly down to his room,
where, when his valet came, he found
him in bed and apparently asleep.
Two days later several mounted
police arrived and demanded to see
the Duke, and on being received by
him, stated that they had warrant
to search the chateau, as they were
sure the Prince had been there and
was most likely still hiding on the
premises.
The Duke smilingly assured them
that they were welcome to look every
where, but that If they would take his
word for it they might save them
selves much trouble, as he knew the
Prince was not even in France. He
then courteously proposed that they
should first partake of some refresh
ment downstairs.
The men, after their firing ascent
of the mountain, would have been glad
enough to comply with his suggestion,
but their leader, suspecting that this
was only ruse to obtain time to hide
their guest, insisted on starting on his
business at once. However, after
minute inspection of the place, they
finally had to give up the search and
ride off with only a few insignificant
papers they had found in the Dukes
private desk.
Political feeling Gained down soon
after this and life went on smoothly
and uneventfully at the chateau Once
or twice the Duke journeyed abroad to
see his exiled friend, but when the
papers were mentioned the latter said
he had no need of them as yet, and
was only too delighted to know they
were in such safe hiding.
The old nobleman had one day told
his son that he had these papers be-
longing to the Prince, and even
showed him where he kept the key
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