HOW – GUILBERT – SAVED – THE – KING

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22467, 30 July 1938, Page 7 (Supplement)

HOW - GUILBERT - SAVED - THE - KING

What Has Happened

This is a story of France in the days of King Henry of Navarre. The King, with his page-boy, Guilbert, visits the old spectacle-maker, _ who discloses a plot to kill the King. The King laughs, and with Guilbert proceeds to the Pont Neuf, where , a new bridge is being built, and where the citizens are amusing themselves by jumping from pile to pile across the river. The King wants to take part in the jumping

As soon as the coach stopped at the Pont Neuf, the King sprang out with eager interest. A man was just ready to attempt the crossing, and the excitement of the gathering crowd ran high. The man began. The crowd was hushed and tense. The space between the piles was wide but the man gauged his distance nicely. The first—the second—the third—the fourth pile was safely reached. Then the man looked at the surging waters beneath him. He seemed uncertain. He hesitated and looked over his shoulder, but it was as far to go back as to go forward. At last he jumped on ahead—five —six—seven —eight. The left bank was reached. With one voice the crowd cheered and shouted. “Pardieu,” exclaimed the King, “that man is a fool. A pause like that is enough to make any one lose his balance. I’ll show them bc?w it ought to be done.” and before the page-boy could protest or the crowd recognise him, King Henri of Navarre was half-way over. Then Suddenly, as Guilbert watched the King, spellbound, his fascination turned to distress. Out of the King’s pocket came tumbling a purse, a handkerchief, and—oh misery of miseries—a sheet of paper. Into the swirling waters of the Seine they fluttered, and as they sank out of sight, the page-boy’s heart sank within him. The purse did not matter much, he thought, nor yet did the handkerchief, although it

What’s alive at both ends, and dead in the middle? A man ploughing. What plant does every other plant need to make it grow? Thyme (time).

left the King with only three; but the paper, the precious paper of M. le Croisic. Would that he had been able to read it all instead of only catching a word or two. Taverns Royale, 21 Mars. Suppose he had misread even that! Why! the King might be shot without any one so much as lifting a linger to prevent it. What could he, Guilbert, do? The King would only laugh at the loss of the paper, and Guilbert had given his word to keep silent about the whole business. The boy was lost in despair. Then cheering woke him from his concentrated panic, “The King is over! The King is over! Long live Henri le Bearnais! Long live Henri de Navarre!" Back raced the King over the old bridge lest Sully should come on the scene and discover his prank, and when the Minister finally appeared, the King kept his attention closely on the business at hand. He was like a guilty schoolboy diverting his master. Did Sully think that the bridge would be finished by June? Did Sully think that the quai should be widened? And all the while a miserable page-boy followed them about. Taverne Royale —2l Mars. What did it mean? . Guilbert had not much time m which either to think or act. All the next day he was still in attendance on the King, who was merry and gay of mood and gave no quiet; and it was not until late afternoon that the boy found a chance to slip away. He had made up his mind to go to M. le Croisic. He wished that he could take the whole matter to Sully, but to do that would be breaking his word to the King. To go to M. le Croisic seemed differentSince the news of the plot had come in the first place from the spectaclemaker, it was not giving away any secret to talk with him again. Perhaps together they could save the King, after all, Guilbert’s hopes i an high as he hurried along to the shop on the Pont des Marchands. In the shop, to his disappointment, he found only the apprentice. M. le Croisic has gone out on business, said the boy. No, he had not left word of when he would return. Something in the boy’s manner caught Guilbert’s attention. He leaned over the counter. “Regardez, mon ami,” he said encouragingly, “You see I wear the Kings livery, and I am about the King’s business. Vive le roi.- I must see your master within the hour. Be not afraid." ' , Still the apprentice-boy seemed uncertain. “Speak, boy, speak, urged Guilbert. “Were anything to go amiss, my master would flay me,’’ stammered the boy. “He said not to tell any one, and already two strangers have

come to ask for him. But if the King’s business is pressing, c.na here his voice sank to a whisper ••you can find my master at the Taverne Royale. God forgive me if I have done wrong to tell you. “At the Taverne Royale, murmured Guilbert. Then he said, “Mon ami, you will not regret having told me. It is the King s business. Au revoir,” and taking up his cloak he walked slowly, on over the bridge. He must get m touch with M. le Croisic without attracting attention. He was sure that the spectacle-maker was at the Taverne Rovale for a purpose. If he, Gilbert, entered the place, certain tongues might be stopped by the sight of the King’s livery, and M. le Croisic’s purpose would be untuifilled Therefore he decided to wan outside, and he lingered near by, losing himself in the crowd, yet ever watching the entrance. He bad not long to wait. Within a quarter hour M. le Croisic came out walking and talking with a tall man in a russet cloak. While Guilbert was debating whether or not to speak, M.ie Croisic recognised him and said with apparent sharpness. What, page, loitering about here when his Majesty’s spectacles are waiting to be delivered. Go to the f bop, as fast as thy two legs will take thee, and make amends for thy laziness.

Guilbert took the hint and answered submissively and then hurried back with a lightened heart to the shop on the Pont des Merchands. The spectacle-maker evidently had news for him. He toM the apprentice that he had ordersto wait. It was none of the bOy» business, he thought, to know from whom the orders came.

AND GUILBERT DOES SAVE THE KING IN THE NEXT CHAPTER.'

OUR SCHOOL

Pale Blue Walls Our room at school has pale bhj* walls with varnished cupboard*

and a door. It has 21 • desks,*!! standing in four stately rows. Nub* hers of pictures adorn the It is a very pretty room indeea. -’MATE FELICITY. 50 Humber street. Oamarn.

What goes over a house yet never moves? A roof. T OST —A horse by a girl with • black tail. _ mubiel HUN&f