Middletown transcript., 1912-10-19
CHAPTER XXI.
Near the Altar.

Morbleu! Here's madman!" Ere
the Black Seigneur could unsheathe
his sword, that Of the Marquis had
pierced slightly his shoulder. "Put up
your blade, my Lord!" As quickly
springing back and drawing his own
he held himself in an attitude Of de-
Tense. I'm this matter are we, or
should we be-of a mind!"
'We!" My lords weapon played
in fierce curves and flashes; he
laughed derisively.
'T am here to serve her ladyship-
If / can!"
'You!" A rapid coup de tierce was
the Marquis reply. "You! Whose out
laws carried her off before! You are
pleased to Jest, Monsieur Bandit"
mo jest, my Lord!" coolly. more
over, it is you who serve her ladyship
i'll at such a moment in"
mon dieu! You instruct"
'T have no wish for this combat,
Monsieur le Marquis!" AS he spoke,
the Black Seigneur retreated slowly
toward the door. "But if you press
too close"
'Ma fol! You talk very brave, but
I notice your legs take you backward.
However, it will not serve; you shall
not escape"
''No?" His back now against the
door, the Black Seigneur defended
himself with his right hand, the while
his left felt behind for bolt which it
found; shot into place. "Then let US
remove temptation by locking the
door!"
"What! You did, then, intend"
A sudden fierce pounding from with
out on the door, interrupted.
1T was necessary to keep them out
but it will be only for a moment.
So put up your blade!" peremptorily.
There is no time to lose"
"You are right" The Marquis
face expressed scorn and unreasoning
anger; his sword leaped to an accel-
Grated tempo. There is no time to
lose. I shall honor you! The Mar
quis de Beauvillers will stop to cheat
the fourches patibulaires!" And my
lord lunged, dangerous and clever
thrust that was met; answered. From
the Marquis hand the blade flew;
struck the pavement; at the same
time, a rending and tearing Of wood
came from the door.
The Black Seigneur leaped forward;
but the stroke his adversary, now dis
armed, expected, fell not on him; di-
rected toward lamp overhead, sole
source Of illumination Of the corri-
dor, the weapon struck hard Shat
tered by the blow, the ornamental con
trivance crashed to the floor; the
place was plunged in darkness.
"Save yourself, my Lord!" said a
calm voice, and my lady, standing, as
It were, in the center Of a vortex Of
wildly rushing figures, felt her waist
suddenly clasped; herself swept onI
Once or twice she struggled; resisted,
hardly knowing what she did; but the
sound Of a low, determined voice, not
unfamiliar to her, and the conscious
ness Of physical force-or was it all
physical?-that seemed to beat down
her will, left no choice but to obey.
Darkness gave way to waves Of
light; reflections Of fame surrounded
them; black trails Of smoke coiled
around. The girls strength went; her
breath came faster A thick cloud
choked her; she wished only to stop,
when arms closed about her.
Upward! Still upward! BY wind
ing stairs, through passages and door
ways, vaguely she felt herself borne,
until cold breath Of air, blowing
suddenly in her face, revived hers
awoke her to confused realization Of
the place they had at last reached
the upper platform at the head Of the
long, open stairway Of granite. And
with that consciousness, she again
sought to free herself; but, for an in
slant the arms held tighter, while a
dark face bent close, scanning her
features, then abruptly he released
her.
"Your Ladyship is uniniured?"
Eyes; yesI"
"one moment!" Turning. he left
her, and walking to the verge Of that
open space, searched quickly the waste
Of darkness below, far out to sea. The
girls glance followed him; wavered;'
her first apprehension awoke anew.
Her fatheri Where was he? She
lclasped her hands despairingly asshe
gazed down the Mount; then ,arosfnd
her. Suddenly, bright patch Of
Mght-open doorway to the church..
caught her eye and she started. At
the picture, framed by the masonry,
which the glow revealed, low excla-
nation fell from her lips, and crossing
the platform, and descending a few
steps, she ran to the entrance of the
sacred edifce.
'Eh, your Excellency; has your Ex-
IceIleney any orders ?" sounded a voice.
There, before an altar, in the dim
flicker Of candles and the variegated
cleaning from the ancient stained
glass windows, she saw at last him
she sought; in one Of the chapels, near
the white marble monument to her
mother, was his Excellency; but, not
IaloneI Before him stood, or half
crouchea the man Sanchez, who now
was speaking.
Shall | ring for your Excellency's
servants and have the noise stopped?"
Grotegquely be bowed. the while watch