The Washington herald., 1912-12-08
CHAPTER VII.
WHILE MAHON MOUNTS GUARD

WHILE MAHON MOUNTS GUARD.
a EONSIEUR DE RICHELIEU,
W when in residence at Versailles.
received largely as rule, but
OF late, or at least during the last few
weeks. he had been very quiet, recelv-
ing few friends. visiting fewer, but
constant in his attention at the func-
tions of the court, and never missing
from the big and little receptions, the
levees of Versailles and the card par
ties of Luciennes.
At this moment, in fact, things SEEM
ed coming to a crisis. The storm
which on Christmas eve seven months
! later would sweep Monsieur de Chois-
eul and Monsieur de Braslin into exile
seemed about TO break, and at such
moment a man could not be too cau-
tiouS. especially when that man was
the Due de Richelieu
On the evening of De Lussac's visit,
however, he had quite large party to
supper. the last of whom, no less a
person than De Maupeou, the vice
chancellor, did not depart till close on
the stroke of twelve
De Lussac, bidding his host good
night. proceeded to his room on the
FIRST floor. closed the door. lighted the
candles upon the dressing-table and
glanced at his own reflection in the
great cheval glas that swung in its
bronze frame supported by two bronze
cherubs, one trampling upon a tortoise,
the other upon an asp.
The window was wide open and the
warm night air entered. bringing with
it a faint perfume of lilac. As he
turned from the mirror. there came on
the wind from the night outside the
stroke OF a clock.
II was the first stroke of twelve from
the great clock OF the palace OF Yer
sailles.
He went to the window and. push
ing aside the curtain looked out.
The moonlight was broad upon the
lilac boughs and the branches OF bios
som still but half-opened from the
bud: he counted the strokes of the
clock. they ceased. and complete silence
took the night He turned from the
window and drew the curtain The i'm
rh"nsc hrcrO0m was hung with a tap
eslry representing Somnus and his
thousand dreamS-dragOnS, beautiful
women. chariOts, warriors, all touched
vaguely by the light of the candles,
while the great bed with its plume
decked canopy stood uninviting as al
tomb
De Iussac took his seat by the dress
ing-table. crossed his legs. folded his
arms. and fell into a reverie. He would
not start on his expedition to the
library till one o'clock. so he had fifty
FIVE minutes to wait.
As he sat like this. reviewing the
business on hand. a sound from the
corridor outside brought him suddenly
to his feet. 1t was a footstep. and the
footstep was followed by a knock at
the door
Almost before he could answer the
summons, the door opened. and his
host attired in robe de chambrc OF
Chinese silk and bearing a silver can
die stick in his hand, entered.
You haR not retired-good. | had
something to say to YOU downstairs.
and De Maupeou with is long-winded
conversation drove it out of my head
That man has the art of making one
forget everything but the fact that one
is bored"
Monsieur de Richelieu placed his
candlestick on the table and, asking
permission. took chair.
What | had to say TO you was about
the Austrian"
The Austrian?'
Madame de Linden. yes. the charm
ing baroness from nowhere People
are coupling your names; have they
any reason to do so?"
Monsieur" began De Lussac. with
some temper; he checked himself, and
before he could resume the marechal
went on:
1T is impertinent of me to ask such
question. l apologize. There are