Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-09-18
ART III.

lie are three letters" said mad
M as she finished the last, folded it
lord, Monsieur de Gorges, telling him
{ give up the house today. Fake it
to him at once; also this letter to
Boehmec, the jeweler, and this to
Behrens, the haberdasher; they are to
bring my purchases here tonight at s..
Take them. Stay; what is that?"
A carriage had drawn up in the street
and some n had rung the door bell.
Madame crossed the room and looked
out. h saw beyond the rails Of the
courtyard a carriage, but the visitor
had evidently been admitted, for there
was no sign of any n in the court
yard.
60" said she to Rosine; "see who
1t Is, and should it by any chance be
Monsieur de Sartines, say that I am
OUT
A moment later Rosine came running
up.
Monsieur de Maupeou has called.
madame, and wishes to speak to you"
Monsieur de Maupeou? Well, show
him up"
Rosine left the room and the baroness
presently heard the heavy step Of the
vice chancellor On the stairs. The door
opened and Rosine's sprightly voice an
nounced: Monsieur de Maupeou."
De Maupeou, whom we have scarcely
SSOk1 W u vas d pCISOlldko aWlLlI
a funeral air, a face yellow as the
parchments Of the law, and a coat of
black velvet worn the least bit at the
seams; as II to make up for this touch
of business on the coat, his ruffles were
Of the finest lace and his right hand,
half buried In its ~ruffles. showed the
sparkle Of a diamond.
Despite the gloom and sobriety of
his appearance there was a touch Of
magniftcence about this man, and de-
spite the suggestion OF parchment. a
touch Of fire. Now, at this moment,
standing before Madame La Baronne,
the president Of the law courts had
assumed his most gracious air. He
bowed as though he were standing be-
fore the dauphiness, and as he took
the e which she indicated he
plunged at once into the business on
hand.
Madame" said he, this morning I
received II note indicating that IL I
called today at Monsieur le Due de
Richelien's house in the Faubourg st.
Hcnore at / o'clock. I should see some
thing OF interest to me as vice chancel-
lor OF France. Also that L was to make
no reference to the note but simply
call as q friend Of Monsieur de Rich
elieu.''
Monsieur" replied the baroness. II
wrote hat note"
'.Ah, you wrote that note. Well,
madame, 1t is to the honor Of my per-
spicacity that 1 guessed the fact"
She bowed. And what you saw
did It interest you, Monsieur?"
Profoundly"
@That is well. I always like to per-
II you accept the invitation I gave you
to my house this evening, I will prom
ise you a sight even more interesting
than that which you beheld at the
house OF Monsieur de Richelieu.'"
Madame" said De Maupeou, "the
sight which I behld this morning inter-
ested me mainly by the fact that / did
not understand 1t at all. May I speak
P,ainly?"
Certainly"
Wei. / saw Monsieur de sartines in
a state OF agitation"
Yes"
II saw three -personages Of the court
on their knees before a lady whom they
hate for their beauty and Wit"
Yes"
And I heard them asking pardon Of
her under the pretense Of playing .
EYES,.
when you invited us all here to-
night / was watching Monastery de Sar-
tines' face. Madame, to 70 brief. you
hold g very high percentage IN your
hand"
Again you are right, Monsieur"
"He is your enemy, for tits well
known, Madame, in the circles OF 5us-
tice that he-hum,"
Holds me In suspicion. Oh, Nom
sieur, he has done more than b he
each OF those insults ] have sworn To-
De Maupeou smiled. upon my
faith. Madame I'D he. NIL you tell