Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-08
TWENTY-THIRD INsTALLMENr.

A FTER the Chapter of the Golden
~ Fleece had met, and Count
"A Anthony had heard in that as
4 \ sembly only encomiums upon
the dukes prowess. Statecraft
and foresight, he begged leave of
Charles to return to Nimeguen.
Here's very sudden fondness for
the place." Charles had sneered in
quick resentment of this haste of An
The duke sat over the fire in his
closet, spreading his hands to the
blaze, for it was a raw January morn
ing, and all the town lay under a crust
of frozen snow, glittering in a pale
sunshine that was barren of heat. An
thony, beyond the hearth, was leaning
on the overmantel. He fetched sigh.
THE longer live" said he, "the
more persuaded I become that I am
not fitted for the world. My views do
not seem in tune with the views OF
my fellow creatures. 1t is a depressing
persuasion, which at Nimeguen I can
escape by. shutting myself up In the
fair library my grandfather assem-
bled. There I can commune with
minds which / can understand"
The duke grunted. I'm that case,
why not seek the retirement of a mon
astery?" His highness was sarcastic.
I've thought of it," said Count An
thony simply, whereupon the duke
lost patience with him and read him a
considerable homily. What he needed
duke could supply. He pointed to a
writing table piled with documents,
letters, petitions, charters, all manner
of legal parchments awaiting considera-
ton which his secretaries had sorted
out and placed there for his study and
announcement. And these were only
some of the arrears which his absence
from court had accumulated. Let An
thony lend his assistance, as he had
done of old. He would find time
hang less heavily on his hands, and he
would be afforded more profitable oc-
cupation than brooding over the i'm
projections Of a world which he had
no hand in creating.
And there were other matters be-
sides claiming attention. There had
been trouble in Zealand during his abb
sence. Fortunately he was well rep
resented there by Claude de Rhyn-
sault, the most capable and resolute of
all his lieutenantS. The vigilance OF
this ducal lieutenant had detected the
! first signs of revolt and he had rounded
up the leaders and dealt with them
out of hand, thus crushing the beast
VI SSOlJlOH DeIOTB IL IldQ even VenIuTeO
to rear its head. That sedition was
something for which indirectly he had
to thank the King of France. Tht
rising at Liege had confirmed a suS.
| picion in Zealand that the Duke Of
Burgundy was about to meet defeat Il
not humiliation on the French from
| tier
The duke laughed. Well, well! He
had shown them the kind of a man he
! was, and the example he had made OF
Liege should put sedition to sleep fol-
years in Zealand and elsewhere
Meanwhile. RhynSault had done we'll
! BY his prompt and effective action he
had saved the necessity for sternel
measures which by their dislocation OF
trade must have had a diSconcertingly
! inconvenient effect upon the revenues
| derived from Zealand. Rhynsault de.
served we'll of him, and should be re.
warded. 1t should not be said of the
Duke of Burgundy that he could bt
prodigal only in Furnishing. He woulc
promote Rhynsault to the vacant gov.
ernorship of Client. He required q
strong man there, and Rhynsault was Of
| all his ducal lieutenantS the strongest
the very man for the office. Also there
was vacancy in the Chapter Of the
Golden Fleece, and it might be well tc
bestow it upon RhynSault.
| That" demurred Count Anthony
lis very high honor even. for so great
a service"