The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-03-28
CHAPTER XXX.
THE SECRET STAIRCASE

| fell hack into my chair and gazed
at Richelieu in sPeechless horror. This
was a blow l had not foreseen and
which / was totally unprepared to
a second time. In fact, he appeared
to hold all the winning cards.
81 suspected that Orleans wOuld try
a game of this kind" continued the
duke after q moment. You remember
! warned you against 1t, de Brancas?"
Yes. / remember" groaned, and
yet / did nothing to prevent it,
Richelieu arose quickly and came
toward me.
hand. II am not blariing you in the
least, my friend. But you have a band
age about your head. You have been
wounded. then? Forgive me for allow
ing my own affairs to blind me So"
/ answered with a pressure Of the
hand.
you have not heard?" I asked
quickly.
81 have heard nothing" said Richie
lieu. "yhey permitted me to receive
no one, to speak to no one. They would
not even permit me to wave my hand
kerchief to you, as you know. What
has ha%ppened?"
AS briefly as l could told him the
story Of Madame Gu Names arrest and
repeated what ! had already heard
from d'Ancenis.
This is all very WE'LL" said Richie
lieu. when | had finished. "but you have
not yet told me how you received your
wound. de Brancas. Come, my friend,
| suspect another OF your dare devil
adventures. Tell me about it,"
SO | told him the story OF my night
ride and the rescue of the regent. Rich
elieu heard me with sparkling eyes.
Twas well DONE" he cried. by
my word, l would / had been there.
You are right. de Brancas. assassina-
ton is something no gentleman can
countenancc. I am surprised that Ma
dame du Maine should go SO far. She
must indeed have been desperate" He
remained silent for some moments,
musing deeply. $50 the regent was too
quick for us and everything Is known
ever my treason, for so 1t must APP
pear to him. In faith, I do not wonder
he had sworn to have nv head. And
vet" he added, 81 would he had taken
it rather than that Charlotte should
pay this price"
Pow did you learn OF it?" I Gues-
toned.
"An hour ago. saia Rlchelieu, "a
guard came to my cell and told me to
follow him. I did not doubt that my
destination was the Place de Greve.
bil L Hdc ltuih llpIiSDillltIll SO Tx
some that I was ready to welcome any
change, even the block, Besides. I was
not scrryto have the opportunity Of
showing the regent how a gentleman
should die. / was taken to the office
Of Muison-Rouge and left there alone
with him. He told me that the regent
had ordered my release. and when |
remained too astonished to reply h
handed me a note.
"''Tis from the regent he said.
81 opened the note, suspecting some
new blow. You may guess my feelings
VIXEN / saw that ii was a command
to he present tomorrow morning at the
Palais Royal to witness the marriage
by proxy OF Charlotte and the Due do
Modena. Across the tottcm of the note
was written, the price paid for the
head of NJ. lie Duc de Richelied.' I tore
the note into a thousand pieces. / told
Maison-Rouge that / would not accept
the price and commanded him to take
me back TO my cell. He merely smiled,
and said that the price had already
been accepted by the regent, since my
head belonged no longer to me but to
him, and calling two guards, he had
me led to the outer gate. which was
closed behind me-"
"Tll wager twas the first time In the
history of the> Bastile that a prisoner
had to be forced to leave it," | cried.
Come, monsieur, do not despair. The
regent has overleaped himself IN re-
leasing you SO soon. The price may
have been accepted. but 1t is not yet
paid"
mot yet paid?"
mo. And furthermore, it need never
be paid II you do not wish it,"
You have a plan, them" cried
Richelieu, his face Frightening.
"Pcthaps.'
Come, let us have it, and he
clasped my hand again. II should have
remembered that i had your clear brain
and Loyal heart still to rely upon"
Answer me one question, NJ. lie Due
l said. Suppose the princess and your
self were in a carriage speeding 20
wards the frontier. Suppose your flight
was not discovered for eight or iC
hours. Do you think you would be
safe?"
safe. de Brancas? Why. man, with
me hours start we should be safe
I nave a dozen horses the like OF which
are not to be found In France, not even
In the Tegent's stables"