Middletown transcript., 1912-09-21
CHAPTER XIV.
The Hall Of the chevaIIers.

mo nal OF the CneValleFSs
The report of the capture Of the
Black Seigneur spread from Mount to
town; from rock to shore. Pilgrims
repeated, peasants circulated it; many
credited; a few disbelieved. Like
shadows had his comrades and the es,
capped prisoners vanished, leaving no
trace, save one-an overturned car
and severed rope at the foot of the
poulain, without the Notifications. And
focking to that point, of greater inter-
est now than shrine or sanctuary, the
pilgrims gazed around; down the
rocks; up the almost perpendicular
planking to what looked like a mere
pigeon-hole in the side Of the cliff.
Then ominous grumblings escaped
them; some shook their fists at the
black wall; others scoffed at distant
sounds Of priestly hallelujahs. Had
the soldiers that day appeared in the
town or on the beach, serious trouble
would have ensued. For the time,
however, they remained discreetly
housed, while supplies for pilgrims,
needs were, by the commandant's or,
ders, so curtailed, many Of the indi.
gent multitude, urged by pinched stom-
achs, began, ere night, to wend their
way from strand to shore. But as they
left the vicinity of the Mount, they
turned last looks Of hatred toward the
rock.
His Excellency, the Governor,
wasted no time considering the humor
Of the masses; their resentment, or
displeasure, signified nothing; his own
complacency left little room for spec
ulation on that score. He was unde-
niably satisfied; even the escape of
the prisoners and the loss Of the sol
diers at the guard-house, or in the
wheel-room, was over-shadowed by the
single capture. This contentment,
however, he kept to himself; instigat-
ed a rigorous inquiry, and prepared to
punish certain offenders. But the
principal Of these he could not reach;
when released from the iron cage, the
hunchback, knowing he would be
called upon to answer for his part in
the nights work, had made the best
use Of his short legs to place a long
distance between himself and the
Mount.
The sentinel that allowed the Black
Seigneur to pass through the entrance
near the barracks; the watchman en-
countered on the stairway, and the soil
dier that had been overpowered in
the stable, his Excellency could, how
ever, lay hands on, and promptly Or
dered into custody to await his Off
cial attention. For this last culprit,
the mmandant-mindful perhaps. of
bolstering his own position-interced- |
ed; pointing out that the man had to |
get the gag from his mouth and give
the alarm; also, that the mountebank's |
appearance and acting had been cal
culated to deceive even one of the |
governors discernment. Which re-
mark his Excellency had received with |
sphinx-like, and not altogether reas-
suring, gravity; had reserved his YER
dict, and continued, after his own !
fashion, to collect the details Of the |
affair.
+ The searching process should have
led him almost at once to his daugh- |
ter-a puzzling figure in the maze Of |
events; but the Governor had exhib- |
tied no haste in approaching that i'm |
portant witness. Only when he had |
marshaled his other testimony and put |
it in order did the scope of his sitting |
extend to the girl. And then had his. |
manner been strictly judicial; main |
tanning an imperturbable mask, he |
professed not to notice the pallor Of |
her face, the unnatural brightness Of |
her glance.
when you sent for the mountebank |
to come to your apartments, did you
know who he was?" the Governor
asked.
mo"
when did you find out7"
when you entered the room"
why did you not give the alarm
then?
Because she heaitated; her face
changed che would have killed you,'
think IL had!"
WAS that solieituds for me the
only reason7"
! why, what other could there be7s'
What other, truly7 And after he
left with the commandant-l ~ did /