Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-07-30

not murder, each OF us seemed jus ii
| fed in attacking the other.
DE Quelus did not seem displeased to
hear of De Noyard's death.
"What evidence is.there against your"
he asked.
"That of NJ De Noyard's servant. to
whom l acknowledged that | had killed
his master. Other evidence may come
up. What | have come to beg is your
intercession with the King
II understand he said, without much
interest. II shall bring up the matter
before the King leaves his bed. =
"When may | expect to know !
asked. not knowing whether 10 be as
sured or alarmed at his Indifference.
"Wait outside the Kings apartments.
am going there now, he replied.
| followed him, saw him pass into the
Kings suite. and had another season
of waiting. This was the longest and the
most TRYING. | stood, now tapping the
floor with my foot, row watching the
halberdiers at the curtained door, while
they glanced indifferently at me. Y arious
officers of the court, whose duty or
privilege it was to attend the King S ris-
ing. passed in. none needing me or guess
ing that | waited there for the word on
which my life depended. ! examined the
tapestry over and over again, noticing,
particularly, the redoubtable expression
of a horseman with lance in rest, and
wondering how he had ever emerged
from the tower behind him, of which the
gateway was half his size,
A page came out of the doorway
through which De Quelus had disap-
peared. Did he bring word to me- No.
He glanced at me casually, and passed
on. leaving the gallcry.at the other end.
Presently he returned, preceding Mar
guerite, the Queen of Navarro, whom he
had gone to summon.
More trouble in the royal family" |
said TO myself. The King must have
scented another plot, TO have sum
moned his sister before the time for the
petite levcc. | feared that this would
hinder his consideration Of my case.
Suddenly tall figure, wearing a
doublet of cloth of silver. gray velvet
brooches, gray mantle, and gray silk
stockings, strobe rapidly through the
gallery, and curtly commanded the
usher TO announce him. While awaiting
the usher's return, he stood still, stroklng
now his light mustache, and now his
fine, curly blonde heard, which was little
more than delicate down on his chin. As
his glance roved over the gallery IT fell |
for moment on me, but he did not |
know me. and his splendid blue eyes |
turned quickly away. His face had . /
pride. nobility. q subtlety that never |
saw united in another. He was four !
inches more than six feet high, slender, |
and Of perfect proportion, erect, com |
and in the flower of youth. |
How / admired him, though my heart /
sank at the sight OF him; forsI knew he
had come to demand my death 1t was |
the Duke of Guise. Presently the cur
tains parted, he passed in, and they fell
behind him.
And now my heart beat like a ham
mer on an anvil. Had De Quelus for
gotten me?
Again the curtains parted Marguerite /
came out, but this time entirely alone. |
As soon as she had passed the halberdlers
her eyes fell on me. but she gave no sign
Of recognition. When she came near
me, she said, in low tone, audible TO me
alone, and without seeming TO be aware
Of my presence:
Follow me Make no sign-your life
depends on itf
She passed on, and turned out OF the
gallery towards her own apartments.
For a moment stood motionless; then,
with a kind of instructive sense of what
ought to be done, for all thought seemed
Daralyzed within me, ! made as II 20
-eturn to the chamberlains' apartments,
Continued on page s.