Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-16

do you talk to me, Lord Count?" he
challenged.
"At your" Count Anthony's tone sug-
gested a faint wonder. His dark eyes
grew dreamy as they surveyed the
Frenchman. 81 spoke of you, per-
force. 1t was unavoidable"
Armagnac ignored the subtle in
nuendo. "You will be wise, my lord
to avoid it in the future"
mot wise. Fastidious. You are not
a pleasant topic, sir
There was a movement among the
spectators. The Tuning duke Shout
dered his cousin aside, to take the
stage and plant himself squarely be-
fore the foolish pair. BY his very
presence he checked the Count OF
Armagnac's. retort. He stormed upon
that lovely fool, his sister-in-law. who,
| in all her life, had never looked love-
| lier or more foolish.
"You have leave to go, Catharine. +"
The dismissal was harsh, almost con-
temptuous Away with you! To your
room, madam"
| She rose abruptly, like . puppet
whose strings he had rudely jerked.
Finding the Duchess of Orleans at
his elbow, he impressed her into serv-
| ice.
Take the little fool hence, Mary.
| Go with her"
He seized the Lady Catharine's arm
| In his powerful grip and flung her into
| the arms of the duchess.
"Oh, crueltyp' cried Count Anthony
| The duke stared at him, his counte-
nance almost purple. ITO part them, "
the count explained, and waved hand
from the Lord of Armagnac to the
Lady Catharine, who was retreating
now in tears.
The furious duke walked away, drag
ging with him almost forcibly the
scarcely less furious Armagnac. He
| designed to get him beyond the reach
| of Count Anthony's mordant tongue
before irreparable damage should be
my lord" he said, "it will be better
| for all concerned that you do not post
pone your intended departure from
Brussels"
"Postpone?" quoth Armagnac, who
You have prepared, understand,
| to leave tomorrow"
The Frenchman paused at the Bur-
gundian's side. He stared long at his
host, cold and haughtily. Then at last
he laughed.
"You give me leave?" he said. at
is little :. abrupt"
The duke spread his hands. his face
grave. I'm your interests and my own
and those of others"
And that insolent cousin OF yours
| from Guelders? Does he remain on
the f1eld?"
Here is no field, my lord" The
duke curbed with difficulty his rising
anger. Nor have ! perceived any in
science. There has BEEN" he added,
warming as he proceeded. lack OF
| discretion, which my cousin of Guel-
ders is entitled to resent, and which
I shall resent with him If carried fur
ther"
Each stared into the eyes of the
other, and the glances of both were
hard. Arnagnac was the first to bow,
as perforce he must when reason pre-
vailed.
Yet, when q few years later war
famed forth again between France and
Burgundy, and Count John of Armag-
nae was found to have sold his sword
to King Louis, the cause of this may
well have been supplied on that July
evening in Brussels.
The duke turned away to seek his
cousin. But the count had already
departed. Eventually the duke found
him alone in his closet, leaning from
the open easement and looking out into
the turquoise sky of eventide.
It was while dreaming here that
Count Anthony Of Guelders had reach
ed the clear conclusion that the world
his world, at least-was no place for
gentleman.
The duke came to fling a vigorous
arm about his neck.
"All Is most happily concluded" he
announced.
"I perceive the conclusion Not the
happiness" His tone was wistful and
q little weary. It sowed distrust in the
ducal mind. Then Count Anthony