The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-02-29

your plans 80 far as Bayonne Is cum
cerned. The regiment and the town
council are ready m understand per-
fectly what is expected OF them"
Then all Is wcll." cried the duchess.
Pardon me, madame" objected.
is in the Bastille."
well, he will not remain there long.
In a week We shall have control of
Paris. and the doors will be opened for
him."
But If the conspiracy fails, ma
dame?"
I'm that case, monsieur said the
duchess, haughtily, w shall none Of
us be In better case than Is M. de
Richelieu at this moment. But who
talks Of failure? We shall not fail.
We cannot fail" and I thought as I
looked at her that with a few more
leaders such as she failure would in
deed be impossible. But M m
against all France was heavy odds.
believe me, M. de Brancas." she
continued, in a gentler tone, II can at
this time do nothing for u friend. I
have no influence with the regent, and
a word from me would do Richelieu
more harm than good"
I recognized the business Of her
words, and said as much.
Anything I can do shall be done,
rest assured Of that" h added. "By
the way. monsieur, I shall look for
you at my salon tonight. We have need
that all our friends should gather to
u.s."
promised to be there, and withdrew
with a heavy heart. I paused to con-
slider what next to do. If I were to
go to the Bastille, I reflected, I might
have opportunity to see the prisoner
and exchange a word Of comfort with
him. Any thing was better than do
ing nothing, SO I set OF toward the
dismal Did prison. 1 reached 1t In the
course Of half an hour and asked the
sentry at the outer gate If I might see
NJ. de Maison-Rouge.
What name, monsieur" ne inquired.
l gave him my name, and he sum
moned a messenger, who returned In a
few moments saying / was to enter.
The gate opened and I was again In
the outer court yard.
II know the way" I said to the mes
senger, who started to accompany me.
Nevertheless I must go with you,
monsieur" he replied. ut is the rule"
I made no further objection, and he
led me to the presence Of the gov
ernor.
"Ah, M. de Brancas," and he smiled
as I entered. you are early, but I was
expecting YOU"
Doubtless" I answered, dryly. But
tell me, may I see Richelieu?"
II regret to say that o may not,
monsieur. The regent has sent me a
no one and to hold communication with
no me-"
A chill ran through me al this new
evidence Of the regents purpose.
"And what inference do you draw
from this order, monsieur" I inquired,
after a moment't gloomy thought.
Maison-Rouge shrugged his should
ers.
ut Is not for me to draw inferences,"
he said. II obey orders without ques-
tioning."
onment?"
HE seems to be in good spirits"
and Maison-Rouge smiled. I'm fact, I
have nev seen him otherwise, and he
was here for over a year when he was
younger. I use him as kindly as the
regulations permit. He has his old
room, which he seems to prefer, and I
have allowed him to send to his hotel
for some additional clothing and fur
ntture. l can do nothing more, mon
sieur. even wore I SO inclined. Their
are many in the Bastille who are not
SO 6rtunate."
There was nothing more to be said.
and I left the place. the messenger,
who was waiting outside the door, ac-
companying me to the gate. AS I
might perhaps be able to catch a
glimpse Of Richelfeu at his cell win
dow, n I turned to the right along
the lofty outer wall and the deep ditch
which rendered approach to it more
difficult. The great prison had an in
d~escribably threatening and gloomy air
even under the rays Of the MONDAY
sur and my heart trembled within
me at the thought Of the scores Of
helpless men behind those massive
walls; of the miserable wretches lying
in the oubliettes, thrown there, per-
haps, by a royal caprice which had
forgotten the prisoner before It had
forgotten its wrath, and for whom
death was the only release. Truly,
there are worse things than death. and
1t were better for Richelieu to lose his
head than to go mad in one Of those
reeking torture chambers.
A narrow path ran along the top of
the embankment, and ! followed this
until l reached the end of the outer
wall. Within was the dreary Tower du
Puts in which we had been confined.
and my eyes sought out the window
of Richelieu's cell and OF my own lust
above 1t. At this distance they
seemed mere port holes in the great
wall and owing to the darkness within
I found that I could not see the pris-
oner, even II he were standing ut his
window. But he might be able to recoQ-
nize me n 1 Ook my handkerchief
from my pocket and waved it In the
air. In a moment l was rejoiced to see
an answering gleam OF white between
the bars Of the window, and 1 knew
that he had seen me. / waved again
and yet again and as 1 did so heard
hurrying feet behind me, and a hand
was laid roughly on my shoulder.