Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-11
TwENTY-sIxTH INsTAI4MENT.

"HE Fool retraced his steps. Hav-
ing failed with Mistress Johanna
it now remained to succeed
Il with Count Anthony.
And succeed he did. Johanna s
memorial was soon taken from the hands
Of Sire de Chavaigny, who had promised
her that he would try TO interest his
placed IL before Count Anthony
The reading of it almost stunned
Count Anthony. When his senses had
recovered. horror, anguish, rage, indeed
all the bitter emotions OF which the
human heart is capable, surged up in
him. That Johanna should have been
subjected to this shameful martyrdom
was almost too horrible to be Sanely
considered by him. And Rhynsault?
Such was his fury at the part this
man had played that, had he yielded
TO It, he would have sought the fellow
out and stabbed him without warning
1t was perhaps the vindictive thought
that q speedy death was too ligth pay
ment for such debt that restrained and
Gained him, and brought him back
TO a second closer and more detailed
reading of that dreadful document.
1t occupied ten sheets, closely written
in her own hand. Appended to it was
the COPY OF a brief document, an order
for the goal-delivery of Philip Danvelt
which announced that its original was
in her keeping. After this came an
other half-dozen sheets each being the
deposition of witness, in evry case
a man of consequence in Middleburg
attesting the loyal character of the de-
ceased, and the fact that they had at
tended at his trial for the purpose of
offering evidence upon the document on
which his indictment had been based
but that their evidence had been ex.
cluded. Each declared himself in Brus-
sells with Mistress Johanna, in readi-
ness to come forward and make oath
before the duke OF the truth of what he
had written and to submit himself tc
be examined upon it.
Count Anthonys resolve was quickly
taken; but action upon it was postponed
until the morrow. That day he coul6
not trust himself. He realized the need
for care and prudence. Rhynsaulte ri
the moment was the darling of the
duke.
Early next morning when he was
again master Of himself, Count Anthony
waited upon the duke, even as the duke
was about to set out for the audience
Of justice.
You may, if so it please YOU" said
he, begin here and now your justi-
ciary work by glancing at this memorial
The affair Is, as 1t seems to me, OF un-
usual gravity. not only In itself, but in
consequence OF the persons it concerns
Otherwise should not intrude at such
an hour"
The duke sat down to read the parch-
mentS his cousin thrust upon him.
As he read, his brow grew black;
As he read on, it grew blacker; then,
before he had reached the end, his
face was lighted by q sudden under
standing. He tossed the memorial down,
unfinished, and uttered an impatient
laugh: "Ah bahi This is Just q TRADE
of vindictiveneSs from one of these sly,
hard-headed burgher women because
Rhynsault showed her traitor husband
. proper lack OF mercy"
Yet that he hanged her, husband. is
but half this woman's, plaint," said
Count Anthony quietly, and as it seems
to me the lesser half"
"Oh, as for the rest - the duke
shrugged. TT is natural she should say
the worst that occurs to her so as to
blacken his character. What witnesses
could there ever be to disproVe an &C
cuSation OF that character"
Count Anthony was a little appalled,.
q little mystified eVen
TT may. not require disproving. Con-
fronted with the accusation, Rhynsault
may admit the truth OF it. He is, after
all, OF knightly rank, and owes some
thing 10 his spurs"
The duke scowled at his grand master
for long, silent moment. Then he
called to q waiting page:
"Chavaigny, bid the Sire de Rhynsault
~ wait upon US here at once"