The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-05-21


calls as himself And so he devoted
himself to the vands with a ravenous
guStO. while the old man. leaning back
ward. watched him with steady, curl
Gus eyes.
You have blood on your shoulder
my man." he said.
Montigny must have laid his wet
right hand upon him as he left the
house. He cursed Montigny in his
heart.
1T was none of my shedding" he
stammered.
Il had not supposed so," returned
his host quietly. "A brawl?"
"Well, something of that Sort" VII
lon admitted with a quaver.
perhaps fellow murdered?"
"Oh, no, not murdered" said thu
poet. more and more confused. ut
was all fair play-murdered by acct
dent l had ne hand in it. God strike
me dead" he added fervently.
"One rogue the fewer, l dare say"
observed the master Of the house.
you may dare to say that" agreed
Villon. infinitely relieved. 'As big 4
rogue as there is between here and
Jerusalem. He turned up his toes like
a lamb. But it was a nasty thing to
look at. I dare say you've seen dead
men in your time, my lord?' he added,
glancing at the armor.
Many" said the old man. 81 have
followed the wars. as you imagine.
Have you any money!
II have one white" returned the
poet, laughing. Il got it out of dead
jade's stocking in porch. She was
as dead as Caesar. poor wench, and as
cold as a church. with bits Of ribbon
sticking in her hair. This is hard
world in winter for wolves and wench-
es and poor rogues like me-"
a." said the old man, IAN Enguer
rand de la Feuillee. signor de Brise-
tout, bailie du Patatrac. Who and
what may you be-"
Villon rose and made suitable rev
erence. II am called Francis Villon."
he said, "a poor master of arts Of this
university. know some Latin and
deal Of vice. can make chansons.
ballads, lais. vireais and roundels, and
am very fond of wine. I was born
in a garnet. and shall not improbably
die upon the gallows l may add. my
lord, that from this night forward
am your lordship's very obsequious
servant to command"
mo servant of mine," said the
knight. my guest for this evening.
and no more
"A very grateful guest" said Villon
politely, and he drank in dumb show
to his entertainer.
''You are shrewd." began the old
man, tapping his forehead. very
shrewd. You have learning. You are
a clerk. and vet you take a small piece
of money off Il dead woman in the
street. Is it not Il kind Of theft?"
ut is kind Of theft much practiced
in the wars. my lord"
THE wars are the field of honor" re-
turned the old man proudly. There
a man plays his life upon the cast. He
fights in the name Of his lord the king.
his Lord God. and all their lordships
the holy saints and angels"
Put it," said Villon, that l We're
really thief. should l not play my
life also and against heavier odds?"
For gain. but not for honor"
"Gain?" repeated Villon, with a
shrug Gain: The poor fellow wants
supper and takes it. SO does the sol
der in campaign. Why, what are
all these acquisitions we hear 50 much
about?"
"These things are necessity of war
which the lowborn must endure with
constancy. Look at us two" said his
lordship. II am old. strong and hon.
ored. If We're turned from my house
tomorrow hundreds would be proud to
shelter me. Poor people would 80 out
and pass the night in the streets with
their children if merely limited that
l wished to be alone. And l find you
up. wandering homeless and picking
farthings off dead women by the way
sue. / 1edl uO Alldu uOIuius5.
have seen you tremble and lose coun-
tenance at word. wait Gods sum-
mons contentediy IN my own house. or.
if it please the king to call me out
again. upon the field of battle. You
look for the gallows-a rough, swift
death, without hope or honor. Is there
no difference between these two:'
LAS far as to the MOON" Villon ac-
quiesced. But if l had been born
Lord of Brisetout and you had been
the poor scholar Francis, should not
have been the soldier and you the
thief?''
"A thiefT' cried the old man. Il
thief: If you understood your words
you woc1d repent them"
Villon turned out his hands with a
gesture Of inin,ltable impudence. IF
your lordship had done me the honor
to follow my argument" he said.
II do you too much honor in submit
ting to your presence" said the knight.
Learn to curb your tongue when you
speak with old and honorable men. or
some one hastier than l may reprove