Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1915-07-15

beneath his own he might cOntr1ve to
get the letter through the floor. But to
pass it through other floors was impos-
sible. The next cell below the cheva-
lier's was occupied by some men who
had been implicated in an instruction
in Bordeaux. The next cell below
theirs held the Baron de Tenace and a
man named Reveilton, who had been a
servant OF a nobleman who had lost
his head for a conspiracy against the
cardinal. The cheyalier planned TO
pass the queens letter through these
two cells to that of La Porte
De Jars enlisted in his service a
young fellow named Bots darcy, the
valet of a prisoner who was confined
with his master. Darcy while in at
tendance ON his master at the hour Of
exercise found a broken stone with a
sharp point, which by eluding the OBJ
servation of the sentinel he managed
to slip in his pocket and at the same
time asked the aid of the Bordeaux
prisoners. Any prisoner was ready to
do anything for another unfortunate,
and they at once granted the request.
Then they were given the broken stone
for an implement.
The men succeeded in boring a hole
through the floor to the cell next below
and passed the letter through to Baron
de Tenace and Reveilton. These made
another hole In the floor Of their own
cell and had not La Porte been so
closely watched would have had no diff
ficulty in passing the missive on to
him. They learned that the warden
usually left La Porte for few min
utes in the morning. Waiting till they
heard him go out, they passed down
the letter.
The goal was won. La Porte made
his confession tally with that of Anne
Of Austria, and the cardinal for once
was outwitted Being convinced that
he had got the truth and the whole
truth, he advised the king to pardon
his wife, whom Richelieu believed to
have been led into mischief by Nine. de
Chevreuse The pardon was granted
no further correspondence with the
mischief maker.
Anne, whose conscience was very
elastic, regarded this promise solely
as pertaining to letters. Through Mile.
de Hautfort she had contrived to in
form the duchess that if their machi-
nations against the cardinal were 60
ing well she would receive a prayer
book bound in green. If there was
danger it would be bound in red and
she must look out for herself. Through
some misunderstanding Nine. de Che
vreuse one day received prayer book
bound in red. She decided upon flight.
An official whom she had enthralled
provided her with directions for pro-
ceeding to Spain, and thither she di-
rected her course. Ordering her car
rage, she gave out that she intended
to visit friends in the neighborhood.
She set out near evening and as soon
as 1t was dark ordered her cOachman
to stop and stepped out disguised as a
man in a long cloak and riding boots.
A horse was waiting for her, and
mounting, followed by two servants
In her excitement she had left in the
carriage the officials directions as to
the route and was obliged to proceed
without them. Riding all night, she
arrived at town near which a noble
man, La Rochefoucauld, was at the
sages between her and the queen, and
she knew she could trust him; but,
not willing to compromise him, she
wrote him as stranger who had kill
ed man in a duel and was flying
from the authorities, begging him to
send a carriage and q valet
La Rochefoucauld sent the carriage
and the valet, and the duchess set out
for another of his houses occupied by
a gentleman in his service named NAL
basty, where she arrived before day.
light the next morning Nine. NAL
basty recognized the valet as a servant
of La Rochefoucauld, and the man
told her that the gentleman he was
conducting was an intimate friend of
his master and related the story about
the duel M. Malbasty asked the
duchess how he could serve her. She
replied that she would tell him tomor-
row and asked him to go with her,
since the two men she had brought |
from town might be recognized, and
she wished to leave them behind until
she should send for them.
Malbasty consented, the carriage was
sent back, and, mounting horse which
was provided for her, the duchess pro
ceeded on the journey, accompanied by
her host and the valet. She had band
aged her head to conceal a wound that |
she said she had received in the duel.
The hairbreadth escapes from recog- |
milton that were made by the fair fugi- |
tive were many. She was constantly
meeting persons who knew her and
was obliged to resort to various devices |
to avoid acknowledging her identity. |
One man she met said that If she were
dressed as woman he would certainly |