Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-09

After that he grew very CnOu9nJ1Ul on
conjecture which he desired to test
The opportunity came that evening
after supper.
The duke sat at cards with the Duke
of Somerset the Cardinal of Client
and the Sire de Rhynsault, who was
being shown so much favor that 1t was
going to his head. He permitted him
self odd familiarities which. If slight,
were vet beyond the usual In court
in which the most rigid etiquette was
observed. Thus, he now ventured to
propose that his fool should sing to
ar1Iise the ladies. The fool obeyed quite
readily Whether he knew no better
or whether he was moved by the per-
verSity of his crooked nature. he chose
to sing a ribald song that he had made
last Autumn in Middelburg. Or yet 1t
may be that he perceived the opening
such a song might make for him with
one whom he desired to sound, one who
was a member of the fools present
courtly audience.
The song was not well received.
"A vile, loathly ditty," the Duchess
Margaret pronounced.
The duke agreed with her and Rhyn-
sault flushed under the half reproof, the
first check to his popularity since his
advent there. His baleful eye sought
the unhealthy countenance Of Kuoni,
whose very impassivity was an added
/ provocation. s
TITS a perversely ribaid hound" he
! said by way of apology. Il should have
mistrusted him. But he shall be schooled
! in better manners before the ladies'"
| Nay, nay" the duchess interviewed.
He but exercises the license of his
kind. And perhaps he will yet make
amends"
The fool bowed low and sang visit
| full little lament of a maid for her lover
slain in the wars, as fragrant. delicate
| and tender as the earlier song had been
repellent.
Anon, as he was seated alone by the
| fire, Count Anthony came wandering
over to him.
You have a great gift of rhythm,
Sir, Fool" the count commended him,
and added the reproof, why, then, de-
grade your muse?"
The fool shrugged. st base my phi
loSophy on life as find it,"
which in itself is false, f. uhiloso-
ply deals with life as it she y be-"
Unless the should be may and Is,
then is it not philosophy. but moon
shine" He spoke mournfully. Count
Anthony, scenting suffering, was moved
to compassion.
HAS life used you ill?"
master. And have seen little to make
me love my kind. Greed. lust. cruelty
these are the compounds Of the soul of
man. But" He broke of and
laughed. This is to be traitor to my
trade"
Il prefer you So" said the count SOL
EMMY, though you are, I think, too
sweepingly bitter. All men are not so
fashioned"
True Some oysters contain pearls.
But you'll not argue from this that it
is In the nature of the oyster to grow
pearls. And when it happens that a
man or woman is not of the more COM
mon make, does the world reward or
reverence them for being different? Let
me illustrate the point, grand master
in Middelburg there lately, lived a lady
OF the burgher class, the young wife of
merchant who was involved in
plots against the dukes govern
ment, and who, confessing his crime,
was duly hanged. Now, this lady
appeared to be of pure and sanity
llfe-p1ous, charitable and good to
all. Yet after her husband was
hanged, the tale crept forth that she
was the governors leman, and that she
had been with her paramour at the very
hour at which her husband met his
death. What is one to think of life
a
story? Here was woman who used all
the virtues as cloak for sin Can one
accept evidence of virtue after that?"
Count Anthony was staring at him
with singular look in his dark eyes,
look that almost made the fool afraid.
What was her name?" he asked in
a voice out OF which all the usual
melody had departed.
The name Of her husband was
Danvelt"
The next moment his throat was
between the counts two hands, and
the counts voice was rasping in his
ear: You lying dog!"
And meanwhile the fool was gasp
ing: You misapprehend me griev-
ously, grand master. The lie is not
mine, If lie it be. but retail a story
current, to show the infamy of human
nature. For, If the tale be not true,
then there is the infamy of those that
spread 1t. know not, in faith, which
it were better to believe"
But laughter shook his soul the while,
for the count had given him a full
answer to the question that had been
bubbling in his mind.
You say If 1t true Is there the
possibility ? Bah Do not an
swer, for I have not asked that ques-
ton, or If had, know the answer
10 1t"
Almost" said the fool "one might
suppose your lordship to have acquaint-
ance of the lady"
His lordship did not answer him on
that. And Danvelt is dead you say?"
AS dead as a man may be who has
hanged for half an hour"
Dead" he repeated, as If to him
self, and his eyes, wide-open, were
staring into the heart of the fire
Then, abruptly, he swung on his heel,
quilted the fool, and went down the
long room and so passed out.
(To be continued)