Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 31, Number 327, 26 December 1906 — Page 7

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i 1 1 e rtifciimonci Palladium, Wednesday, December 26, Page Seven.

THE

EFUG

Bu A. CON AN DOYLE Author of "Tee Return of Sherlock Holmes'

COPYRIGHT. 1393. BY i nave noc seen uiy uncie, tie saia. was at Mendou when I heard 'this ws this dreadful news and I Aran;; upon my horse, sire, and gal:'d over to implore you to think jain lcfore you drag our royal house flo'.V." !'You talk like a fool I", cried his fapr. "I propose to marry a virtuous ;d charming lady of one of the oldest Wo families of France, and you talk , if I were doing something degradY and unheard of." !.i'EIie J the daughter of a man whose tfC! were well known, her brother is f'i'uaa it through my heart, tire J" ho worst repute, she has led the life ten adventuress, is the widow of a stormed scribbler, and she occupies denial position in the palace." Illie king had stamped with his foot "Jen the carpet more than once during t frank address, but his anger blazed e a fury at its conclusion. aDo you dare," he cried, with Casu al eyes, 10 cau xne cnarge or my rjdren a menial position? I say that jre is no higher in the kingdom. Go k to Mendou, fir, this instant and r iT 1 T-o tr nrin vnnr nmnth n t'l In I the subject." I fcie young man bowed low and walkKvith dignity from the chamber. iiie Kings nrst not anger naa aiea hy by now and had left behind it a ft, bitter spirit which was even more J Hi idable to bis antagonists. f$it . he had little ' breathing space. J assailants knew that with persistthey had bent his will before, and U- trusted that they might do so an. it was Louvois, the minister. '1 who entered the room, with his estie port, his lofty bearing, his je wig ana ms aristocratic iace, .lch. however, showed some signs of idation as It met the baleful eye of tking. ' . I .Veil. Louvois, what now?" he ask"mpatieutly. "Has some new 6tate ,'pter arisen?" bere is but one new state matter och has arisen, sire, but it is of such t brtance as to banish all others our mind your marriage, sire." ou disapprove of it?" ?5b. sire, can I help it?" ut of my room, sir! Am I to be I aented to death by your lmportuniI ? What! You dare to linger when ;ler you to go!" The king advanced iUy upon the minister, but Louvois lenly flashed out his rapier. Louis aig back, with alarm and amazet upou his face, but it was the hilt Im. Vnsa it through my heart, sire!" the fjster cried, falling upon his knees', iTvbole great frame in a quiver with jDtion. "I will not live to see your h y fade!" if Jreat heaven!" shrieked Louis. i wing the sword down upon the I ind. "I believe that this is a coni icy to drive me mad. Was ever a A so tormented in this life? This be a private marriage, man, and ; ill not affect the state in the least .fH. " );uvois gathered himself up and his rapier back Into its sheath. g our majesty Is determined?" he d. bsolutcly." hen I say no more. I have done luty." He bowed his head as one j ecp dejection when he departed, in truth his heart was lightened In him. for he had the king's osm't Oce that the woman whom he a J would, even though his wife, not 1 n the throne of the queens of ice. ese repeated attacks. If tbey had jj shaken the king's resolution, had ast Irritated and exasperated him L A. A. W . . a . (j. j ie uiiuosi. ue wore accoramgiy j. cry coram j race when the usher i ctendance admitted the venerable jvj: b of Father la Chaise, his conVLi' r- . . . Te- wisti you an happiness, sire." said Jesuit, "and I congratulate yon ou l .t step which must lead to content Ni In this world and the next." eal-; have bad neither happiness noi Jtril1 entment yet, father." answered the NT ? ieevishly. "I have never been sc EBf ered In my life. The whole court Wj lcen on its knees to me to change a intention. e e 'Jesuit looked at him anxiously Joori f hi kteu gray eyes. LL' wrtuuately your majesty is a man :roug will," said he, "and not to be Jait ksilv swaved as thev think." lie . p, no, I did not give an Inch. Est it mast be confessed that It Is Di unpleasant to have so many i ast one." Kit ueu there Is the more credit tc f" majesty for having resisted them. ibave done nobly, sire. You haTe

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HARPER 4 BROTHERS earned tne praise and Llessmg or uoiy church." "I tru-it that what I' have done is right, father," said the king gravely. "I should be glad to see you again later in the evening, but at present I desire a little leisure for solitary thought." Father la Chaise left the cabinet with a deep distrust of the king's intentions. It was obvious that the powerful ap peals which had been made to him bad shaken if they had failed to alter his t" resolution. What would be the result ' if more were made? And more would be made. That was as certain as that darkness follows liht. Some master card must be played now which would bring the matter to a crisis at once. The bishop of Meaux was waiting in the anteroom, and Father la Chaise In a few brief words let him see the danger of the situation and the means by which they should meet It. Together they sought Mine, de Maintenon in her room. As the two plotters looked upon her perfect complexion, her regular features, so calm and yet so full of refinement, and the exquisite grace of her figure and bearing they could not but feel that if they failed in their ends it was not for want of having a perfect tool. She had risen at their entrance, and her expression showed that she had read upon their faces something of the anxiety which filled their minds. "You have evil news!" she cried. ".No, no. my daughter." It was the bishop who spoke. "But we must be on our guard against our enemies, who would turn the king away from you if they could." Uer face shone at the mention of her lover. "Ah, you do not know!" she cried. "He has made a vow. I would trust him as I would trust mj-self." But the Jesuit's intellect was arrayed against the Intuition of the woman. "Our opponents are many and strong," said he, shaking his head. "We must bring the matter to an end." "And how, father?" "The marriage must be at once, this very night If possible." "Oh, father, you ask too much. - The king would never consent to such a proposal." "It is he that will propose It." "And why?" "Itecause we shall force him to. It Is only thus that all opposition can be stopped. When it Is done the court will accept it. Until it Is done they will resist it." "What would you have me do, then, father?" "Resign the king." . "Design him!" She turned pale as a lily. 1 "It is the best course, raadame." "Ah, father, I might have done it last month, last week, even yesterday morning." "Fear not. madame. We advise you for the best. Go to the king now, at once. Say to him that you have heard that he has been subjected to much annoyance upon your account, that you cannot bear to think that you should be a cduse of dissension In his own family and that therefore you will release him from his promise and will withdraw yourself from tne court forever." She cast a light mantle about her shoulders. "I follow your advice," she said. "I believe that you are wiser than I. But, oh, if he should take me at my word!" "He will not take you at your word." The king had remained alone in his cabinet, wrapped in somewhat gloomy thoughts. Suddenly there came a gentle tap at the door, and there was the woman who was in his thoughts standing in the twilight before him. He sprang to his feet and held out his hands with a smile. "Francoise! You here? Then I have i at last a welcome visitor, and It is the first one today." "Sire. I fear that you have been troubled." "I have indeed, Francoise." "But I have a remedy for it." "And what is that?" "I shall leave the court, sire, and you shall think no more of what has passed between us. I have brought discord where 1 meant to bring peace. Let me retire to St. Cyr or to the Abbey of Fontevrault, and you will no longer be called upon to make such sacrifices for my sake." The k!ng turned deathly pale and clutched at her shawl with a trembling hand, as though he feared that she was about to put her resolution into effect that very instant. "Xo, no, Francoise; you must not leave me! You must stay with me and be my wife." He could hardly speak for agitation, and he still grasped at her dress to detain her. "Some time must elapse before our wedding, sire. Y'et during all that interval you will be exposed to these annoyances. How can I be happy when I feel that I have brought upon you so long a period of discomfort? A day would be too long, sire, for you to be unhappy through my fault. It is a misery to me to think of it Believe me. it would be better that I should leave you." "Never! You shall not! Why should we even wait a day. Francoise? I am ready. You are ready. Why should we not be married now?" "At once? Oh, sire!" "We shall. It U my wish. It is my order. That is my answer to those who would drive me. Let it be done secretly, Francoise. I will send in a trusty messenger this very night for the archbishop of Paris, and I swear that If all France stand in the way he shall make us man and wife before he departs." "Is it your wllL sire?" "It is, and, ah, I can see by your eyes that It is yours also! We shall not lose a moment, Francoise. What a blessed thought of miue, which will silence their tonsues forever! .When it

is ready tncy may know, but not before." The king was all on fire with the excitement of this new resolution. He Lad lost hip air of doubt and discontent, and he paced swiftly about the room with a smiling face and shining eyes; then he touched a small gold bell, which sr.mmoned Bontems, his private body servant. "What o'clock is it, Bautems?" "It is nearly G, sire."

Hum!'' The king considered some moments. "Do you know where Captain for de Catinat is, Bontems?' - 4 "He was in the grounds, sire, but I heard that lie would ride back to Paris tonight." "Doe1? Le ride alone?" "Tie has 0113 friend with him." ""Who is this friend an officer of the guan's?" "No. fcire; It Is a stranger from over the seas from America, as I understandwho has stayed with him of late." "A 6trancrer! So much the better. f Go, Bontems, and bring them both to me." "I trust that they have not started, sire. I will see." He hurried off and was back in ten minutes in the cabinet once more. "Well?" "I have been fortunate, sire. Their horses had been led out and their feet were in the stirrups when I reached them." ! "Where are they, then?" ; "They await your majesty's orders in the anteroom." "Show them in, Bontems, and give admission to none, not even to the minister, until they have left me." To De Catinat an audience with the mcnai'cb was a common incident of his duties, but it was with profound astonishment that he learned from Bontems, tht his friend and companion was included in the order. It was with a feeling of curiosity, not unmixed with awe. that Amos Green entered the private chamber of ; the greatest monarch In Christendom. ! As hi3 eyes fell upon a quietly dressed, I bright eyed man. half a head shorter j than himself, with a trim dapper fig- j ure and an erect carriage, he could not help glancing round the room to see if this were indeed the monarch or if it were some other of those endless officials who Interposed themselves between him and the outer world. The reverent salute of his companion, however, showed him that this must indeed be the king, so he bowed, and then drew himself erect with the simple dignity of a man who had been trained in. nature's school. "Good evening. Captain de Catinat," said the king, with a pleasant smile. "l'ou must stay utth me and be my uije." "Your friend, as I understand,' is a stranger to this country. I trust, sir. that you have found something here to interest and to amuse you?" "Yes. your majesty. I have seen your great city, and it is a wonderful one. And my friend has shown me this palace, with its woods and its grounds. When I go back to my own country I will have much to say of what I have seen in your beautiful land." "You speak French, and yet you are not a Canadian." "No, sire; I am from the English provinces." The king looked with interest at the powerful figure, the bold features and the free, bearing of the young foreigner, and his mind flashed back to the dangers which the Couite de Frontenae had foretold' from these same colonies. His mind, however, ran at present on other things than statecraft, and he hastened to give De Catinat his orders for the night. "You will ride into Paris on my service. Your friend can go with you. Two are safer than one when they bear a message of state. I wish you. however, to wait until nightfall before you start." "Yes, sire." "Let none know your errand and see that none follow you. , Go to the house of Archbishop Harlay, prelate of Paris, and bid him drive out hither and be at the northwest side postern by midnight. Let nothing hold him lack. Storm or fine, he must be here tonight. It is of the first importance. Adieu, captain. Adieu, monsieur." CHAPTER X. ME. DE 'MONTESPAN still kept her rooms, uneasy in mind at the king's disappearance, but -unwilling to show her anxiety to the court by appearing among them or by making any inquiry as to what bad occurred. While she thus remained in ignorance of the sudden and complete collapse of her fortunes, she had one active and energetic agent who had lost no incident of what had occurred and who watched her Interests with as much zeal as if they were his own. And indeed they were his own, for her brother, M. de Vivonne, had gained everything for which he yearned money, lands and prefermentthrough his sLster's notoriety. By nature bold, unscrupulous and resourceful, he was not a man to lose the game without playing it out to the very end. Keenly alert to all that passed. he had from the time that, be sretj

M

ueara tne rumor or tne king's intention haunted the antechamber and drawn his own conclusions from what he had seen. Nothing had escaped him the disconsolate faces of monsieur and of the dauphin, the visit of Pere la Chaise and Bossuet to the lady's room, her return, the triumph which shone In her eyes as she came away from the interview. He had seu Bontems hurry off and summon the guardsman and his friend. He had heard them order their horses to be brought out in a couple of hours' time, and finally from a spy whom he employed among the servants

t he learned that an unwonted bustle was going forward in Mme. de Maintenon's room, that Mile. Nanon was half wild with excitement and that two court milliners had been hastily summoned to madame's apartment. It was only, however, when he beard from the same servant that a chamber was to be prepared for the reception that night of the archbishop of Paris that he understood how urgent was the danger. Mme. de Montespan had spent the t-vening stretched upon a sofa in the worst possible humor with every one around her. There was the sound of an opening door and of a quick step in her anteroom. Was it the king, or at least his messenger with a note from him? But, no; It was her brother, with the j haard eyes and drawn face' of n man j wno la wei;:nfM aown witn Lis own evil tidings. He turned as he entered, fastened 'the door and then, striding across the room, locked the other one which led to hert boudoir. "We are safe from interruption." he panted. "I Lave hastened here, for every second may be invaluable. Have you heard anything from the king?" "Nothing." She had sprung to her feet. "The hour has come for action, Francoise." "What Is it?" "The king Is about to marry Mme. de Maintenon." "The gouvernante! . The widow Scarron! It U impossible!" "It is certain that he will marry her." gesure of CX)ntempt and laughed loud and bitterly "You are easily frightened, brother." said she. "Ah. you do not know your little sister. Perchance if you were i not my brother you might rate my ! powers more highly. One day Is all I ask to bring him back." "But you cannot have It. The marT riage is tonight." . "You are tiad, Charles." ; "I am certain of it." In a few broken sentences be. shot out all that he ; had seen and heard. She listened with j a grim face and hands which closed ever tighter and tighter as he proj ceeded. "I shall go and see him," she cried, : sweeping toward the door, j , "No, no, Francoise. Believe me, you j will ruin everything if you do. Strict : orders have been given to the guard i j to admit no one to the king." ! I "Had I only a day, Charles, I am I sure that I could bring him back to i 1 me. There has been some other in- ! i fluence here that meddlesome Jesuit J : or the pompous Bossuet, perhaps. Only j one day to counteract their wiles. J j Charles, it must be stopped; I say it , ; must be stopped! I will give anything, ; everything, to prevent It!" i "What will you give, my sister?" She looked at him aghast. "What! You do not wish me to buy you?" she said. "No, but I wish to buy others." "Ha! You see a chance, then!" "One, and one only. But time presses. I want money." "How much?" "I cannot have too much all that you can spare." With hands which trembled with eagerness she unlocked a secret cupt board in the .wall in which she con- ; cealed her valuables. A blaze of jew-! ; elry met her brother's eyes as he : peered over her shoulder. At one side ; were three drawers, the one over the, ! other. She drew out the lowest one. j j It was full to the brim with glittering ; louis d'ors. j "Take what you will!" she said, j "And now your plan! Quick!" - j He stuffed the money in handfuls in-! ' to the side pockets of his coat. Coins slipped between his fingers and tin-; kled and wheeled over the floor, but ' i neither cast a glance at them. ; "You plan?" she repeated. "We must prevent the archbishop : from arriving, here. Then the marI ridge would be postponed until tomori row night." j "But how prevent it?" "There are a dozen good rapiers ' about the court which are to be bought ! for less than I carry in one pocket, I ; will gather them together and wait on i the road." , "And waylay the archbishop?" "No; the messengers." i "Oh, excellent! You are a prince of : brothers! If no message reach Paris j i we are saved. Go; go; do not lose a j j moment." I ! "It is very well. Francoise, but what i are we to do with them when we get them? We may lose our heads over: u swms t(J me After a they are the king's messengers, and f we can scarce pass our swords through them." "No?" "There would be no forgiveness for that." "But consider that before the matter ' is looked into I shall have regained my influence with the king." "All very fine, my little sister, but how leng is your influence to last? A pleasant life for us if at every change j of favor we have to fly the country! j No, no, Francoise; the most that we can do is to detain the messengers.' "Where can you detain them?" "I have thought of that. There is the csstle of the Marquis de Montespan at Portillac." "Of my husband of my most bitter enemy! Oh, Charles, you are not serious." "On the contrary, I was never more so. The marquis was away in Taris yesterday and has not yet returned. Where is the ring with his arms?" She hnnted among her jewels and picked "out a ' gold ring with a broad engraved face. "This will be our key. When good Marceau, the steward, see3 it every dungeon in the castle will be at our disposal. It Is that or nothing. There is no other place where we can hold them safe." "But when my husband returns?" "A h Ixm niAv be IitilA etiii1J umI

to nis captives. And the complaisant

Marceau may have an evil quarter of an hour. But that may not be for a week, and by that time, my little sister, 1 have confidence enough in yea to think that you really may have finished the campaign." He took her fondly in his arms, kissed her and then hurried from the room. For hours after his departure she paced up and down with noiseless steps upon the dep. soft carpet, her hands still clinched, her eyes flaming, her whole soul wrapped and consumed with jealousy and hatred of her rival. Ten struck, and 11. and midnight, but still she waited, fierce and eager, straining her ears for every footfall which might be the herald of news. At last it came. She heard the quick step in the passage, the tap at the anteroom door and the whispering of her page. Quivering with impatience, she rushed in and took the note herself from the dusty cavalier who had brought it. It was but six words scrawled roughly upon a wisp of dirty paper. It was her brother's writing, and it ran, "The archbishop will not come tonight." CHAPTER XI. CATINAT in the meanwhile was perfectly aware of tne importance of the mission which had been assigned to ! him. He knew enough of the intrigvies and antagonisms with which the court was full to understand that every pre-1 caution was necessaf v in carrviusr out ' his instructions. He waited, therefore,! until night had fallen before ordering his soldier-servant to bring round the two horses to one of the less public gales of the grounds. As he and his friend walked together to the spot he gave the j-oung American a rapid sketch of the situation at the court and of the chance that this nocturnal ride might be an event which would affect the future history of France. "Are you armed?" he asked. , "You have no sword or pistols?" "No; if I may not carry my gun I had rather not be troubled by tools that I have never learned to use. I have my knife. But why do you ask?" "Because there may be danger. Many have an interest in stopping this marriage. All the first men of the kingdom are bitterly against it If they could stop us, they would 6top it, for tonight at least." "But I thought it was secret." "There is no such thing at a court. There is the dauphin or the king's brother. Either of them or any of their "This ulll be our key." friends would be right glad that we should be in the Seine before we reach ed the archbishop's house this night. But who is this?" A burly figure had loomed up through the gloom on the path upon which they were going. As it approached, a colored lamp dangling from one of the trees shone upon the blue and silver of an officer of the guards. It was Major de Brissac of De Catinat's own regiment. "Hello! Whither away?" he asked. "To Paris, major." "I go there myself within an hour. Will you not wait, that we may go , together?" "I am sorry, but I ride on a matter of urgency." "Very good. Good night, and a pleas-

... , ' , , it : down In one wild heap of tossing heads "Is he a trusty man, our friend the . and 6trugsHng hoofSf De Catinat partmajor? asked Amos Green, glancing , . t ,lU Ws(V nn(, v,,a .

back. "True as steel." "Then I would have " a word with him." The American hurried back along the way they had come, while De Catinat stood chafing at this unnecessary delay. It was a full five minutes before his companion joined

him, and the fiery blood of the French j reaching tho branch road he had orsoldier was hot with impatience. dered the coachman to drive some Iit"I think that perhaps you had best ; tie distance along it and had tethered ride into Paris at your leisure, my j all the horses to a fence under his friend," said he. "If I go upon the i charge. He had then stationed one of king's service I cannot be delayed ; the baud as a sentinel some distance

whenever the whim takes you."

"I am sorry." answered the other "'hen the two couriers were approachnuietlv. "I had something to say to JnS- stout cord had been fastened

your major, and. I thought that maybe ;

I might not see him again." i 01 a waysiae sapnng. and on re- ' "Well, here are the horses," said the I S 1b signal the other end was guardsman as he pushed pen the J tied to a StPst pon the farther postern gate. "Have you fed and wa-! eif- The two cavaliers could not postered them. Jaoues?" - lhl Ree lt- miS 88 " did at the

"Yes, my captain," answered the man, "Boot and saddle, then, friend Green, and we shall not draw rein again until we see the lights of Paris." For a mile or more the comrades galloped along. The road was very dark, and it was hard but for tbe loom upon either side to tell where it lay. De Catinat at least found it so, and he peered anxiously over his horse's ear3 and stooped his face to the mane in his efforts to see his way. "What do you make of the road?" he asked at last. "It looks as if a good many carriage wheels had passed over it today." "What! Mon Dieu! Do you mean to say that you can see carriage wheels there?" Certainly. Why not?" "Why, man, I cannot see the road at all." Amos Green laughed heartily. "When rou have traveled in the woods by

aigat as oiteu as 1 nave." saia ne.

I "when to show a light may mean to lose your hair, one comes to learn to use or.e's eyes.' 'Then you had best ride on. and I shall keep Just behind you. So! Hold! What is the matter now.There had been the sudden sharp snap of something breaking, and the American had reeled for au Instant in the saddle. ' j "It's one of my stirrup leathers. It , has fallen." j "Can you find it?" f "Yes, but I can ride as well without it. Let us push on. 1 "Very good. I can just see you now." I i M. UVJ UitU V'l 'V v -rv I minutes in this fashion, De Catinafs ! horse s head within a few feet of the j other's tail, when there was a second su.ip, and the guarasman roueu our 01 the saddle on to the ground. He kept his grip of the reins, however, and , was up in an instant at his horse's j head. i "A thousand thunders of heaven" j he cried. "What was it that happened ' then?" "Your leather has gone too." "Two stirrup leathers In five minutes?" "It is not possible that It should be chance," said the American gravely, swinging himself off his horse. "Why, what is this? My other leather is cut." "And so is mine. I can feel it when I pass my hand along. Have you a tinder Ikjx? Let us strike a light. No, no; the man who is in the ilrk is In safety. I let my enemy strike lights." "My rein is cut also." "And so is mine." "And the girth of my saddle.' "It is a wonder that we came so far with whole bones. Now, who has played us this little trick?" "Who could it be but that rogue Jaques? He has had the horses in his charge. By my faith, he 6hall know what the strappado means when I see Versailles again!" "But why should he do it?" "Ah, he has been set on to it. He has been a tool in the hands of those who wished to hinder our journey.' "Very like. But they must have had some reason behind. They knew well that to cut our straps would not prevent us from reaching Paris, since wo could ride bareback or, for that matter, could run it if need be." "They hoped to break our necks." "One neck they might break, but scarce those of two. They could not have thought to stop us. What did they mean, then? They could only have meant to delay us. And why should they wish to delay us?" "For heaven's sake" broke tn De Catinat impetuously. "Why should they wish to delay us. then? There's only one reason that I can see in order to give other folk time to get in front of us and stop us. That is it, captain. I'd lay you a beaver' skin to a rabbit pelt that I'm on the track. There's been a party of a dozen horsemen along this ground since the dew began to fall. If we were delayed they would have time to form their plans before we came." "By my faith, you may be rigjht," aid De Catinat thoughtfully. ''What would you propose?' "That we ride back, and go by some less direct way." "It Is impossible. We should have to ride back to the Meudon crossroads, and then it would add ten miles' to our journey. We are surely not to be turned from our path by a mere guess. There is the St. Germain crossroad about a mile .ttelow. When we reach It we can strike to the right along the outn side or tue river ana so change our course.' They mouuted and rode on. Suddenly De Catiuat's eye caught something in the gloom which brought a smile to his face. Away In front of them, between two dark tree clumps. 1 lay a vast number of shimmering, glit ! tering yellow points, as thick as flowers in a garden. They were the lights of raris. "See!" he cried, pointing. "There Is the city, and close here must be' the St. Germain road. We shall take it so as to avoid any danger." "Very good! But I should not ride too fast, when your girth may break at any moment." "Nay, come on. We are close to our journey's end. The St. Germain road opens just round this corner, and theu i will guide us." He cut his horse with his whip, and the two galloped together round the curve. Next Instant they were both rade hurled twenty paces, where he lay silent and motionless in the center of the road. M. de Vivonne had laid his ambuscade with discretion. With a closed carriage and a baud of chosen ruffians be had left the palace a good half hour befora the king's messengers. On up the main highway to flash a light eighteen Inches from the ground to the very curve of the road, and as a conse quence their horses fell heavily to the ground and brought them down with them. Iu an Instant the dozen ruQans, who had lurked in the shadow of the trees, sprang out upon them, sword in hand, but there was no movement from either of their victims. M. de Vivonne lit a lantern and flashed it upon the faces of the two unconscious men. "This is bad business, Major Despard," said he to tbe man next him. "I believe that they are both gone." "Tut tut! By my soul, men did not die like that when I was young!" answered the other, leaning forward his fierce, grizzled face into the light of the lantern. "Pass your rapier under the third rib of the horses. De la Touche. They will never be fit to set hoof to ground again. ' Two sobbing gasps and the thud of their straining necks falling back to earth told that the two steeds had come, to the end of their troubled-

-when? is Acnllio Lstourr asei ih Vivonne. "He has studied medicine at Montpellier." "Here I am. your excelleucy. It is not for me to boast but I am as handy

a nian with a lancet as with a rapier, Which would you have me look to?" I Thls one In the road." j The t rooper bent over Amos Green. I ue is uot long for this world," said i I ) The dozen. ru$,ant who had lurked i the shadow of the tree, sprang out. he. "Metbinks that it were well fdr uin to pass my dagger through his throat." "Not for your life!" cried the leader. "If he die without wouud. they cannot Jay it to our charge. Turn now to the other." , The man bent over De Catinat and placed his hand upon his heart. As he did so the soldier heaved a long sigh. opened his eyes and gazed about him with the face of one who knows neither where he Is nor how he came there. . De Vivonne. who had drawn his hat down over his eyes and muffled the lower part of his face In his mantle, took out his flask and poured a little of the contents down the injured man's throat. In an Instant a dash of color had come back Into the guardsman's bloodless cheeks and the light of memory Into his eyes. He struggled tip on to his feet and strove furiously to push away those who held him. But his head still swam, and he could scarce bold himself erect. "I must to Paris," he gasped- "I must to Paris. It is the king's mission. You stop me at your peril." "IIq has no hurt save a scratch," said the ex-doctor. "Then bold him fast. And first carry j the dying man to the carriage. The lantern threw but a small ring of yellow light, so that when it had been carried over to De Catinat Amos Green was left lying in the shadow. Now they brought the light back to where the young man lay. But there was no sign of him. He was gone. De Vivonne caught the false doctor by the throat and,- hurling him down, would have choked him upou the spot had the others not dragged them apart. "You lying dog!" he cried. "Is this your skill? The man has fled, and wo are ruined!" "He has done it In his death struggle!" gasped the other hoarsely. "Ue cannot be far off." "That is true. He cannot be far off," cried De Vivonne. "He has neither horse nor arms. You. Desnard and Haymond de Caraac, guard the other. j that he play us no trick. Do you. Latour, and you, Turberville, ride down the road and wait by the south gate. If he enter Paris at all he must conip j in that way. If you get him, tie blui ' ' before you on your borso and bring j him to the rendezvous. In any case. It matters little, for. Ha fc , stranger, this 1 fellow, and only here by chance." Tbe two horsemen rode off In pursuit of the fugitive, and De Catinat. still struggling desperately to escape, was dragged down the St. Germain road and thrust into the carriage, which had waited at some distance while these incidents were being enacted. Three of tbe horsemen rode ahead, the coachman was curtly ordered to follow them, and De Vivonne, having dispatched one of tho band I with a note to bis sister, followed after j the caach with the remainder of his The unfortunate guardsman had now entirely, recovered his senses and found himself with a strap round hi ankles and another round his wrists, a captive Inside a moving prison which lumbered heavily along tbe country road. He had .been stunned by tb shock of his fall, and his leg was badly bruised by tbe weight of his horse. His mind, however, pained him more than his body. He sank his head Into his pinioned hands and stamped madly with his feet, rocking himself to and fro In his despair. What a fool, a treble fool, be had !een! He, an old oldier, who had seen something of war, to walk with open eyes Into such a trap! But then came a return of that common sense which lies so very cloeely beneath the impetuosity of the Celt. Tbe matter was done now, and be must ! gee if it could not be mended Amos Green bad escaped. That was one grand point In his favor. And Amos Green had heard the king's message and realized Its importance. It was true that be knew nothing of Paris, but surely a man who could pick his way at night through the forests of Maine would not be balked In finding so well known a house as that of the archbishop of Paris. And then the thought of escape occurred to his mind. Might he not even now be in time perhaps to carry hi own message? Who were these men who bad seized him? And where were they taking h'.m to? Full ofycuriosity, be iiee red out of the wlndovys. (To Be Continue.) After a Heavy meal take a coupi of Doan's Regulets.yana giTe yoar stomach, liver andAowels the help they will need, r&ralets bring easy. regular pass&geffbf the bowels. Cie artiftPTgas tor Hgnt and heat 10-tf .

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