The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1913-04-03
H. 0He MINISTER
M o. POLICE
A|R By HENRY MoNTJoY
W cpytghL ls2. Tbs BohSs Merrill Company
CHAPTER I.
THE LOUIS.

Sartines passed the Swiss on guard
at the gates Of his majesty's palace Of
versailles n entered the courtyard.
Then. as now, this courtyard, vast,
paved with cobblestones big as ones
fist. looked by rows and rows of win
dows; chill, almost repellant, gave one
the impression of q back premises,
without any detraction from that other
impression Of magnificence which the
genius of Mansard mixed in the plans.
the bricks and the very mortar of his
work.
The carriage Of the minister Of po-
lice, having crossed the courtyard
where other carriages were standing
In waiting, stopped at the main en-
trance of the palace, and Monsieur de
Sartines descended.
A lackey in the royal livery came
down the steps ana stood as the vehicle
drew up, and already the man at the
swing doors had passed the words
across his shoulder to the usher at his
desk, THE carriage of Monsieur de
S%artines."
The carriages of the notabilities of
france OF Monsieur de Coigny, the
Due de Richelieu, the Duo de Choiseul
and a host Of others were known indi-
vidually and almost by the sound Of
their wheels to the doorkeepers of Yer
sailles, and none better than that of
the minister Of police, who was now
ascending the steps walking heavily
a magnificent figure of a man in a
coat Of brocaded silk, with ruffles Of
the NEST Mechlin lace, bearing in his
hand a clouded cane, and at his side
that dress sword, an heirloom of the
family of the Comics de Sartines. in
herited from the illustrious Marechal
d'Ancre.
TIE glass doors opening before him,
as though pushed aside by his reflec-
ton on their polished surfaces, Mon
sieur de Sartines passed into the warm
and flower scented vestibule where the
lamps had just been lighted, and where
Joaquin, the usher on duty, advanced
to receive the hat and cane Of the min
lister.
From beyond the Stairway Of the
Ambassadors, somewhere in the dis
lance. faint. like the diffused murmur
of bees, same the sound Of voices, a
multitude of voices subdued and low
pitched, a nimbus Of sound from the
Hall Of Mirrors, where the courtiers in
attendance were assembled, chatting,
criticising the life Of the day, drawn
together by no special occasion, or rea-
son, save that which makes insects
huddle toward light and warmth.
There was no necessity for Monsieur
de Sartines to inquire whether the king
were present In his palace; the voices
from the Hall Of Mirrors told him.
L - "oS up IIl0 b III eldlI
case when from the corridor above,
descending, Monsieur lie Marechal Due
de Richelieu made his appearance,
coming rapidly, seeming elated and we'll
pleased with himself, and followed by
a lackey of the palace bearing a dis
patch box.
A marvellous figure was the Due de
Richelieu. quite youthful still, despite
his "A years, small in stature, yet some
how great, a man with the past OF q
conqueror and the present Appearance
at a distance-of a youthful fop.
At rhis moment the hero Of Mahon
was az the zenith of his worldly hopes.
for the De Choiseul ministry, destined
to fall on the following Christmas eve
was c.umbling. and the De RiChelieu
ministry--never to materialize-was in
h air.
"Ah, De Sartines," said the due,
pausing in his passage toward the
door. and laying a finger or the bro
! caded arm Of the new conner. you
have come to pay you respects to his
majesty. You will find him very well.
I have just left him, n he is ex
pecting you"
Expecting me, monsieur" replied
De Sartines. Then his majesty must
have been suddenly gifted with the
power OF second sight"
Ma fol. who can tell? I only know
he said to me, I feel in such good
spirits something surely Is going to
happen; either some pamphleteer is
printing a new pamphlet against me,
or Monsieur de Sartines is coming to
bore me with a portfolio"
De Sartines bowed gravely. "Happi-
ly for you, monsieur, his majesty said
to me at our last meeting, Whatever
happens. l shall never bore Monsieur
de Richelieu in that way"
De Richelieu, almost assured, and al
raQ DIV failing tho nnrffOliA nf fha n,o
de Choiseul under his arm, laughed
and passed on. while De Sartines took
q step upward, only to be stopped
again, this time by a figure just emerg-
ing from the corridor.
1t was Monsieur de Joyeuse, a young
gentleman, who had squandered a
fortune and was now s~quandering the
fortune Of his wife, a woman of So,
eight whom he had married-openly
confessing the. fact-for her money.
He was bearing a small bunch Of
violets. Why, it is Monsieur de Sar-
perfume! You have come just in time
to save the remains OF your reputation,
which they are killing in the Hall Of
Mirrors"
"Ah monsieur replied De Sartines,
you are happier in that respect than
/ am"
And how?"
You have left nothing for them to
kill"
He bowed, passed on, and a moment
later found himself in the throng
crOwding the great salon.
The lamps were lighted, but through
the long windows, as yet u~ncurtained.
the park. the lakes and the fountains of
Versailles showed, a dim n poetic
picture In the c~hiaroscuro OF evening.
The courtiers were formed in little
groups chatting together, laughing and
discussing trifies2 as though they had
been matters of state, which. indeed,
in that epoch they often were. Near
the doorway by which De SArtineS a
entered, the Comte d'Harls lcourt, a tall
man with a severe and vit4ainous-look-
ling face-of whom II vas said that, at
his instigation, his wife had poisoned
her first husband-had b~uttonholed
; the young Comte de Coigny n was
holding him in talk, while Monsieur de
Stenlis and another gentleman stood
, by listening and laughing.
L"Ah, De Sartines," cried this noble
man, releasing De Coigny and turning
, to the newcomer, what a delightful
surprise to find you at versailles! And
how Is JUSTICE"
Very we'll, indeed, monsieur" re-
piled the minister. with a freezing
smile: "she was even asking after you
this morning" He passed on, still
making his way through the crowd.
speaking a word to this gentiemay,
hoddinR to that. He had not made -