The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-01-25
0nDC WITH A Story of the
4 ODDO Cell am are
TuE Conspiracy by
i III IN i Burton Egbert
Copyright By ---I b Lppncott comn.nv Stevenson
J. B. Lippincott Company

smiled quizzically, but said nothing. I
glanced about with establishment, for
there was not a single guard in sight.
He noticed my glance and smiled yet
more broadly, but still kept silence.
Motioning me to follow him, he led
the way to he same room where he
had given me audience but a few hours
before.
"Sit down, NJ. de Brancas,' he said,
throwing himself into the large chair
which he had occupied in the after
noon. do you know" he continued,
looking at me with a smile, II greatly
enjoy adventures such that of this we
ming. They give tone to the nerves
and prove that no all men are towards.
In times of peace, such as these, If is
often difficult to decide who Is brave
and who is not. In faith, If our treas
ury were not so depleted / believe /
would risk a little war just for the
pleasure of settling the question in re-
gard to a few people about whom
am undecided. 1 already know where
to place you. monsieur" n / red
dened at the compliment. But" he
continued, and he changed this ton
suddenly, II dare say you and Richie
lieu believed you were executing a very
clever little coup this evening. You re-
minded me of nothing SO much as of
that ridiculous Sganerelle in NJ.
Moliere's L'Ecole des Maris. who while
opposing his adversary with all his
might in reality plays into his hand"
." confess, M. de Due" I said, that
I am still somewhat in the dark"
mo doubt" he laughed. Come,
will lay the cards or the table for the
sheer pleasure of looking at them my
self. Did you really believe me so
anxious to deprive Richelieu Of his
head?'
you. certainly seemed violent
enough, monsieur" I said.
"Ah. well. and I should have kept my
word unde certain conditions. But /
am not OF a blood thirsty humor, and
all l desired was to get Richelieu out
Of the way because he interferes with
certain OF my plans, as you know. Now,
at Bayonne he will be quite as power
less to interfere with me as in the
grave. Three hundred leagues is a long
distance, monsieur"
"Ah, ah!" / cried, a light beginning
to break in upon me.
WELL" continued the regent, II knew
very we'll that ne would attempt to re-
gain Paris, for I suspected t%onight's
rendezvous, monsieur, as I suspect q
great many other things" and he
glanced at me In a way which made
me wonder IL the Cellamare conspiracy
was really such a profound secret as
the conspirators believed. "Conse-
quently I gave orders to his guards not
to press him too closely should he at
tempt to escape, and I prepared a trap
for him here. He vas followed from
the he entered Paris until he
disappeared through M. de Mazarin's
private entrance below there. You do
not seem to recognize the fact that
have a we'll organized police depart
ment, monsieur, the best tina the world
has aUnr Sapn T had rocoIual ,Iis. To
Richelieu could escape from this trap
and set out for Bayonne as I expected,
l should make no great resistance. If
he could not escape, he should die"
The last words were uttered in a
voice that chilled me.
las you may guess" continued the
regent, II was not sorry when he car
ried out his plan OF escape, for I believe
that now he will really go to Bayonne.
and he cannot return from there In
time to interfere with me. He IS ~
popular and powerful man, and while
I should not have hesitated in sending
him to the block, 1t would have made
me new enemies, whom I could i'll af-
ford just at this time. Have you ever
known what 1t Is, M. de B~rancas," he
asked, suddenly, ito be hooted and
stoned through the streets 2"
mo, monsieur" I answered, sur
prised at the turn the conversation had
taken n at the gloomy cloud which
had descended upon the regents face.
I have known what 1t is!' he ex-
claimed. Il. regent Of France-king in
everything but name. I have been
abominated, Kissed. spat upon. Even
now l am suspected, and Villeroi, the
kings governor. surrounds him with
precautions to keep me away
from him. l am trying to turn the tide
the other way; / am trying to make
friends. hence I am lenient with you
and with Richelieu. I do not know why
l am telling you this" he added in
another tone, "only I admire brave men,
whether they are with me or against
me. That Is all; forget this CONVERSE
ton and keep Richelieu from yexinp
me too far. You may CO."
l bowed and left the room with a
dazed consciousness that I had seen a
side OF the man which the world knew
little or, n as / threaded my way
through the corridors and down tba
great staircase to the street I pondered
upon 1t wonderingly. When 1 heard.
afterwards, as l often did, OF the ox-
cesses Of the little suppers which he
gave nearly every night in his apart-
ment, | did not find 1t in my heart TO
blame him.
The increasing cold and the Iateness
OF the hour had driven thu people from
49, 'N'~NN'p etAA SNtl Nlt 1SuD NJ
Honore was almost deserted as |
emerged from the Palais Royal. | re-
turned as ! had come, casting a glance
at the gloomy river as I crossed II. and
was soon at the Hotel de Riehelieu.
Jacques admitted me, and told me that
his master had secured a horse from the
more than an hour before and
was now well on the road to Bayonne
l was glad to learn that Richelieu
had indeed left Paris. for I had little
hope that the regent would permit
reasons Of state to interfere with his
personal inclinations should the duke
provoke him further. Nor. indeed. had
much hope that Richelieu would re-
main at Bayonne, despite his know
or the regents purpose. Philip
OF Orleans was still In my mind as I
went to bed, and as I dropped asleep
was to admit hat he was a
man than l had thought