Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-03-21
CHAPTER xvM--(Continued.)

be TOO late. ] would recommend that
you leave here as quickly as possible,
NJ. Herault will probably not long
delay paying me II visit"
Even as they turned to go there was
a tramp of feet at the door, which
men beyond. But only two men en-
tered. They We're Herault and the
Marquis d'Ancenis. Without glancing
to the right or left, and with an adj
mirable composure. they advanced
straight to the duches along the lane
which was opened for them.
Madame du Maine" said d'Ancenis.
bowling. II regret to inform you that
you are under arrest"
What. captain." cried the duchess.
and | could not but admire h brave
name In which she took The blow.
"you dine with me n evening and ar
rest me the next? Is not hat un-
gallant?"
Ills a disagreeable duty. madame
answered d'Ancenis, but one which
must be performed. nevertheless. Let
no one leave the room" he added
sharply, in a louder tone, hearing a
movement behind him. But it was no
trying to escape-every one seemed
too nearly paralzed to think of that.
Il 1t been possible. 1t was only
the Cardinal dc Polignac, intriguer.
liar, and arrant coward. who had
tumbled in a heap on the floor. COM
pushed to one side with scant ceremony
and left to recover as best he might.
II am at your orders, monsieur" said
Madame du Maine. proudly, and
d'Ancenis bowed again.
Herault returned to the entrance and
ordered in q company of the guards,
whom he posted at all the doors. while
~ ~--..:. 900 TO- NJ - Met 70 r1y
the people in tho room. This occupied
some time, and while 1t was in pro-
gress again gained the side Of
Madame du Maine.
Permit me to compliment you.
madame j said in a low tone, upon
the heroic manner in which you with
stand this reverse. 1t is magnificent"
The duchess looked at me with a
smile.
perhaps all is not yet lost. mon
she said. CHANGING quickly
around to see that no one else could
mot yet lost?" and I looked at her
in amazenlcnt. II do not understand,
madame"
Can trust you?" she asked, look
ing ut me II moment. Yes. l think l
can. At 4 o'clock his afternoon, mon
sieur, the Duo d'Orleans. accompanied
only by three or four gentlemen. left
Paris to visit the king at Versailles. to
lay before him. l do not doubt, the
details of u plans and to get his sig
nature to certain papers which Orleans
himself hesitate to enforce with
out the royal approval. st. Aulaire was
mistaken in saying that the regent was
In the city this evening""
What then, madame?' / asked. 81
confess that l am still in the dark"
AT 3 O'Clock this evening the regent
was to leave Versailles to return to
Two hours later he will arrive
where 1t passes through a strip of
AT that point he will dis
appear. He will enter the wood at one
side. but he will V come out at the
other. He will vanish as though the
earth had opened and swallowed him.
1t is a detail of the plan which. until
this moment, ! have kept to myself.
know nothing. l was arranging II
pleasant little surprise for our con-
fcderates, for With Orleany out Of the
way what serious opposition could
there be to Philip of Spain? All. well.
1t seems that 1t is this detail which is
to ave US. and which may yet make
Philip of Spain regent of France You
understand now. monsieur?"
l gazed in amazement at this extra
ordinary woman. who permitted moth
ing to stand in h way of her ambi-
But that is assassination" 1 gasped
at last.
The duchess looked at me cody.
Cali it what you please, M. de Bran
she said.
"l3ut. madame, 1t is something to
which no gentleman could consent"
do o presume to give me a lesson
in honor, monsieur" she demanded,
though still preserving the
tone in which the entire CONVEX
had been conducted.
'Oh. madame l said. '.you do not
Your standards Of honor
are different from those of a man. To
a oma everything Is permitted-al-
most everything. for even q woman
will not break her word II she be hon.
orablc"
And what then. monsieur" she
Simply this. madame" and I gave
her look for look: II do not consent
to this assassination"
You do not CONSENT" she Missed.
her eyes blazing with anger. "And pray
asks you to consent, monsieur?
I do not see that It IL any concern OF
yours. Do you mean that you, who
pirate SO prettily OF honor, will betray
mo. madame I answered, " I shall
not betray you-not ever to save the
regent from assassination. What you
have told me In confidence I shall tell
no M Only / shall save the regent
if / can"
.If you can.' she sneered. "rhat is
well said. Unassisted. NJ. de Brancas,
! defy you to nave the regent"
1 locked at her once again but said
nothing. Then I left her side. D'An-
cenis was still busy taking the names