The Washington herald., 1913-01-12
THE MINISTER OF Police [@=5:I .s;,5a=

Madame de Stenlis insulted me to-
day"
"Yes?"
Monsieur de Joyeuse flung his mud
at me"
But he is not a cat"
No, Monsieur, he is a cur
De Richelieu laughed. well, Mad
anne, and how can help you against
these people?"
oh, Monsieur. you have only to
raise your voice and all these creatures
will fly. But wait! / said to myself,
who is there in all France that | can
ask for a word of friendliness? All
the men of the court are men of the
world who would not understand me.
There is only one, the Due de Richie
man whose age places him above the
utilities of the world"
De Richelieu made little grimace.
81 came here tonight and / found
myself face to face with man who,
whatever his age may be. is not an
old man, and-you see l am quite
frank with you'll feared"
% madame, why should you fear?"
Alas! Monsieur an unprotected
woman"
De Richelieu drew his chair close
TO hers and took her hand.
Madame" said he, you have
sought my protection Why. then,
should you fear your protector?'
WHY fear myself too. Now, you
see, am making more confessions.
Believe me, it were better ] should go.
"Ah, yes, moment-that is what
man ALWAYS say when they can think
of nothi,s better. Monsieur, the mo-
ment his passed"
De Richelieu, instead of releasing
her hand, slipped down on one knee
beside her: the fire in the old mare
chal'S blood had broken into fame
Taking the captured hand in his left
hand, his right arm slipped round her
Monsieur" said she. drawing slight
ly away. that is encroachment."
NO, Madame. it is the smallest
waist in the world"
Monsieur. if | were a designing
woman | might, now turn you round
my finger Oh, how weak are men,"
Yes. Madame, men are weak, al
ways DelOTe IONCllneSS.
Then, Monsieur. be strong"
81 am; at the moment. perhaps, /
am the strongest man in France"
Then have pity on the weakest
woman
Il am all pity for weakness; though
| hold you like this. it is only to SYM
bolize that protection which is at your
service. You say you have women
enemies who are pressing you hard
No. Monsieur, it is you who are
pressing me hard, and when hard
pressed. woman cries out. Monsieur.
am about to cry out.
"A truce, then" cried De Richelieu.
releasing her and rising to his feet.
The baroness also rose mp.
The conqueror OF Mahon calling
Tor truce! Monsieur. you are de-
.cated"
Il acknowledge it"
Il have wound YOU round my fin
Then. cherie. wind me round
again cried Richclieu. laughing. half
riqucd. fire in his eye, and advancing
upon her.
This was the real attack. and
Madame Linden, with little scream.
uch as women give when they see
,cld him off. Struggling with him,
1alf laughing, painting, she suddenly
REV back
Monsieur" said she in a low voice.
a moment-there is some one at the
iOor"
De Richelieu, flushed and almost
turned to the door with
terrible oath. He opened it. There
vas no one
"Ah, Monsieur. but there was" said
he. still in that mutted voice that
ed the hopes of the old man heaven
ward. 81 heard some one. Go into
he corridor and see that we are
lone"
He went into the corridor and in
family she closed the door and locked j.;
on him. She flashed across the
DOM TO the bureau The blood surg
ng to her face. ringing in her ears,
he seized the handle of the top right! |
and drawer: it yielded. The drawer
;as still open: she pulled il out; on
he top OF number of papers lay :
olded document.
Madame. Madame" came De Rich |
iieu's voice from the outer side of ,
he door. as he tapped lightly with
Is knucklc>. Open! Think if any j
I the servants were to GOMEZ
Monsieur. cried she in an even "
dice. as she unfoIded and glanced at ,
lie document. Before | let YOU in | J
lust dictate terms"
Anything" replied the voice of the t
nc Only open"
She saw Dc Sartincs' signature. II