A COURIER OF FORTUNE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12784, 7 February 1905, Page 3

A COURIER OF FORTUNE.

{ [PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL AEItANGEMEXT.j 1

BY A. W. MARCHMONT. Author of, "When 1 was Czuv," '* The :;.i Queen's Advocate.'.'' etc., etc. , CHAPTER VII. .-!- AT MALINCOUBT. , Distressed as Gerard had breit by the ; necessity to deceive Uabriello, itfto; which ; ho had allowed himself to be drawn, he had j no such qualms in regard to her uncle. i Ho was convinced that, as Pascal had said, if there was evil work on foot de I'foballe would be concerned, in it. .' , ■j That such a man should be found established at Moliricoutt, posing as the true Mend of an innocent) girl, and regarded by her, as an honourable and, confidential adviser, was in itself enough to rouse suspicion. '. ' ' ' ' .!.'.' - . , He decided at once, therefore, to fall in with do Pioballe's moot!, whatever it' might be, and to lead him to talk as freely as he woul-. "Why did you not come straight to Malineouit, Gerard, or at any tale let me know of your presence in .Morvaix, that 1 might have a word with vim':". "If I was doubtful of my reception by Gabrielle, can you blame me?" asked Gerard in reply, dropping readily into his assumed character. ' " But I had told you exactly how matters herewith her." " But I had '-.not seen her with my own eyes." -• -- .- " Psh, a sentimental fool's ■ reason," exclaimed de Proballo, contemptuously. "Yet 1 am no sentimental fool, monsieur." ' -" If you were no worse, you would be lucky. Your kinsman, Raouf, in ' Paris, gave me your history." "Ho may have lied,"' answered Gerard, calmly, suppressing a start at the mention of the name and the coincidence it suggested.] "But let it .pasts} [ "What' I i have done, ■ I have "done. If it" conies to that, Raouf gave mo no saintly account- of you." " Paris is not Morvaix, and what I do there or here is no concern of yours or his," was the curt, half-angry, reply. Gerard laughed. "As I said, Raouf may have lied. It is of no account; but I cannot see that in choosing my own method I have done i 11.".... , ~'' Do Proballe smiled unpleasantly. • "You played boldly. I did not know you had such courage—-except in your cups. Yes, yon have made a good impression oil Gabriel!©; but have, none the less dene ill." In what way":" ; ■~ /; v - "In saving that fool to-day. You were too hash". You should have let one of the swords find his heart, and then have played the rescuer of Gabrielle. . The men wouldn't, have touched you." "Why not?" asked Gerard quickly. "They tried." , '" Because you stood between thera and Denys." < ; , .' , "Read me the riddle." ~ .:-'-.,'." Denys has found out something' of tho real purpose of this marriage—how much I know"; not; and his silence is necessary to our success. The duke will not thank you." . ' , . " The duke!" exclaimed Gerard hastily, bewildered by. j this unexpected reference to the Governor in connect with the marriage.. A sudden sharp glance from his companion warned him that he had blundered, so he forced a laugh, and added : " The duke should label his men if he doc« not want them hurt." ; , ■", "Are you a fool? retorted de Proballe, sharply. -" Had . you come straight to mo, this would have been avoided. I tell you the man is dangerous.. Is not that enough " "No; it depends on how much he knows." •■■' ■ s -*:* " '' •"■' . '. *-" knows that you are here to marry Gabrielle and that in doing so you are merely playing | cat's-paw, and he suspects the real purpose, that it is to ewer the duke's plan in regard to her." : " Then he suspects what an infernal villain Gerard do Cobalt must he !" "He is not alone in that suspicion," was do Prrtballe's sneering comment. " True, I think I am beginning to suspect it myself," answered Gerard drily. - "If you were anything else, you'd be little use to us; so let us have no" cant here." "I am here to play my part," said Gerard smoothly, repressing his anger. "It is a part many a better man would gladly play. Yon will have wealth, a beautiful wife, a high position here, and a pardon for that Cambrai affair. Surely all that a man could wish/' He regarded Gerard with a sly, covert smile as he reeled off these advantages. Gerard's face was as impassive as that of a statue, while his thoughts were busy seeking the real meaning beneath the words. He paused a moment, and then answered in a level tone .'■'."True, but you omit the price I have to pay." ■'' * "Price." cried de Proballe. with another sneer. "Price! Honour, rather, yell mean. The Duke de Rochello is all but of the Royal blood; and better men than you will ever be have been glad to pay 110 more for their careers than mere marital complaisance." : " /' '■■" "By God!" exclaimed Gerard, his voice vibrating with feeling as he realised now the full infamy of the plot and the degrada tion of the part cast for him; then catching de Proballe' eyes fixed on him, he forced down his rage, and said coolly: " You are right, monsieur; Gerard de Cobalt cannot afford to ha particular. He has that pardon to gain.'' "Now. perhaps;, you understand the harm you did in saving that meddkr'o life." " I see now that if I had had all these thoughts in my mind I would have acted differently." "You will see the duke to-day, and will find him in a gracious mood." It is not the reputation he hears. They call him the Tiger, I hear." " His enemies do; those . who seek to thwart him. He saw Gabrielle to-day, and what passed between them pleased him greatly. .She urged him to relax' the rigour of his rule here, and he half consented. His plan is that he and she shall take frequent counsel together for the government of the peoplewhen she is your wife. He will thus 'see much of her in many a private conference, and the people will have . cause to bless her name for her good influence. Some of the blessings may come your way, Gerard, for the good change will date from the time of your marriage. You will be a popular man in Morvaix." He ended with another of his dry, cynical laughs, and looked for his companion to join in. But Gerard was too deeply moved even to simulate laughter. "There is yet one thing that perplexes me— perplexed me from the first. What is your part in this? Raouf did not paint you exactly as a type of self-denial, willing to stand aloof when others were reaping rich gains." "Mv plans, like my reasons, are my own,""returned de Proballe, with a frown. You shall know them all in time." . "As you please. It is enough for me to know that you have them. And I have enough on my side to keep my wits busy." -'" Had you but let the Governor's men work their way with that St. Jean, all would have been well; but I scent danger there. Some other means of silencing him must be found. For your part you have but to push your suit with Gabrielle with all speed, and hasten on the marriage. In that the success you have gained to-day will help you. Your act yesterday ,in Che market-place almost turned her head; at 1 any rate, it went to her. heart. But now, ] tell me of yourself, something of the story | of your life. She will surely ouestion; you, i and you must have a gallant tale to tell." "My past, like your reasons, is my own. Should she question me I shall know howto answer." " From whence came you here, and, how?" "That I am here may suflioe. 1 . have come to do my task-; and believe 'me I shall not fail to satisfy even the duke himself on my thoroughness." ; " Yon, can be close-lipped, it seems," said de Proballe, irritably. - "No bad quality, surely, when such work as mine.has to be done," ' "If you will' not talk, then, let us go into the house. You will of course bide at Malincourt. Have you a servant and apparel suited to your ,new position'! 1 You are but indifferently clad now." ,

"I am but 11 courier of fortune; : but.l have a servant, and can provide for all the needs of even my" high position at Malmcourt." "You are a. strange fellow, Gerard, and altogether unlike what your letters had led me to expect; But take your own way.' ■; i . " I have done that always, and shall notchange even in -Malincourt'.'" I have a matter that calls me to the town, and will return to the maison within an hour or so, by your leave," and without another; word he turned and walked away,: leaving de Proballe staring after him in dudgeon at his unexpected .independence, ~ * , Gerard plunged '.along" at ,•■'quick pace, ; his brows pent and frowning agfhe thought over the extraordinary situation an which he found, himself involved. : lie made his decision with characteristic promptitude. Ho would return to Malincourt. ; to see the thing, through, ; to. watch over G;\brieile, and to play out the part for which. he hud been thus unexpectedly cast. ' : ! ::'.There was no ■ thought now of undeceiving her as to his real character. That was now out of the question, impossible, for a time atdeast, for her own sake no less than for hid own. ""; \ .:' : ' : "^■:' , .' '■' .■ :: ' , '.' : The explanation need not be long delayed. Once let him get the proofs of the Governor's connivance at Hue scheme— these lie hoped -to get ■ in • tho interview which de Proballe said was to take place at once—• and he would strike the-power from the Governor's hands by virtue of the authority which his father, the Duke of Bourbon, as suzerain of the province*, had conferred upon him. _ But the proofs must be very clear. The limes: were suck that too close a scrutiny was not likely to be made into the private lives of those holding authority. The man who ruled his province in such a way as to relieve those above him of trouble, and who was always to be relied on to And troops should they be needed, could make sure of wide tolerance in any mutters of his private life. . Moreover, the Duke de Rochelle was connected with the blood Royal; he could count, therefore, upon high patronage and help; and there were in this connection many reasons why Gerard must walk warily. There had been trouble between the House of Bourbon and the throne; and the King and his advisers would welcome only, too gladly any pretext to step in and wrest ithis last lingering remnant of Bourbon suzerainty from the ouce ail-powerful family. -\ ," ". .', ,": , • .Gerard , felt" all the responsibility that rested on' him; and it was in this, respect that do Proba'Je's last words Were of such importance. " The Governor was betraying himself by mixing up a personal intrigue with the work of government. Not content with having, misgoverned the people and overtaxed them to the verge-of revolt. —offences which might have been overlooked in view of the 'powerful force of soldiery lie had raised, and trained-—he was now contemplating a -complete reversal of policy .in ! order to please Gabrielle for his own evil j personal ends., , ■• 1 . " Here was Gerard's chance, and he. Mas Quick to see it and to determine to use it. j He would continue the acted lie of his false j character .until he had : secured - from the j Governor' himself an admission of his real] purpose, or: had found other incontestable | proof of it—tie Proballe's word being less I than valueless; and the moment he was I satisfied lie would strike. To tins end "he,.* sought out the young officer, Pascal, a, close, intimate friend, told | him much ot what he had learned, and prevailed oil him to doff the monk's cowl and assume the character of ; his servant at Malincourt during the few hours or days he might have to remain there. (To ho continued daily!) ,