The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1913-09-04
sartines' agents?

so thinking, he passed unQer on o.
the arches of the Porte st. Bernard
right into the arms OF Monsieur
Beauregard. Beauregard, who hat
come to this quarter of the city or
some police business, had been walk
Ing along, thinking of a pretty girl hi
had passed on the Pont dc la T%ournelle
when he oun himself all at once face
to face with De Lussac. The astonish
ment OF one was nlirrored in the face
of the other.
"ventre Dieul" cried the gallant
B~eauregard. why, this is Monsieur
lie Comte de Lussac!"
And. unless my eyes deceive me,
this Is Monsieur Beauregard."
so they have set you free?"
why, yes" replied De Lussac, .or
1 should not be standing before you
here
If you had put the situation before
De Lussac in his calm moments, he
would AVE said, speaking Of his own
position. How horrible! In such g
position 1 would be stricken dumb"
yet, after the first shock of the
meeting. he felt perfectly at his ease
and. far from being dumb, he was able
to converse fluently and nationally.
Beauregard made a clicking noise
with his tongue.
well, that's astonishing, and I give
you my 1oT SIWeeH
you and me, by dear compile, I thought
you were badly placed. 1t is so
easy to get into la bastile but so deuced
difficult to get out. But of course with
De Richelieu at your elbow things We're
easier. And how long have you been
free?"
De Lussac paused for half a sec
ond before making his reply, and
Beauregard noticed the pause.
About an hour"
".Ah. an hour You have doubtless
left you carriage close by?"
mo, monsieur, 1 am on foot. De
Lussac, a. he spoke, turned and began
to continue his way scross the broad
space leading to the Pont de la Tour
nellie. Beauregard turned and walked
with him. The charming lieutenant of
Monsieur de Sartines had suddenly for
the Comte de Lussac ceased to be a
mar and had become an obsession, a
nightmare, a thing not to be borne.
He stopped dead.
Monsieur B~eauregard," said he, ST
must wish you good day"
Monsieur lie comte," replied Beaure-
gard, Il am walking you way. Let
us cross the Pont de la Tournelle to-
gether. l have many things to say to
you
"As, for instance
"As, for instance, monsieur, 1t sur
PiISCS IN " LII Sou llSIS dtoIS LII
on foot, wearing a hat which obviously
does not belong to you"
"Aha!" said De Lussac, without NOV
ing an inch. You criticize my dress?'
No, monsieur, only YOU hat"
WELL" replied the comte, 'let me
say that If my hat displeases you, I, in
turn, take exception to you altogether.
Paris with a t~hief-catcher dressed as
a noble"
B~eauregard flushed red as a lobster.
THAT vas Ill said, monsieur le comte.
That was i'll said. My family is not
behind the family of the De Lussacs,
and my position as chief under the
Acknowledgement Of police is not be-
meath contempt. All, monsieur, it is
easy to be seen in your person how
the association with the pettifoggers
of sedition, the pamphleteers and the
canaille rusts the nobility in q mans
nature, destroys the gold and brings
the brass to light"
Monsieur" said De Lussac, "you
ave twice insulted me, all our po-
litical differences vanish, this is a mat
ter between you and me. Follow me,
monsieur, IT by the living God I will
either pass my sword through your
heart or chastise you with the scab-
bard like a dog"
He turned on his heel, and Beaure-
gard, choking in his gorget Of gold
lace. blind with rag and trembling
with passion, followed him under the
Porte st. Bernard and then along the
Porte st. Bernard which lined the bank
Of the river.
To the left lay the river, where boats
were moored to the bank, to the right
the vast wood yards and open spaces,
desolate and almost deserted.
De Lussac led the way by the wall
cGfrty,~ fhnc4 xyn~d~ All r. ~.
entrance to them. At each side Of the
entrance way stood q watch house, and
here a man was always on guard to
prevent pilfering from the woodpiles.
When he saw the two noblemen APP
preaching the Waterman left his little
box and came and stood In the OPEN,
looking at them and evidently won
De Lussac toe the louis from his
pocket and gave 1t to the man.
This gentleman and I have some
private business to transact said the
comte. we do not wish to be dis
turbed, you understand"
Waterman, cts not for me to disturb
you, my lord. Beyond those woodpiles
there is a big open pace, room enough
and sheltered from the port He
glanced at the swords the gentleman
carried, and laughed.
come Sale Lie LuSSaC, and followed
by Beauregard he found the place in,
dicated, an ideal spot for the business
In hand.
There were no prehminaries; the an
tagonists simply stripped Off their
coats, drew their swords, and set to.
Beauregard was accounted one OF the
best swordsmen In France, but no
sooner had the swords crossed than he
himself matched. DeLussac at
tackled with the ferosfty Of a wolf, the
cunning of IA master at arms and q
wrist OF steel: the swords cIung togeth-
er, kissed, parted, quarreled. 20 times
the sword of Beauregard shot like a.
ribbon of light toward tn. breast Of
DE Lussac. only to be DETECTED by the
parrying blade which in its TURF at
tackled only to be foiled es.d spend Its
venom on the air.
The quarreiing of the fteel could be
heard by the watchman at the gate,
who could tell by the sound the fury
OF the encounter.
Beauregard, cool up 20 now. had gtv-
IN no points 70 his adversary. but now
the animal fury OF the lhan broke out;
he made a slight fault. saved himself,
slipped, recovered. made a terrible
funge whiuEs4De Lussac parried. Then,
while Beauregard was recovering him.
Self. the cpyi1fe. Hwfft as lightning. got