The Detroit times., 1913-09-08

you dOOui flnut NtiAf NH' '"s~N
petit? ! have given you your chance
in spite OF yourself. And you have
taken it-men pieu. You have made
the most OF your chance
when you graduated two years ago
at the top OF the school, when Pietro
left us and went OF to his castle In
Italy and you came back 10 me here
as fine young gentleman as any
dukes son. | said TO myself that
had done well. Somewhere, from
that remarkable mother OF yours,
believe. you-a peasant-have got the
simr4.city and the Inconsistencies
that are the finest touches OF the nm
est breeding. am very proud OF you
| Francois. l was proud when. just al
| ter you graduated, the leaders OF the
Bonapartist faction in France came to
| this chateau for a secret convention
and / could present you to them as
my adopted child. as my collaboration
| In the new book, our military history
Of the Austerlitz campaign--that had
good sound for a lad OF eighteen
And. name. .ofa-dog you held up your
] end-you could talk 10 them like Q
| soldier and a statesman. Mon dieu
yes.
And then, when they wrote and
suggested sending you as ambassador
on the secret mission to the Duke oil
Reichstadt last year. | almost burst
with pride 10 think how we'll you were
fitted for IL: fitted to talk with
princes. equipped with the knowledge
and the statecraft TO handle a deli
cate political situation. 1t ia no easy
thing TO fnd such al ambassador, for
such a mission-a man not marked
or known, yet with the subtle and
strong qualities which make man
marked. YOU with your youth and
peasant name and air Of young
noble. filed the difficult want. You
did II well and won laurels from crit,
ical old diplomatists.
Il have been worrying a bit since
TO have kept you here chained TO me
and the writing Of history, when
history. Yet you are only twenty
Time has not pressed. so far And
moreover, I await a revolution when
men such as you Will be needed: the
Bonapartjst yeast Is working under
the surface OF all the country: the
time will. come when a single crash
ing blow perhaps will shake France
and place one. of the Emperor's name
on the Emperor's throne. And at
that time you. Monsieur, must be
ready 10 put your strength into that
hou Fott
In that accolade OF the Emperor OF
your infancy: you and | believe that
as he said. you may be one day a
Marshal Of France under another Bon
aparte.' II Is for you to gulfil that
prophecy"
The general, his big hands on his
big knees. stared at the bay with
burning eyes. stirred by his own
, words into true French access ol
enthusiasm. But the boys eyes did
not meet his as usual with the fame
loved: yet the general. carried away
by his own generous feelings, was not
satisfied. This was his boy: what
he did was right. He drew in a great
breath and let 1t out in sigh OF
large contentment.
Il have talked you to extinction
Francois" he growled And in all
my words have not managed to tell
you what II Is that | am talking
about" He tapped the letter again
which lay under his hand. "Pietro
wants you to come to him as his sec
retary."
Francois large eyes lifted to the
generals face. inquiring. startled
childlike. "Pietro." he said slowly
Il had not thought OF that"
Yet you knew that Pietro was
cart and soul In the plots OF the
Italian patriots?"
Yes"
But you had not thought OF 20
ing to help him nght?"
NO, my Seigneur had though,
only Of the fight for which | must BE-
ready here"
This Italian business will be goot
practice said the general, as a mar
OF today might speak OF a tennis tour
nament. And you and Pietro will be
enchanted to be together again.
Francois smiled. and something In
the smile wrung the generals heart
Francois. you are not going to be
unhappy about little Alixe?"
Quickly Francois threw back. as Il
he had not heard the question my
Seigneur. will go to Pietro; 1t viii
be the best thing possible-action and
training, and good old Pietro for q
comrade. My Seigneur. may + go to
morrow"
Tomorrow The general was
startled now "A thousand thunders
but you are a sudden lad Yet II Will
be no harder to give yoc up tomor
row than It would be next month
Yes, tomorrow. then, let II be-
Francois stood up, slim, young
alert and steady, yet somehow not as
the boy who had come In TO the gen.
eral an hour before; more, perhaps
as q man who had been through a
Fuuttfe and come out very tired, with
the noise Of the fighting In his ears
'f-wM-go 70 the farm tonight, to
my motner and my father. And this
afternoon / will ride with Alike, II
you do not want me for the book. my
Seignenr-and~n she will go. May
+ask you not TO tell Alike OF this--to
leave n TO me to tell her."