Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-07-31
The Minister S
Revenge
By RUTH GRAHAM

tonic Langrado, a Spanish physician,
who had found royal favor by curing
the king of an illness. was passing
from one room to another when he met
a party of three in whom he felt sure
he saw the enactment of one of those
love stories which, though they are
common. the world loves as well as If
they were rare.
These three were a girl of nineteen
and two men. The man on the right
was forty, quite fat and with a red
face, denoting that he was much given
to wine. He was evidently a man of
importance, for his breast was covered
with the insignia of different orders.
He on her left was a handsome young
fellow not much older than the girl,
who wore but one badge. a decoration
for military distinction.
AS the three passed DR.. Langrado
the older man scowled at the younger,
whose fingers played ~nervously with
the handle of his rapier, while the lady
seemed t. draw toward him and away
from the other. But the doctor saw
them only a moment. for they passed
In among one throng. while he passed
in among another.
The ball being ended. Dig Langrado
went to his lodgings and to bed. He
had barely fallen to sleep when he was
awakened and hurried away to see a
patient. The person coming for him
a young army o~fficer-said TO him:
doctor. your patient has received a
dangerous wound. 1t will be expected
of you If questioned to report that he
is Ill of a fever. Do you understand"
partly. I presume he has been
kept secret"
mot exactly. Perhaps | should tell
you the exact status. He has been
wounded id a duel. You know the
cardinal
Eyes, I know that-the cardinal has
determined to stop this mania for duel
ing, which is spilling the best blood
in France, and If he knows the patient
is half dead after fighting will have
the headsman finish him."
you are right. Can we rely on
you?"
my business is to cure him If pos
sible. l have nothing to do with how
lie was wounded
The officer was obliged to be salts
fed with this. and in a few minutes
the two entered the chamber Of his
patient. The doctor found a dangerous
wound in the side. which he bound up
according to the treatment prevalent
at that time. But what surprised him
was that his patient was the younger
of the two men he had noticed with
the girl at the ball at the palace.
DR.. Langrado attended the invalid
for several weeks and was getting him
into a condition when it would be safe
to leave him when he received a sum-
mons to report himself at the Palais
Cardinal. He obeyed and was ushered
into the cabinet of the prime minister.
Doctor" said the cardinal, you
have attended young Raoul de Pour
tales. What is his disease?"
HE has no disease, your eminence.
He has recovered"
you have cured him Of a wound,
have you not?"
II decline to answer. I am not a
subject of the king of France, but the
king of SPAIN"
but you are q physician, and as
such | think l can require you to tell
me whether your patient is sufficiently
recovered to stand up manfully under
the ceremony of being beheaded."
81 believe, your eminence, that he
will stand such a ceremony without
f1inching. He is a splendid fellow"
The cardinal thought awhile before
proceeding with the examination.
II should like to punish Pourtales'
antagonist" he said presently, "bnt he
has succeeded in keeping himself I'M
known. Since you are a Spanish citizen
| will not require you to tell. if you
know, but will ask you to do So"
"Will not Pourtales give his oppo-
nent's name?'.
"No."
II see. He is an honorable man"
do you know who his opponent
wasT"
II think 1 do. your eminence."
"Well?"
II am not sure but that he is very
near to his majesty the king. He may
be Of royal blood"
The cardinal paused again and
thought. The doctor, whose sympa-.
thies were all with young Pourtales,
fancied he saw a way to save his life,
but he waited for the minister to speak
again.
sIn that case" said Richelieu, 1T
might be best to ignore the matter.
II what you suspect is true l may over
look Pourtales' disobedience."
DR.. Langrado told the story as it has
been told here. He described the man
he had seer in company with Pour
tales on the night of the ball. and the
cardinal recognized him at once as the
Marquis de Ceaux. a relative of the
king. Richelieu hated the marquis,
huf If wac NOT In tho limo nf his n0licv