The Sword of a Gascon

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 67, 20 March 1900, Page 6

The Sword of a Gascon

'AN BISTOEICAL KOMA_> TCE.

By AifEDEE ACHAED.

CHAPTER VI (Continued)

As soon as Hugues perceived the | crowd of servants pouring through all ; the issues, he gave the signal for raising in the air a kind of sceptre which he had in his hand. Suddenly the orchestra burst forth, and the bear, excited by the noise, began to dance, executing With grace and velocity the most beavtiful capers of its repertoire. When be saw everybody enjoying themselves, Hugues, spying a majordomo, recognisable by the gold chain which he wore around his neck, no less than by the majesty of his attitude, made toward him, and, having saluted him with marks of the most profound respect, proposed to! him to play comedy. He wished, said he, to give him the first fruits of their skill, and if a man of taste like himself was satisfied with their little talents, he confided himself for their salary to his generosity, limiting himself to ask provisorily some pitchers of wine for refreshing his troop, happy to work bsfore bis lordship. Flattered by this little discourse which tickled'his vanity, the majordomo smiled, accepted, and taking with majestic step the head of the procession, introduced Hugues and his fcßowers within the chateau, the bear bringing up in the rear. They soon found themselves in a vast gallery which communicated by a spiral stairway with a courtyard closed by great walls. The tables which decked this gallery were soon loaded with flagons and pitchers around which thronged the men of the chateau. On one side, through the glass of large arched doors, was to be seen in a neighbouring room a cover laid where shone, rich plates. "It is there that the marquis eats," said the major-domo uncovering himself. "If I am pleased with you I shall go to warn his lordship, and he will deign to come himself to assist at the performance." "What happiness!" exclaimed Hugues bowing. His comrades and he had their memories fed on the farces and follies which they had seen represented at Auch in the time of the fairs,, and they had soon organised an exhibition which was, to tell the truth, only a frame in which they put what they wished. The bear and rope-dancer played a role therein. Coquelicot, with his face coated with flour, multiplied himself. "All this is nothing!" cried he; "what would you say if you saw the perilous leap of the bear at.the court of the Emperor of China?" "The perilous leap!" they cried on all sides. "Wo wish the perilous leap!" Coquelicot saluted: "My master, the illustrious and magnificent Senior Don Guzman Patricio y Gomez Faerus cl'Orilda has only one desire—that of pleasing this beautiful assembly; but here, in this ball, it is not high enough." "What, not high enough!" cried the major-domo, who was gorging himself. "No, sir, and the Emperor of China whom you see"—and Coquelicot with the end of his sceptre pointed out tbe rope-dancer who saluted—"tbe Emperor of. China will himself tell you that the bear would break his head against the ceiling. The perilous leap can only be made in the open country or in a court where there is no roof—here for example." "To the court! to the court!" they cried with one voice. And everybody rushed to the stairway and began to descend with great noise, laughing and talking. "Now is the time —have an eye upon Victor!" said Coquelicot in a low tone to the rope-dancer who answered by a sign. They quitted the gallery in the train of the servants who were already spreading themselves in the court; great cries arose from them at sight of the bear, who suddenly showed himself without a muzzle, and everybody rushed toward the wall. "Attention now, ladies and gentlemen, the act is about to begin!" cried the rope-dancer. A deep silence prevailed everywhere, and each one leaned his head forward in order to see better, while the ropedancer, taking tbe bear delicately by the ear, attached him by a piece of rope to a ring fastened to the wall at the door even with the stairway. This done, he lightly pricked him on the shoulder, Victor rose upon his ' hind paws, growling and showing his pointed teeth. Tbe servants at the centre of the court recoiled in affright. ■ "Look well at these good people over there! If one of them makes a presence of budging, you have a good appetite, Victor, my friend, and I give you permission to leap upon him and .cat him." Victor answered by a roar which made a shiver pass over the assembly. The rope-dancer then rising and leaving the bear bravely seated before the door at the bottom of the stairway: "Gentlemen," said he to his companions leaning out of the windows, "you can feast at your ease, no one will pass through here without Victor's consent, and I swear to you that he Will not give it to any one." "To the table!" cried Hugues. His accomplices had made good'tise Oi their time. They had thoroughly [ransacked the kitchen. The table, prepared for the Marquis St. Ellis, was bending under the number and weight of the plates. They attacked fthem on all sides at the same time, and jthe uproar became frightful. What Hugues hoped came to pass. .The marquis, troubled in his sleep, and having called for an hour with all Itis lungs without obtaining any answer, wished to investigate the uproar which shook the vaults of his chateau.

Judging- that something extraordinary was taking place, he dressed himself: hastily, buckled ou his sword and went from'his room into the hail from which came this infernal noise. The door opened and he remained upon the threshold mute with indignation and surprise. A man had just glided behind him with a step supple as a cat, and smiled on perceiving Ungues. It was the same Arab whom he had seen by the side of St. Eilix at the Jled Fox Inn, and who, alone among all, had saluted him with a word and friendly look. Hugues arose and saluting the mar-. quis: : i "You have dined at the lied Fox— we sup at St. Sayv. One good turn deserves another." And snatching oil' the wig and great beard which disguised him. glass in hand: "To your health. Marquis!'' he added. St. Ellix, who had just recognised J him, uttered a cry of rage. His eyes j made the tour of the hall, astonished' not to see any one there.

'•Kadour," he cried, "open all the doors and ring all the bells! Call Laudry, call Dominique, call Bertram, and Justin, Guzman and Laridon!'"

Kadour. who was still looking at Ungues, did not move.

'"You seek your servants, my dear sir?" said Coquelicot bowing to the floor. "If you will take the trouble to look through that window yon will recognise that, if none of them come to your aid, it is not their fault. Dominique and Landry are hindered from answering your appeal as well as Bertrand and Justin."

The marquis ran to the gallery, and saw at the same time in the courtyard the bear on one side and the servants on the other. Each time that some one made a feint of approaching the bear rose up on his paws, and showed his claws and his teeth.

"It is an idea for which 1 am responsible,"- said Coquelicot. "A simple beast holding in respect a whole garrison is not flattering* to the human species."

At this moment a drapery which [:overed a corner of the wall at one of

tthe extremities of the gallery was j *iised, and a lady magnificently! clothed in a velvet dress set off with gold, appeared and advanced with a haughty air; all eyes were turned toward her. A maid walked behind her, a smile upon the lips. This strange lady had the most beautiful ej*es in the world, black and full of fire, and the turn of a queen. She threw* around a calm and proud look, as if she was certain of encountering everywhere only homage and respect. Her air of assurance and her beauty subdued even the noisiest. Silence reigned as if by enchantment. When she was in the middle of the handshaking with a white hand a fan of feathers attached to her wrist by a golden chain: "What is it?" said she. "and whence comes this noise?" "It is a wretch whom I have already punished and am going to punish for his insolence!" exclaimed St. Ellix who Jifas foaming. "* Hugues, who had just risen, threw back the chair upon which he had been seated, and said: "The Marquis exaggerates, madame. A first time he has taken me like a traitor. You are presently going to see that the punishment will be received by him and not by me." The fair unknown turned her eyes upon Hugues, examined him in silence, then smiling: "What is your name, sir?" said she. "You will know it soon—and yours, madame?" "I am the Princess Leonora JMauriani." "If, as this name makes me suppose, you are an Italian, madame, you i will better understand what is going j to take place here." Then turning" to j the marquis: "Sir," said he with the same sangfroid, "you have just spokmi in a fashion to make me believe that you recall the barbarous treatment which you made me submit to at the P_ed Pox—each one in his turn." St. Ellix quickly carried his hand to the guard of his sword, but before he had drawn it from the scabbard, twenty arms had enlaced him and arranged it so that he could not defend himself. "Kadour!" he cried. But again Kadour silently shook his head. Disarmed, the marquis was, in wink of the eye, despoiled of the upper part of his clothing, and, in spite of his resistance, attached to a wood.*. bench, his shoulders naked. He was livid. "Last year I was, as St, Ellix is today, extended upon a bench and bound," added Hugues, addressing himself to the princess. "In vain I appealed to him —nothing could move him. I said to him: "Kill me! because, if you do not kill me, I shall avenge myself!' He answered me: Try!' I have tried and I aveng-b myself." "I understand," said the princess. Meanwhile the marquis was struggling to release himself, but in vain. He uttered a *.hoarse cry. "You gave the signal against me, marquis; I shall give it against you." The princess made n movement toward Hugues. "I have slept under St. Ellix's roof, monsieur," said she; "will you not accord to a woman the right to speak for her host." "You have every right to do so; but I have a duty to fulfil—the honour of an outraged name to defend." "He speaks of his name, this clown! " howled the marquis. Hugues drew a sword which he had concealed under his long robe and raising his arm: "Take your switch, Jacquelln." Jacquelin seized his switch. "Raise your hand," cried Hugues. "Attention, Jacquelin. Strike and strike hard!" But just as the switch was cutting the air and turning to descend upon th marquis' bare flesh Hugues extended his arm, and the edge of the sword encountering the stick, cut it clear in two before it had touched the marquis' shoulders.

"Now. untie this man!" said he.

They hesitated

"Have you sworn, yes or no, to obey me in everything, and are you satisfied with the affair up to now? Obey then!"

The ties which bound the marquis fell one by one. He leaped to his feet. "A sword!" he cried. "A sword! and for what?" "For killing you!"

Hugues saluted coldly. "Ah! you consent then to fight with a' clown like me? And you are not wrong, for my blood is a~? good as yours, marquis." And upon a sign from his master, Coquelicot took St. Ellix's sword and presented it to him.

"Jus-ti now, madame,'" tto_tin__d Hugues, "you asked me my name. Will you read this paper, and read it in a