The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-01
By HENRY MoUNTJoY


De Richelieu's mansion was situated
on the Paris road on the left as one
approaches the palace. The. gates
swung open for the carriage, which,
approaching the front door by a court
yard, set with laburpum and lilac
trees, drew up, and the Comte de Lus-
sac, ascending the steps where lack
ey was waiting to receive him, passed
into the galleried hall where the ma
jor-domo, Monsieur Beaupre, advanced
TO receive him.
This parsonage. who possessed a vast
stolid, expressionlcss face that seemed
nodded from white wax, was one of
those perfect functionaries who knew
everybody, and everything about every
body. everything about court etiquette,
everything about precedence.
He knew the Comte de LusSac, his
affairs, his peculiar manner of living,
his neglect Of those things which were
essential to success in society, and the
nickname with which the court had
dubbed him. He despised him as hear
tily as man of his sort could de-
spise a man of De Lussac's sort, but
he showed nothing of his thoughts as
he bowed before him.
Good afternoon, Beauprc,' said the
young man. giving his hat and gloves
TO the servant who had admitted him.
rs Monsieur lie Due at homer"
No, Monsieur. Monsieur lie Due is
at Luciennes, but | am expecting him
to return at any moment"
rs Monsieur Raffe in?'
Monsieur Rafe is in the library,
Monsieur
All. the library" said De Lussac,
his heart leaping at the words. Show
me to him"
The major-domo led the way across
the hall to a door opening on the
left; he opened the door and disclosed
the library of Monsieur lie Marechal
Due de Richelieu De Lussac. as he
entered, gould not but feel that the
omen was with him, inasmuch as this,
the first room he entered, was the
room he had come to plumber.
1t was not very large, this library of
Monsieur lie Due. 1t had only one win
dow of stained glass. blazoned with
barred on the outside-through the
colors of the glass. the gray ghostlike
shadows of the bars showed vaguely
and like menace.
The books. chiefly tall folios sump-
tuously bound and stamped on the
backs i'll gold with the Richelieu arms,
stood in open bookcases.
Near the window, at a table by the
only bureau in the room. sat a man
engaged in writing. 1t was Raffe, De
steward, factotum. and right
hand; he was engaged on the monthly
accounts, going over each bill, item
by item and soC by sou
why. it is Monsieur lc Comte dc
LusSac." cried the old man. rising
from his chair and advancing to greet
the newcomer. How unfortunate that
Monsieur lie Due should be absent! But
| am expecting him at any moment.
1T does not matter" replied the
comte, Il have come on a visit for a
day or two. if my cousin will have
come too much for me and | am suf-
fering from sleeplesSness. | have some
luggage in my carriage; will you kind
" have it seen to? Meanwhile, ! will. |
il you will permit me. amuse myself
with book till my cousins return"
"Oh, Monsieur" cried Raffe, as he
gathered up his papers. q can assure
YOU that my master will be only too
delighted at your visit l will have
your room prepared and your luggage
brought to it. Can send you any
refreshments, Monsieur. after your
ourney?"
No, thank you, dear Monsieur
2affe. ! require nothing in the way
If refreshment but book; you know
hat | am a bibliophile. a creature TO
whom the smell OF Russia leather bind
ngs and the sight of printers ink are
in themselves; but it seems
o me that my cousin has extended his
library since | last was here"
Why. yes. Monsieur" replied Raffe.
lingering with the papers in his hand.
only last month he acquired half the
library of Monsieur de Maneval, books
# armorous adventure, contes. superbly
unny Monsieur may like TO amuse
himself with them: they are on those
over shelves"
He bowed and passed out with his
apers, and De Lussac turned to the