Year: 1865

"From La Rochelle !" and the Red Ha
In his turn regarded his new-found frien
with perturbed looks "what on cartl
brings you from thence?"


''The force of circumstances, my muck'
star, and his eminence the Cardinal. III
a very long story | have been special,
sent for to wait upon his eminence"


Unfortunate man !" exclaimed the ReC
Hat; what have you to do with him
Have you offended his eminence 2"


Never, to my knowledge" RESPONDED
the burgess. AS fate would have il, how
ever, | have been accused of doing so bu
my complete justification can be neither
long nor difficult You must know that the
Rochellols are very troublesome folks anC
that evil-speaking, lying, and slandering
are tar too common there, Some scurvy
wag among our citizens has written an an
onymous satire against our administration
Ill general, and Monsegneur the? Cardinal
III particular. Then there has been talk
about Urbain Grandier, about tragedies
and verses written by his eminence, about
certain saraband said to have been danced
by HIM before the queen ; a pack of non
sense Some secret enemy of mine has
been good enough to denOunce me as the
author Of these roguish pasquinades-I who
never rhymed two lines together in my life
| 1t is a most pervcrsc and treacherous time
TO exculpate myself | referred to a certain
worthy monk, Father Joseph, who is said
to be honored with the friendship and conf
dence of his eminence. He was fully con
vinced of my innocence and subsequently
informed me that Monseigneur would degn
to grant me an interview and here | am,
deeply fattered by his eminence's condes-
cension although | should very much pre-
fer being snug at home i'll my own house at
La Rochelle"


Humph !" quoth the Red Hat for my
part | think you would have done much
better to have remained at home, and left
this FOOLS errand to take care of itself Car
dinals are dangerous personages to have
interviews with. But | must be going" he
resumed, hastily rising Farewell, mas
ter Of mine Thanks for your hospitality,
and pray Heaven and st. Nicholas that we
may never meet again" And so saying
the Red Hat abruptly left the room.


"A fools errand what can he mean by
that 2" mused the burgess "Poor man, he
must be cracked Who but a madman
would think of wearing a red hat? How
ever, my little affair will be soon settled
nine o'clock was the hour fixed at which |
was to wait upon his eminence. 'Tis not
five minutes walk to the chateau, and then
| shall come comfortably home to bed"
Paying his reckoning at the polite re-
quest Of the host, who limited that cavaliers
who went up to the chateau sometimes
found their arrangements for returning at
n into int Ii nb +bo
traveller wholly failed to comprehend-he
went out into the night, wrapping his cloak
around him to shelter himself from the still
falling snow.


He had not proceeded many PAGES along
the sombre avenue of poplars before he
thought that he heard the clinking of sword
blades and some smothercd groans. He
listened attentively but sudden gust of
wind came bowling about him and drowned
the sound Of the swords.


at must have been fancy,"h he reasoned.
''That confounded fellow with the red hat
has made me nervous. If were a coward
should dream of him tonight"


Help murder !" suddenly cried la
mentabe voice close to him.


Courage, we are here !" cried the brave
| burgess, drawing his sword and summon
ing up all his presence of mind Hold on,
we are four of us, well armed Ah ras-
Gals, would you !" And he rushed forward
in the direction whence the cries had come.


His ruse had seemingly succeeded, for
in the obscurity he could dimly descry at
least three men making off in all haste, and
anon he stumbled over a body lying on
the ground. The moon came out for mo-
ment through the murk, and he recognized,
pale, bleeding, and groaning, the Red Hat


He seemed to be severely wounded
The burgess he ped him to rise, but finding
him too weak to walk valorously hoisted
him on his shoulders, and not without diff
fculty, for the Red Hat weighed heavily,
bore him back to the inn of St Nicholas.


''This pestilent fellow with his red hat"
he murmured, as, with the assistance of the
landlord he bore him up stairs and laid
him in the bed which had been prepared
for quite another purpose, "scems fated to
be mixed up with my life. And shall
have to sleep in the armchair, forsooth,
because he chooses to get waylaid and
stabbed"


"Where am 2" family whispered the
wounded man, when his wounds had been
bound up, and he had recovered conscious
ness.


Among friends, brother" replied the
honest burgess consolingly, as he bathed
the temples of the sufferer with vinegar.


Friends !" repeated the Red Hat bitter
ly 81 have no friends Who was at the
trouble of saving the life of such mser-
able wretch as | am 2"


Well, for the matter Of that, twas |
who picked you out of the mud, and set the
rascals to flight who were besetting you.
Three to one, the cowardly knaves How
they scampered And then, you see, |
brought you here, pickaback for walk a
step you could not"


And you-you then are my preserverP
/ the Red Hat exclaimed in voice of agony,
and pressing the burgess hand


Yes, if you like to call it so. Wouldn't
you have done the same for me ?"


The inn-keeper was down stairs The
wounded man made signs to the burgess tc
close the door securely, and to come close
to the bedside. Then he put his lips to the
burgess ear, and in hoarse whisper said,


" Had you not an appointment at nine
/ o'clock this evening with the eminenceH


"Of course had, and shall get pretty
scolding for being late. But perhaps the
existence of a poor devil like me has slipped
| his emnence's memory"