The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1913-06-12
CHAPTER XII

F sFAhlS FALLS ON MADAME s
Madame Linden, standing at the
Lussac as he took his departure. she
saw him crossing the courtyard, and
as the, gate closed behind him she
turned to the table where Placide had
placed the Seyres bowl and the flow.
ers. ...F.."m "tnf# .a& E1yL
Utterly unconscious that the hand OF
DE Sartines was about to fall on the
man size loved, she occupied herself as
she arranged the flowers in the bowl,
with h completion Of her plan against
De Sartines. s VIZ
The insult that the minister OF po-
lice had just placed on her by making a
search at her house, and tampering
with her private papers, had brought
to a head her feeling of bitterness
against the whole court OF, France:
against the men false and polished, and
those women. ~faithless, futile, and fero-
cious in their ennities, whom 1t had
been her lot to meet.
She would have felt more hitter still
had she known how, during the last
few days, rumor had busted itself with
her and her affairs. 1t was already
known. in some miraculous way. that
De Sartines considered her attainted,
that his hand might fall on her at
any moment, and 1t was said that an
order or deportation was already drawn
up, and was only waiting the signature
of the king. '' ~. a -
AS she stood arranging the flowers
a knock came to the door n Rosire
entered.
Monsieur de Joyeuse to see you.
madame"
"Oh, Monsieur d. Joyeuse to see me :
Well, show him up" F.I - r
Rosine vanished and r~eappeared" a
moment later, holding the door open.
Monsieur de J~oyeuse.' Sd =" .
b De Joyesuse entered and bowed to
Madame la Baronne. He a exquis-
itely dressed, simpering, an almost per
feet fool in appearances; in reality, a
cold libertine, calculating, mathemati-
cal even In his vices.
why, monsieur" said the baroness,
as he kissed the tips of her fingers
and released her hand, this is an un-
expected pleasure" II. N IS
Joyeuse, casting his eyes over his own
reflection in the long mirror on the
wall. the pleasure has been heightened
by expectancy"
He too his seat on the chair ma
dame Indicated and which gave him
full command OF the mirror, crossed
his legs, played with his eye glass, and
admired himself languidly while she
went on with the arrangement Of her
flowers.
"And Madame de ~Joyeuse," said the
baroness, how is she?"
"Oh, ma fol-" replied this ideal hus-
band, in a weary O n of voice, "she is
just the same as aver. Madame-62.''
l"Sixty-two! Why, l would not have
guessed her for more than 60 when
last met her. And do you always
herald your answers as to your wife's
health with a statement of her age?''
t'Ma fol, yes. 1t trouble.
Monsieur de Joyeuse, how Is your
wife" Madame. she is g. Is not
that far shorter than saying: Thank
you. madame, my wife has astouch OF
rheumatism, she Is garrulous with old
age, and has the temper Of a fiend p ~
And you married your wife. mon
sieur--"
For her money, madame. / am
frank. Otherwise I would be eternally
lighting duels to force down mems
threats the lie that my wife Is IS. and
/ married her for her face"
Monsieur" asked the baroness
grayely and in a solicitous voice, "I
trust you find that mirror comfort
ADLER"
Quite, madame" replied the imper-
turbable De Joyeuse. 1T Is almost a
perfect ut, though with regard to the
lighting Of the room, it Is unhappily
placed"