Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1913-08-07
/, The 5o663 -nERRILL CO.

ulation on that score. He was unde-
niably satisfied; even the escape OF
the prisoners and the loss OF the sol
diers at the guard-house, or in the
wheel-room, was over-shadowed by the
single capture. This contentment,
however he kept to himself; tnstigat-
ed a rigorous inquiry, and prepared to
punish certain offenders But the
principal of these he could not reach;
when released from the iron cage, the
hunchback, knowing he would be
called upon to answer for his part in
the nights work, had made the best
use of his short legs to place a long
distance between himself and the
Mount.
The sentinel that allowed the Black
Seigneur to pass through the entrance
near the barracks; the Waterman en-
countered on the stairway, and the sol
der that had been overpowered In
the stable, his Excellency could, how
ever, lay hands on, and promptly or
dered into custody to await his Off
cial attention. For this last culprit,
the commandments perhaps, OF
bolstering his own position-interced-
ed; pointing out that the man had to
get the gag from his mouth and give
the alarm; also, that the mountebank's
appearance and acting had been cal
culated to deceive even one OF the
governors discernment. Which re-
mark his Excellency had received with
sphinx-like, and not altogether reas-
surfing, gravity; had reserved his YER
dict, and continued, after his own
fashion, to collect the details of the
affair.
The searching process should have
led him almost at once to his daugh-
ter-a puzzling figure in the maze Of
events; but the Governor had exEib-
tied no haste in approaching that i'm
portant witness. Only when he had
marshaled his other testimony and put
it in order did the scope of his sitting
extend to the girl. And then had his
manner been strictly judicial; main
tanning an imperturbable mask, he
protested not to notice the pallor of
her face, the unnatural brightness of
her glance
.When you sent for the mountebank
to come to your apartments, did you
know who he was?" the Governor
asked
mo"
when did you find out?"
when you entered the room"
"Why did you not give the alarm
them"
Because" she hesitated; her face
changed, "he would have killed you.
| think-if | had!'
"Was that solicitude for me the
only reason?"
"Why, what other could there be?"
What other, truly? And after he
left with the commandments did
you not, then, inform me?"
You remember you had something
important, from the King, to consider"
hastily.
More important than this?"
"He was going to be locked up"
was the best reply she could make.
And in the morning set free!"
She did not answer.
"And yet, you gave the word that
enabled us to capture him at the
wheel-house! How, by the way, came
YOU therein the wheel-house?
81 saw him from the abbot's bridge;
heard him tell the Waterman he had
message to deliver at your palace, and
followed"
again feeling solicitude for me?"
81 did not know-he would dare
much: and what does it matter now?"
almost wildly. you have captured
him. shut him up somewhere in some
terrible, deep dungeon, where
HE is safe? True; that Is the main
consideration.
Thereafter had the subject of the
Black Seigneur been dropped between
them: the pilgrimage over, the Mount
resumed its normal aspect, but only
for a little while! One day about a
week later, bright cortege whose APP
pearance was in marked contrast to
that of the beggarly multitude, late
visitors to the rock, came riding down
through the forest to the sea; at the
verge of the sands, stopped for first
distant impression Of the rock.
Noble monument, l salute you"
Smiling, debonair, the Marquis de
Beauvilliers removed his hat.
"And the noble mistress thereof?"
suggested one of his train.
"She, of counsel" he said. still sur
veying scene different from that final
memory he had carried away WITH him.
Then had the rock reared itself in ali
the glamour of sunny day; now was
the sky overcast, while through sui
len mist the Mount loomed like a
shadow itself.
"A cold place for our gay Elise"
One or two who viewed the sight for
the first time looked disappointed;
even the Marquis appeared for the in
slant more sober; but Immediately re-
gained his lively demeanor
wait until you have seen II at its
best" he retorted carelessly, and set
the pace across the sands