THE SWORD OF A GASCON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10626, 15 December 1897, Page 3

THE SWORD OF A GASCON.

AN HISTORICAL ROMANCE; BY AMEDEB ACHARD." CHAPTER XXIV,-f Continued.} But Hiigues had promised himself to burn his vessels. He placed his hand upon the guard of his sword, and bowing before Orphise, who looked ab him wratbfnlly: "Audacity may be a crime, bub nothing will turn me aside from my resolution. 'Tis you or doath 1"

This said, Hugues went out. As soon as he had passed beyond the door of the Hotel d'Avranches, be began to walk at hazard in the streets of Paris. He built innumerable air castles, above which floated the image of Orphise. Streets succeeded streets, and he still kept up his walk. The shadows descended from the roof and night enveloped him. When heregained possession of himself, he no longer knew where lie was. Just as he was seeking some passer-by of whom he could ask the road to the Hotel Coiiqny, be heard cries echoing in the neighbourhood. He rushed forward, and in a narrow alley, by the cold and pale light which fell from a wan sky, be perceived -a sedan thrown at the foot of a wall, and whose bearers had trouble to defend themselves from a handful of scoundrels. •Hugues grasped his sword and pounced upon the assailants. Ab sight of the most obstinate of the band who had just been overthrown at the first stroke, the pickpockets took to flight, fearing that the police might intervene if the struggle was prolonged. The conqueror did nob think of pursuing them, and replaced his sword in its scabbard, when the partiere of the sedan opened and a lady came out of ib, enveloped in a cloak and covered with a mask which permitted neither her form nor her features to be recognised. "If she is old and ugly," said Hugues to himself, " it is a good action which will be placed to my credit on high." The unknown lady looked at Hugues through the holes in her mask, as he saluted her.

"Whab is taking place here, sir!"said she.

" In faith, madame, that was what I was going to ask you," answered Hugues, already reassured, the voice being youthful and fresh in tone.

"Pardon, sir, I question—l do not answer."

The lady with the velveb mask pushed with the foot the body of the man whom Hugues had struck. He did not move. " Ah ! this is how you arrange them I" said she, again examining tho defender whom she had before her.

" Yes, ib is my custom," said Hugues, who did not wish to bo behind the fair unknown in hauteur and pride; " when I strike they fall." Tho lady threw her eyes around her. Of the bearers and two lackeys who accompanied her, one was dsad, two' had taken to flight, and the fourth was groaning at the foot of the wall, near the overturned sedan. " Sir," said the lady with the black mask, " when one saves people, one belongs to them."

" Order, madame. What must Ido "You are going, then, if you please, to take me back to my home, bat oil condition that you do not seek to see mo nor to know who I am." The fair unknown approached the wounded lackey, and touching him on the shoulder with the foot: "Cease to groan, and march 1" Tho poor devil was upright in a moment, and, crawling along, gained the end of the alloy. A neighbour whom the noise of the affray had drawn from his respose, no longer hearing anything, discreetly opened a window, curious to know what was going on. By the trembling light of tho candle which lie hold in his hand, the woman with the mask looked attentively at Hugues. Huguos burst out laughing. " Docs the face tell you anything?" "Nothing." . t - "It is all that which it has to teach you. Wo shall liavo mot like two phantoms in tho night." The walls of a great garden soon rose up before them. They distinguished through the trees the profile of a palace whoso lines appeared confusedly in the shadow. " Hold 1 the Luxembourg I" said Hugues, as if he had spoken to himself, " 1 no longer lisvo anything, to fear, you can leave me," replied his companion, Hugues stopped suddonly, and was already turning upon his heels when his companion detained him: "If, however, the fantasy took me to thank you, would you noli give me the means to do so?" said ehe, a ,little astonished at) his promptitude in obeying her. "Nothing more easy, and the means is found. Does it please you to take off your glove ?" " Hero it is," said she, after a moment's hesitation.

She presented him a slender, supple, elegant hand, attached by a delicate wrist to ft white arm whose plump outlines disappeared under a silk sleeve. Hngues took it respectfully with the tips of his fingers, and hat in band, bowing, carried it to his lips. Then straightening himself up again: " It is my turn to thank you," said he. Ho again saluted the fair unknown, and moved away without turning his head,. "Eh! eh I" said she, "a man of heart who will become a man of the court !"

Meanwhile Count Chivry was laying his plans to capture Mademoiselle Montlupon. He found it necessary to now consider her as a captain on a campaign would a citadel. He could no longer hope that she would come to bring him the keys of her heart upon a silver plate, happy to surrender at the first summons. It was a siege to make where skilfulnoss was necessary. Sapping became necessary in order to render himself master of it. Hugues had just found an unexpected ally in the person of the king. Why should not Chivry in his turn address himself to Louis XIV., who had over Mademoiselle Montlucon a special, almost absolute authority? Rapidly analysed, the idea did not appoar bad to him.

Some minutes of reflection showed him at the same time in what fashion he ought to accost the king with the knowledge which he had of his character and the past which he might draw from this ambitious step. Caesar promptly made come the occasion to find himself in the presence of the king, and accdsting him with signs of the extremes! humility: . " Sire," said he. "I am in haste to express to your majesty the fear which I experience of having run the risk of displeasing you." " You, Count) Chivry ?" " Alas 1 yes, sire. I have dared raise my eyes to a person whom your royal kindness surrounds with its protection." " You speak?" "Of Mademoiselle Montlucon. I was abandoning myself with intoxication to. the charm of that seduction which surrounds her, when I have recollected that she held your majesty by a tie which is entitled to all my respect. Perhaps I liati innocently ran counter to tlio intentions of my king. My repentance has followed my love, and I have sworn that if I had the misfortune to displease your majesty in thinking of a person concerning whom you have, other plans, no matter what it cost mo I would renounce this love. lam at the feet of my king, and it is for him to decide. I shall obey him with the same zeal which I have shown in acknowledging my fault." This language,. of' which Chivry had calculated each word, plea«ed Louis XIV,, who had already wished to be the arbiter of everything, and flattered him in his imperious need of domination, 1 He smiled, and with a gracious air: i • ■■ , ;i " You are of a blood to which Mademoiselle Montlucon, who will make a duke of him whom she chooses," said he,' "can ally herself withoutderogating from her position. I authorise you, then, sir, to think of her. You have my consent-." . \,. " In order that Mademoiselle' Montlucon may not believe in a vain presumption on my part, does your majesty . authorise • me to also repeat to her the words which I have just heard, and for which I do not know bow to thank ray king?" " Sir, my consent gives you every right." ' It was more than Chivry had dared hope for. Louis XIV. had' in a fashion pledged himself.

" It is no longer myself only whom this d d Montestruc will find between himself and Mademoiselle Montlucon," he said to himself, " bob the king. He has had his happy day; mine, I believe, will be decisive." (To be continued on Saturday next.)