The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-20

fore now and found them as black ras-
Gals as himself. And so he devoted
himself to the viands with 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.
II had not supposed So" returned
his host quietly. "A brawl?"
well, something of that Sort" Viii
Ion admitted with a quaver.
perhaps a fellow murderer"
"Oh. no. not murdered said the
poet. more and more confused. 1T
was all fair pIay-murdered by acct
dent. l had no hand in 1t. God strike
me dead.' he added fervently.
"One rogue the fewer. ! dare say"
observed the master of the house.
You may dare to say that" agreed
Villon. infinitely relieved. las big a
rogue as there is between here and
Jerusalem. He turned up his toes like
n lamb. But it was nasty thing to
look at. | dare say you've seen dead
men in your time. my lord?" he added.
glancing at the urmor.
Many" said the old man. II have
followed the wars. as you imagine.
Have you any money!"
81 have one white" returned the
poet. laughing. II got 1t out of u dead
jade's stocking in porch. She was
as dead as Caesar. poor wench. and as
cold as Il church. with bits of ribbon
sticking in her hair. This is a hard
world in winter for wolves and wench
es and poor rogues like me"
81 said the old man. lam Enguer-
rand de In Feuilee. signor de Brise
tout. bailie du Patatrac. Who and
what may you be-"
Villon rose and made suitable rev.
erence Il am called Francis Vfllon."
he said "A poor master of arts of this
university. know some Latin and n
deal of vice. l can make chansons.
ballads. Iais. virelais and roundels. and
/ am very fond of wine. l was born
In a garnet. and shall not improbably
die upon the gallows. may add. my
lord. that from this night forward l
am your lordship's very obsequious
servant to command"
No 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
q clerk, and yet you take small piece
of money off dead woman in the
street. is 1t not u kind of theft?"
"It 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 ViIlon. that l were
really thief. should l not play my
life also and against heavier oddsY
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 so much
about?'
These things are necessity of war
which the lowborn must endure with
Look ut us two" said his
~ am old. strong and hon
ored If We're turned from my house
tomorrow hundreds would be proud to
shelter me. Poor people would go out
and pass the night i'll the streets with
their children if l merely limited tina;
l wished to be alone. And find yon
up. wandering homeless and picking
farthings off dead women by the way
side. | fear no man and nothing. |
have seen you tremble and lose coun-
tenance at IL word | wait Gods sum
mons eontentedIy In my own mouse. or.
IL 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" Vfllon ac
ouiesced. But if | had been born
Lord Of Brisetout and you had been
the poor scholar Francis. should not !
have been the soldier and you the
-hief?''
"A theft" cried the old man. Il IA
thief. If you understood your words
you would repent them"
Villon turned ont his hands with a
gesture of inimitable impudence- ''If
-FOUR lordship had done me the honor
to follow my argument he said.
81 do you too much honor in submit
ing to your presence" said the knight.
Learn TO curb your tongue when you
speak with old and honora BILE men. or |
some one haStier than | may reprove |
you in Il sharper fashion" And he