The Washington herald., 1913-02-16

The coach drove away, exchanged
the rattle of the paving-stones in the
courtyard for the even motion OF the
wheels upon the well-kept outer way,
and, entering the Paris road, headed
| for the city at a spanking pace.
De Maupeou took from his pocket
the paper he had just received from
the king and glanced at it.
A few minutes ago the thing had
been worthless; now, with that spraw-
ling signature attached, it was price
less-for the purposes of De Maui
peou.
He refolded it. put it back in his
pocket ssid folded his hands.
That De Sartincs had committed
some frightful indiscretion or crime
he felt sure; equally sure was he that
the baroness had the evidence of it.
He licked his lips at the thought of
the paper in his pocket that gave him
absolute power over both De Sartlncs
| and the woman, should evidence be
forthcoming that either of them was
implicated, and was on the point of
looking at his watch again when the
coach lurched, recovered, seemed to
its side with a crash.
To the occupant it was as though
the world had suddenly upset. Half
stunned, bleeding from a cut on his
left hand, imprisoned like a rat in a
trap. he could only shout for help,
while the horses, with the pole broken
and lying on their sides. engaged the
attention OF the driver. who freed them
by cutting the traces and then. rush.
ing to the carriage door, freed his
master.
"Mordieu" cried the vice chancellor,
as he stood at last on the road. What
an escape! But what caused it? have
driven all my life, but never have
experienced an upset like this. Did you
run into anything?"
Monsieur" said the man. rising
from an examination OF the wreck,
the linch-pins have been tampered
with, and the miracle to me is that
We have driven so far without break
down"
How far are we from Versailles:" :"
"a mile and a half, Monsieur"
Dc Maupeou looked at his watch.
1t had stopped. There was not soul
to be seen on the road. 1t was a
beautiful evening, and not cloud
stained the sky that stretched in a
bow of azure from the spires and
domes of the town and palace of Yer
sailles to the domes and spires OF
Paris.
A lark was singing above, and the
faint warm wind of spring brought
the scent OF earth and flowers to the
distracted vicc-chancellor. Nature
seemed mocting him.
Having glanced up and down the
road in search of help. he fixed his
j attention on the coachman, who had
got ono of the horses upon its legs /;
the other. severely injured and unable
to rise would have to be shot.
"Then the wheels have been tampcrcd
| with"
YES. Monsieur: that I'd swear.
Both offwheels. All. the scamps! If
l had hold of them. :"
"Cordieu." said the vice-chanccllor,
bending down to examine the wreck.
The thought had come to him that
this was the work of De Sartines.
done on purpose to delay him II
this were so. there was all the more
reason for haste, as the affair must
be of the last Importance, else the
minister of police would not have
stopped to such a means.
"Cordieuw cried he. Il must be
in Paris by half past eight. My
watch is stopped If | only knew the
time, Stay: what is that?"
A puff of dust from the road as it
entered Versailles rose on the wind j;
vehicle of some sort was approach
ing. As it drew nearer it proved to
be a yellow cabriolet OF the type that
piled for hire in Paris and Versailles.
The horse in the shafts was going at
a good pace, and now De Maupeou
could hear the little bells of the har-
ness
Fool he said. thinking OF De
Sartines Unless he meant to kill
me outright. he must have known that
vehicle passes along the Paris road
every few minutes and that the vice
chancellor OF France. with money in
his pocket. could not possibly be de-
tanned long by such simple and silly
trick. Fcol~
He used the word again. mentally,
as he hailed the cabriolet, which stop
pSh liz ulu iot NiioN III 'iiN iNds'.
however, that the genius of the piece
in which he was now acting was not
De Sartincs but Rappelier, a much
more formidable antagonist and per-
son, moreover. who thought out a
plan to the minutcst detail.
In the cabriolet was seated gentle
mau with singularly open and good
humored face, who was being driven
to Paris.
"Why, mon Dicur' cried this gen
tlcmen. as his vehicle stopped. .'herc
we have an accident. it seems
Monsieur" cried De Maupeou, Il
have just escaped with my life My
|, carriage is, as you see. broken: it is
essential for me to reach Paris by
half past eight May / have a seat
in your cabriolet?"
why, mon Dieu! certainly" cried
the other. Step in, my dear sir, and
welcome. thrice welcome. No man can
ever say that Jacques Gaillard ever
refused hand, or seat in his car
riage. to the distressed 'TiS a yellow
carriage-I would that it were some
more respectable color, but as it is so
let us take it, just so, and, after ALL
what's in color? In a girl, yes; in
a cabriolet. no. Never mind the color
Vite. cocher! for my friend in black
has to reach Paris by half past seven"
Eight" said De Maupeou. wonder
ing at his companions ease and afflu-
ence of language, while the cabriolct