The Washington herald., 1913-01-12

! "Ah," said she, you are man oil
spirit and sense. and promise you
Monsieur, one thing: you shall have
| great amusement at your house in the
Rue du Faubourg St Honore to-mor-
row at half-past twelve"
And after?" asked De Richelieu.
She laughed.
81 always pay my debts. And this
is for earnest" She held out her lips
and he kissed her
! Her extraordinary frankness. hei
golden voice. her beauty and personal
magnetism had completely bound this
old libertine in their pentagram: the
thought that he was getting the better
| of De Lussac, a man so much his
Junior, did not lesson his satisfaction
And now, Monsieur, must go
Tomorrow at half-past twelve, ex-
pect me-"
He followed her as she passed into
the corridor and then across the great
hall. where they parted On the steps
before which her carriage was drawn
up, who should be waiting for her
but Placide!
What" cried she You here"
"Ics, Madame Rosinc told me
that you had come here, and ! took
cabriolet and followed you, as !
have some very important informa-
ton for your ear
And your information?
! Madame, what | have TO say has
to do with Monsieur de Lussac."
Then get into the carriage with
me and you can tell me as we drive"
She made him get in and take the
front seat Then the carriage started.
All the way from Paris Placide had
been racking his head for an excuse
for having followed her.
Well" said she. when they had
cleared the avenue gates, your infor-
mation?"
Just this. Madame" said the old
fellow biuffly 81 am not blind"
/. so you posted all the way from
Paris to tell me about the state of
your eyes! Well, then. Monsieur
Placide, you shall pay your own ex-
penses for the journey, and you can.
now that you have relieved yourself
of your information. get out and sit
beside the coachman."
Placide noted her gayety and ami
nation: more than ever he felt GER
tain that whatever business had
brought her to De Richelieu's, il
was OF most important nature and
that she had been successful in il.
He had come with the idea OF trying
to pick up news from the maJordomo,
but at the last moment he determined
to adhere 10 the baroness.
Madame" he went on, quite I'M
moved, Il am not blind, and it has
been easy for me TO see that you are
not disintercstcd in anything concern
ing the welfare of Monsieur de Lus-
sac"
"Ah, Monsieur de Lussac!"
"Yes. Madame. He has been i'm
prisoned. | heard the news this even
ing from the foorman OF Monsieur de
DuraS."
And you came after me to Yer
saillcS to inform me OF this" The |
little lamp that lighted the interior of
the carriage showed him that her eyes
were moist. His fidelity had evident
ly moved her TO the heart; he had
not reckoned on this.
oh, Madame. that was nothing.
Just a summer evenings drive"
"My good Placide," she replied.
fidelity is great deal in this world,
where all men are unfaithful But you
have been a grumbling servant. you
have set Rosine by the ears. and
doubt, even. if you have been salts
good Placide, you are an intolerable
servant, and as recompense for your
fidelity this evening ! now discharge
YOU from my service
What now thought Placide. at
this unexpected turn.
Il discharge you as a servant and
-e-engage you as a friend, salaried
friend Well, what do you say to-
hat, grumbler?'
Placide said nothing for moment.
)ne might have fancied that she had
ouched the old scamp's heart.
"Cordieul Madame" grumbled he
II last. you are making lot out of I
nothing. | am just your servant"
And my friend
All the way to Paris, behind ma .
lanes triumphant gayety was the fear
# pursuit. If Richelieu opened that
atal drawer before she had put suf-
Client distance between them to make ,
pursuit impossible. nc would pursue ,
er. 1t was. therefore, with 81 gh of ;
elief that she passed the tollgate and !
he gates of Paris. and heard the
amiliar grinding OF the wheels on the {
avement OF the city. IL
1t was long after midnight. and the I
escrted streets lay under the moon. $
he hungry city slept, guarded by the
'astile standing like mailed gaint
l the moonlight I