Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1913-09-25
PART Ill.
CHAPTER I-(continued).

ShAIIEL
"Ah,' said Madame du Barry when
h had finished reading, 'can it be
hat De Sartines-'
grimace. In the mirror opposite to
him he had seen a curtain pushed
aside and the form of a gentleman dis
closing itself at the doorway. 1t was
the king, who had entered nan
nounced.
Good day, Madame. Good day,
Monsieur de Maupeou. Well, what is
this 1 heal about Monsieur de Sar-
tines?"
"Oh. your Majesty" replied the
comtesse, 1T is not what we hear about
Monsieur de Sartines that troubles me
but rather what we do not hear. He
was to have called upon me to-day
with reference to matters like this
h handed the verses to the king
but he has not arrived. He is too
busy, no doubt, with the arrest of
pickpockets and other high affairs of
state no trouble about matters like
these"
The king read the verses carefully
through, for he was very often min
ute in affairs of that sort, and with
every line his irritation %deepened. 1t
was not so much the thing itself that
angered him as the whole situation.
The Choiseuls, the Duchess de Gra-
mont, the thousand and n bitter en-
emies of the Du Barry all were con
spring to make his bed of roses a bed
of thorns; the ballad-mongers were
helping as far as they could.
He flung the taing on the floor with
so much Ill temper that the %favorite
forgot her own anger and began 70
laugh.
fortunately, dear France, if we have
not a De Sartines to make these gen.
1-s ,,~-J- -.~ -l~,,~
a De Maupeou." She handed the king
the order of inquiry which De Maupeou
had brought her, and De Maupeou. who
knew the king better han she did,
cursed inWardly as he watched him
reading it, knowing that in his present
temper his majesty was impracticable.
What he feared happened.
Having read the paper, Louis hand
ed it back to De Maupeou.
1--WE will see, monsieur, we will
see. But at present it seems to me
there is nothing to be done. 1t is the
men who pay for these things being
written rather than the men who
write them that we should give our
attention to-"
But, your majesty" said De Maui
peou, 1T is not against the versifiers
that this paper is directed, though in
deed 1t includes them in it's net, but a
serious conspiracy against the welfare
of the state"
His majesty imagined, from finding
De Maupeou and Madame du Barry
together, that this serious con
chancellor alluded had to do with the
tormentors of the favorite. De Maui
peou would strike them, no doubt, and
they would strike back. He did not
mind De Maupeou striking them, bal
he objected to their striking back
and all the fuss and fury of a prose.
cution ably defended. He loved peace
not for it's sake, but for his own
sake.
We'll, we will see. Come to me to-
morrow and we will talk the matter
over. / am ennuye." He approached
the macaw and examined it with Sc
rious attention, while De Maupeou
furious, with all his plans paralyzed
II not shattered, prepared to go. But
Madame du Barry held him with
glance.
Your majesty remem ,ers that
have a little dinner party today ant
q little surprise for my guests in the
form of Il certain pie"
"Ah, the pie!" said the king, laugh.
ing and turning from the bird. Yes
/ remember now the pie"
well, your Majesty, since Monsieur
de Maupeou is here and Gince Mon.
sieur de Maupeou is the representa-
tive of the law, I would ask him u
be present at the inauguration Of M,
pie, since Monsieur de Sartines, thu
representative of order, is absent"
The king glanced at the severe ans
serious face Of Monsieur de Maupeol
and burst out laughing:
Ma foil" cried he, IAN excellen
idea. My dear De Maupeou, you mus
dine with lis today"
"Your wish is my command, sire,
replied De Maupeon, vaguely uneas,