The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-12-10

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tack the Prussian as he attacks me.
Except, Of course, that M. de Voltaire
Is perhaps even worse. Disloyal and
selfish disloyalty everywhere; What
versai disioyaityS Everything has
changed"
She went on in this vein for some
time, indulging her helpless hatred of
the Prussian Frederick and his busy
pamphleteering:. Norton could have
told her that it was no use, but his
was, Of course, superior knowledge. He
watched her narrowly, hardly listening
to what she said.
He knew, as a matter of. fact, that
such moods were not frequent with
her, for except when she was viciously
attacked by the ridicule Of the Pots
dam inkwells, she was eminently good
natured; Frederick had learned the way
to upset her even temper.
BerniS interviewed at last and the
Marquise sat down again, her face
tinged with natural color underneath
its paint.
1--WE are taking every precaution we
a possibly take, Madame, he said.
THE frontier guards are receiving new
instructions today, and the Paris book
sellers and such like wretches are to
be visited by the police very thorough:
arrest a number of responsible officials
at the frontier and in Paris, and see
what discipline will do"
Nothing unjust" said the Marquise
virtuously, should be done: This is
little It'll N 7isiE to 'f ths Basti Mssn would 1dI make "a e
some Of these police officers more at
tentive to their duty, perhaps it would
be advisable. One thing is sure; the
poison from Prussia must be stopped.
It is responsible for half the filthy
songs they sing in the streets about us.
of that wizened little simulacrum of a
man cackling in his lair over these
Wretched inventions. It is too much. It
is"
The red lacquer wall suddenly gave
vent to an opening door, which had
been an ordinary panel before. Norton
knew that this was the door to the
private staircase which led to the Kings
apartments, and he recognized, in the
fat, magnificent figure in the door, the
King himself, Louis XIV. The Marquise
and Saluted it appropriately, the Mar
quise in q reverence to the floor and
Bernis with a court bow. The King
raised the lady and kissed her hand
without taking notice of. Bernis.
You are busy. Marquise," he said,
His voice had that warning note of
irony and contempt which nobody
throughout his life, was to hear without
terror. Norton was conscious of a slight
twinge of anxiety himself, in spite of
the hundred and eighty years between
them.
Indeed, no, Sire" said the lady. "We
were talking of the topics of the day.
Your Majesty did not hunt today?"
II have not been WE'LL" said Louis,
without looking at her. His brow and
melancholy face was clouded over with
suspicion, the secretive, discontented
look that was native to it. Norton's
quise Che liked the Marquise, for she
"a very lovely and even a little for
poor Bernis.
The King did not sit down, but stood
by the fireplace fiddling with the lace
Of his gold-encrusted coat. The coat
his increasing paunch there was a-glit-
tering waistcoat of yellow and gold
thread. He had been dressed and scent
ed with great care and his face was
garishly painted His eyes refused to
contemplate either of the two before
slight movement of the royal right hand
the signal of dismissal, advanced to
"Stay here" the King told him in
differently. IT am leaving in a mo-
ment."
well understood. Norton was conscious
of an almost GREATNESS suspense. There
was no way of telling what time of the
day it was, but at any hour it would
have been unusual for the King to
descend to the red lacquer cabinet o
only a moment. The Marquise had lost
color and her patches Of paint glistened
red on her cheeks. The Able looked
at the carpet.
coldly, reflectively, as if on a subject
of no immediate interest to anybody
present, about that staircase. It might
be walled up. Yes, I think it might be
in the apartments upstairs. The other
door may well serve-ah-in future"
For a space the silence was as still
and hostile as a whirr of swords: The
Marquise was very pale now but she
held her head very straight. It cost
her an effort to speak.
1--WE shall meet at supper, Sire, as
arranged?" she asked.
The question betrayed such a con-
seriousness of calamity that even LOUIS
was unnerved for a moment. His froWn
deepened and he twitched at his laces
"There will be no supper tonight,
Madame" he said. IT am not well"
He stood there for a moment, a
heavy glittering, mysterious and secret
i've agglomeration of humanity and up
| holstery, his boredom and his anger at
war on his flushed face: Then he
walked across to the panel again and
swung it open.
of the topics of the day." he said, and
closed the door behind him.
The Marquise rose from her deep
courtesy and sat down at her desk
with her back to Bernis. She shaded
her face with her hand. -.
do you want me to go, Madame?"
as ever. 80,
who is it, Bernis?" she asked with.
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