Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-22
SIXTH INSTALLMENT.

w SNuAie AhIAlOAAy . lOldAlys was
unusually gentle and wistful
Il and his expression was en-
tirely stripped of it's habitual
arrogance. Count Anthony, who loved
him. was touched by his manner and
melted from any lingering indignation.
He has been accounted weak by the
undiscerning because he was always
weak in his resentments and ever
ready to discard them. And now, to
complete a reconciliation for which he
had shown the need to be on his own
side, Charles afforded him a modifying
If not quite accurate explanation
MY fool of Governor of Zealand
acted too Straitly upon orders 1 issued
at the time Of your disappearance.
a faithful. loyal dog who obeys orders
to the letter If without discretion, and
apparently he is served by men of the
same stamp. I blame not him. but
myself. for what has happened to you;
and 1 blame myself sorely. would
not have had you used as you have
been used, and yet, by Saint George.
] was never more glad to see any living
man. Sit you there, my friend, while
! recite my woes; and in the end
you'll pity me-"
He pushed Count Anthony forcibly
into a chair and thereafter for an
hour and more, while soldier, prince
and prelate cooled their heels in the
antechamber, he poured into his
cousins sympathetic ears, the tale of
his distractions.
II was angry with you last month,
he began, when I held In Bruges my
first Chapter of the knights of the
Golden Fleece. You we're absent from
your place, thing I do not nightly
overlook in any man. Moreover, I
needed you then; needed you as need
you now"
He strobe on his short, powerful legs
TO the window and back, his brows
Ciarkened by his thoughts. Taking
full advantage of the privileges con-
ferred upon them by the rules of the
order, the brethren very plainly ex-
pressed hostile opinions on my general
conduct Of affairs"
Anthony was startled. He knew the
existence of the privilege in that ex-
allied knightly brotherhood, but had
never dreamed of its being exercised
against the sacred person of the Duke
himself, the orders natural head, the
very fount Of honor.
They cenSured me with harshness
especially to the mobiles, alleging that
my rigor in Furnishing faults is out of
all proportion to my measures in re-
warding virtue and services. They
taxed me with parsimony. hoard the
revenues, they say, instead of scattering
them in emulation Of the princely Law
ishness of my father"
Scattering them on themselves, they
meant" quoth Anthony. And you?
What did you answer them?"
What could / answerP I think an
ger made me dumb. That and the re-
membrane that who excuses himself
accuses himself. Could / condeScend
to explain myself? / submitted in sill
ence TO their reproacheS. needed there
an independent advocate to whip them
into shame of their own words. That
is what you would have done had you
been there. That is where you failed
me by your absence"
To this Count Anthony said moth
ing; but regret cast little shadow
over his countenance. The duke, pac-
ing ever to and fro, rallied on. They
were not preSumptuouS, he declared,
beyond the license granted them by
Duke Philip when their exalted order
was founded; and yet they were pre-
sumptuous in that they pronounced
upon insufficient knowledge.
If I hoard my revenues, I do so
against the fearful need that viii soon
be forced upon me. need for which all
any boarding Is inadequate, as will pres
emily appear. Already last April in the
Etate5-General summoned for the pur-
pose by the King of France, it was de-
cleared that Normandy must be retained
by Louis. That was fair beginning.
To shcw me whittier he was drifting, it
WIS not necessary for him to add, as is
reported to me- that the Treaty of
CONTAINS was wrested from him by un-
due influence. He began to tear 1t up
when the States-General made that
declaration touching Normandy. I tell
you. Anthony, there is no faith in that
81 NJ fFGaf xT
will bind him, once he thinks 1t safe to
break It. I have word that he is levy
ing troops and organizing forces. He
aims, suppose, at the cities of the
Somme. You see what Is coming?"
War, I suppose" said Count An
thony.
war" Charles agreed. He stood
erect, his jutting chin held high. Il
welcome it. Since he wants war he
shall have it. I was made for war,
think. and this time, by st. George, he
shall learn it and remember the lesson.
1T is in preparation for war that I
have been making this progress through
lthe frontier provinces, and be sure I'll
prepare thoroughly"
He swung away to the window again.
Looking out into the courtyard across
which the rays of the sun were now
aslant, he laughed grimly and pointed.
There go the constable and De
Biche. De Biche, who was once my
fathers creature and is now the tool of
King Louis Saint-Pol who, for his own
profit, tried to be the friend of both
sides and is faithful to neither, al
though today he holds the sword of
France. They were lately with me,
bearers of lying pacific messages from
King Louis, messages calculated to lull
my alarm while he arms to the teeth
against me. He wants time"
The duke swung from the window
again. and came striding back to the
table, his hand on the hilt of his
dagger. He laughed grimly, showing
his strong teeth.
80 do I. Therefore, I pretend ia
believe them. To the revenues with
whose boarding I am reproached by the
knights of the Golden Fleece, shall
add levies TO be made upon the Neither
lands; gold to be transmitted into steel
Z The foxy Louis shall admire by al
chemy. In the Rhine Provinces
throughout the Empire, in the Cantons
in Italy, wherever men are TO be hired
I'll hire them, and I'll put such al
army in the field that my rascally
brother-in-law of France shall pray Il
patch up the Contains Treaty again 81
that he may shelter himself behind it
I'll give him time, so that may have
time, myself, for this; for this and m,
marriage. My marriagel My marriage
with the Princess Margaret of York;
He laughed harshly, ruefully.
Men say" quoth Count Anthony, b!
way of felicitation, that she is very
fair"
ITO the devil with her fairness!'
roared the Duke who had wrought him
self by now into q passion. He crashed
his INST upon the table. Anthony. i
she were bumped like a camel anC
tIsked like q boar, I still must marrl
her. for the sake of the alliance with
| Er,nlanA r., Alnir lnac I r,,Ar II Frame.