The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-04-24

d. his fat head!" he repeated fer.
vently and spat upon the snow.
PART IL.
fTl HE house In question looked
Ill dark at first sight, but as villon
Ill made preliminary inspection
" in search Of the handiest point
of attack little twinkle of light
caught his eye from behind curtained
window.
"The devil" he thought. "People
awake: Some student or some saint,
confound the crew! Can't they get
drunk and lie in bed snoring like their
neighbors? What's the good of cur
few and poor devils Of bell ringers
jumping at ropes end in bell towers +?
What's the use Of day if people sit IN
all night? The gripes to themw He
grinned as he saw where his logic was
leading him. EVERY man to his bust
ness after ALL" added he. land if
they're awake, by the Lord. | may
come by supper honestly for once
and cheat the devil"
He went boldly to the door and
knocked. The sound of his blows
echoed through the house with thin
phantasmal reverberations, as though,
1t were quite empty. but these had.
scarcely died away before a measured
tread drew near. a couple of bolts
were withdrawn, and one wing w;.;
opened broadly. as though no guile or
fear Of guile were known to thos..
within. A tall figure of a man muScu
lar and spare. but a little bent. con
fronted Villon. The head was massive.
but finely sculptured; the nose blunt
at the bottom, but refining upward to
where 1t Joined pair of strong and
honest eyebrows; the mouth and eyes
surrounded with delicate markings
and the whole face based upon thick
white beard. boldly and squarely trim
med.
"You knock late, sir" said the old
man in resonant, courteous tones.
Villon cringed and brought up many
servile words Of apology. At a crisis
OF this sort the beggar was uppermost
In him, and the man Of genius hid his
head with confusion.
"You are cold" repeated the old
man, "and hungry? Well. step In"
And he ordered him into the house
with noble enough gesture.
"Some great seigneur." thought Villon.
as his host, setting down the lamp on
the tagged pavement of the entry, shot
the bolts once more into their places
you will pardon me If go in front"
he said when this was done, and be
preceded the poet upstairs into a large
apartment, warmed with pan OF
charcoal and lit by great lamp hang
ing from the roof. 1t was very bare
of furniture; only some gold plate OF,
a sideboard. some folios and stand
Of armor between the windows. Some
smart tapestry hung upon the walls
representing the cruci6xion of our
Lord in one piece and In another 4,
scene of shepherds and shepherdesses
by running stream. Over the chin
ney was a shield Of arms.
"Will you seat ysurself," said the old
man. land forgive me If l leave you:
| am alone in my house tonight. and
II you are to eat must forage TO,
you myself"
No sooner was his host gone than
Villon leaped from the chair on which
he had just seated himself and began
examining the room with the stealth
and passion Of cat. Then be stood
In the middle of the room. drew long
breath. and. retaining it with pulled
cheeks. looked round and round him
turning on his heels. as If to impress
every feature Of the apartment on his
memory.
"Seven pieces of plate" he said. I'll
there had been ten would have risked
1t. A fine house and fine old master
SO help me all the saints"
And just then. hearing the old mans
tread returning along the corridor, be
stole back to his chair and began hum.
bly, toasting his wet legs before the
charcoal pan.
His entertainer had plate of meat
in one hand and jug of wine in the
ether. He set down the plate upon
the table. motioning villon to draw IL,
his chair and going to the sideboard.
brought back two goblets. which be
filed.
II drink your better fortune" he said
gravely. touching villOn's cup with bis
own.
ITO our better acquaintance" said
the poet, growing bold. A mere man
Of the people would have been awed
by the courtesy Of the old signor. but
villon was hardened In that matter:
he had made mirth for great lords be-
fore now and found them as black ras-
Gals as himself. And 80 be devoted
himself to the viands 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 Nontigny in his
heart.
1T was none Of my shedding" he
stammered.
Il had not supposed so," returned
bis host quietly. "A brawl?"
"Well, something Of that Sort" VIII
Ion admitted with a quaver.
perhaps fellow murderedr'
"Oh. no. not murdered" said the
poet. more and more confused. ut
was all fair play-murdered by acct.
dent I had no hand in II Cod strike