The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1913-04-03
Ole MINISTER
& a POLICE
~ HENRY MONTJOY
X1 c.prsAs laa n. sssa.4ern c-.4.y.
CHAPTER I.
THD LOUIS.

AN
themselves in the muslin of the e
ing mist, the carriage OF Monsieur de
Sartlnes passed the Swiss on guard
at the gates Of his majesty's palace of
versailles and entered the courtyard.
Then. as now, his courtyard, vast.
paved with cobblestones big as ones
list, looked by rows and rows OF win
dows; chill, almost repellant, gave one
the impression OF a back premises,
without any ~detraction from that other
impression of magnificence which the
genius OF Mansard mixed in the plans,
he 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 h main en-
trance of the palace. and Monsieur de
S%artines descended.
A lackey in Nthe royal livery came
down the steps ana TODD 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
Sartines."
The carriages of the notabilities of
France. of Monsieur d. Coigny, the
Due de Richelieu, the Duo d. Choiseul
and a host of others were known indi-
vidualiy and almost by the sound of
their wheels to the doorkeepers of Yer
sailles, and none better than tina of
the minister of police, who was now
ascending the steps walking heavily
q magnificent figure of a man in a
coat of brocaded silk, with ruffles of
the finest Mechlin lace, bearing in his
hand a clouded cane, and at his side
that dress sword. IN heirloom of the
family of the Comics de Sartines, in
herited from the illustrious Marechal
d'Ancre.
h 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
Inc 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,
crtticising the life of the day, drawn
together by no special occasion, or rea-
son, save that which makes insects
hlddle toward light and warmth.
There was no necessity for Monsieur
de Sartines to inquire whether the king
We're present In his palace: the voices
from the Hal Of Mirrors told him.
He was advancing up the great stair
case when from the corridor above,
descending, Monsieur lie Marechal Due
de Rfchelieu made his appearance,
coming rapidly, seeming elated and well
pleased with himself, and followed by
a lackey of the Palace bearing a dis
patch box.
A marvellous figure was the Due de
Rtchelieu, quite youthful still. despite
his n years, small in stature, yet some-
how great, a man with the past of a,
conqueror n the present appearance
at a dfstance-of q youthful fop.
AT this moment the hero Of Mahon
at the zenith of his worldly hopes,
for the De Choiseul ministry, destined
to fall on the following Christmas eve,
was crumbling. n the De Richelieu
ministry-never to materialize-was in
the air.
"Ah, De Sartines," said the due.
paustng in his passage toward the
door, n laying a finger on the bro
caded arm of the new conner, you
nave come to pay your respects to his
majesty. You will find him very well.
1 have just left him, and 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,
M fol, who can tell? / only know
he said to me. I feel in such good
spirits something surely is going to
happen; either some pamphleteer is
printing q 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
ready feeling the portfolio of the Due
and passed on. while De Sartines took
a step upward, only to be stopped
again, this time by a figure lust emerg-
Ing from the corridor.
1t was Monsieur de Joyouse, q young
gentleman who had squandered a
fortune of his wife, a woman Of So,
eight whom he had married-openly
confess1ng the factor her n
he was bearing a small bunch of
violets. Why. 1t is Monsieur de Sar-
tines!" said De Joyeuse. How op-
perfume! You nave come Just in time
to save the remains of your reputation,
which they are killing in the Hall of
Mirrors"
All. monsieur" replied De sartines,
you are happier in that respect than
I am"
And how?"
You have left nothing for them to
kill"
He bowed, passed on, and a
later found himself in the throng
crowding the great salon.
The lamps were lighted, but through
the long windows, as yet uncurtained,
the park. the lakes and the fountains of
versailles showed, a dim and poetic
picture in the chiaroscuro Of evening.
The courtiers were formed in little
groups chatting together, laughing and
discussing trifies as though they had
been matters of state, which, indeed,
In that epoch they often were. Near
the doorway by which De Sartines had
entered. h Comte d'Harlancourt, a tall
man with a severe and villainous-lock-
Ing face-of whom it was said that, at
his instigation, his wife had poisoned
her first husband-had ~buttonhoIed
the young Comte de Coigny and was
holding him in talk, while Monsieur de
Stenlfs and another gentleman stood
by listening and laughing.
"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 well. indeed, monsieur re-
piled h minister, with a freezing
emilia. : stcHA Q ~