A COURIER OF FORTUNE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12818, 18 March 1905, Page 3 (Supplement)

A COURIER OF FORTUNE.

BY A. W. MAECnMONT, Author of " When I Was Czar." " The Queen's Advocate." etc.. etc.

[PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT •]

CHAPTER XXVl.—(Continued.)

Gerard was very grave and anxious in his concern for Gabrielle, and as they passed through the chapel, down into the crypt and along the dark, mouldy, gloomy, passage, scarce a word was spoken. But as soon as they emerged into the fresh air, Pascal, who had gone on first to make sure no one was about, began to talk. He walked with Lucette, Gerard and Gabrielle being ahead.

" We mustn't, look like a funeral procession, mademoiselle " " If you were as anxious for me as M. Gerard'is for Gabrielle, you too might be solemn, monsieur." He glanced at her and smiled. "Hadnt we better settle the narts we mean to play':" •' What are thev?" "Well, to begin with, we'd better stop this 'monsieur' "and 'mademoiselle' to each other. Mv name, as you know, is Pascal, and yours 'is Lucette. and they arc neither of them names to be ashamed of. What say you—Lucette'.'" "Just as you wish—Pascal," and she copied his pause and tone, and laughed. " Good. Now we must be something to each other, because we may be asked. Strangers don't go riding about together as we have to; and we're not strangers either." " 1 am beginning to know something of you. at any rate." "And an excellent education I hope you find it. Now. what do you say to brother and sister''"

"We might have to quarrel with one another in that case, or at least be discourteous. Is that what you wish Pascal?" "That's an excellent imitation of a sister's manner—Lucette. But as we don't want to quarrel, and 1 am plain burgher and you .Madame Burgher, we might be husband and wife." i " It would be a loveless marriage, wouldn t u v

"I've heard of them before," lie laughed drily. '" But it would certainly be a marriage of convenience." " And many of those are but little more acting than this. But I think in such a case 1 should be a scold." '• 1 am afraid you would, but as my back will be to you when you're on the pillion, I don't know that that will matter. How clear the roads are." he said, breaking into earnestness for a moment. His eyes had been cast sharply in all directions, despite his laughing manner and words. "Do you think we shall get through'' Poor Gabrielle is so anxious." "Aye, (bat's one of the troubles. She's too anxious to play her part well, I fear. Shu's not like—Madame Burgher.' "Nor is M. Gerard like—Monsieur Burgher." ...,...., _.:«.

'• Well, let us hope the husband and wife will get their two charges safely through. We shall reach Babillon's, at any rate." he said soon afterwards, as they came in sight of the house. " I pray we shall find better luck than last time." But they did not. The house was closed, and when' they knocked and Babillon's wife admitted them, it was to say that her husband had not been home all night. "It's not a serious matter," said Pascal, making light of it, as he did of all difficulties. Wait here, and I'll go and rind a couple of horses somewhere." " But Babillon could have given us news of how matters stand at the gates and a hundred other things." replied Gerard uneasily. "All of which we shall now have to find out for ourselves instead," and learning where he was likely to procure horses, Pascal went off on his search. He was soon back, riding one horse and leading another. " 'I he cit v is much quieter this morning. I had a talk with the man where I got these." he reported, " and he says all the soldiers who were searching the city have been recalled to the castle." " And about the gates?" " Me knew nothing, and I could ask no more than a general question, or I might have stirred suspicion. Now, Madame Burgher." he said to Lucette, and there was some laughing between them over settling her in the pillion. But Gerard was in no mood to see any objects for jesting, and Gabrielle was .so'pale and anxious that Lueette declared it was a good thing indeed no more of her features could be seen. " Now fur a bold face on things and a laugh if you can. Lucette," cried Pascal. "and we'll soon see whether an honest burgher and his wife cannot, ride abroi." together in this uncomfortable fashion on a line July morning." They rode slowly toward the city gate, Gerard and Gabrielle following some distance behind. Pascal laughed and gestured over his shoulder to Lucejte, until coming in sight of the gate he said exultantly: " God be thanked, it's open, Lueette. We shan't be husband and wife much longer, if all goes well." "A thought which seems to give you consummate relief." she answered. " .Aye, the responsibilities of a husband weigh heavily on me. good wife—as heavily, 'maybe, as the double burden on this good, patient beast. Good morning, monsieur." he broke oil', as a soldier stepped in (he wav and held up his hand. But Pascal made lio effort to check the horse, and was passing on with a nod and a smile when the ; man laid a hand on the bridle and brought the horse to a stop. "What is ii. monsieur?" asked Pascal. "Cannot an honest man and his wife pass on his business?" " Yes, monsieur. All those who are known to us can pass. Dismount, if you please, and come, to the rflicer at the gate. Pascal mumbled something in a discontented tone and then dismounted. He gave Lueette one glance with an ominous lift of tin eyebrows. She understood the look—that (lie check was a very Ugly one—but with an admirably feigned air of extreme vexation, she exclaimed: " How you bungle things. Pascal. To bring me out like this! One might as well have a wooden head lor a husband." " IV.i scold, peace. It is no fault of mine." he answered crossly.

And the soldier Minted

IHAI'TKK XXVI 7. HIWTKJ). Pascal was agreeably surprised when the, officer t<> whom lie was conducted, a man of some thirty years of age, with si frank face, commenced with a. quasi apology. ■ 'J'liis is nut a very pleasant duty of mine, monsieur, but you'll understand it is it duty. 1 i'lu here in place of Captain Boulelle, and my instructions are not to allow anyone to pass the gate who is not known. But as I know scarcely anyone, while he knows many, it is rather a hardship for the citizens. Your name, please?" "Pascal Tourelle." The officer wrote it down, saving the while: " 1 am sorry 1 do not recognise you, M. Tourelle. Your occupation''" " Merchantchief] in steel wares."

"Vou are not of Morvaix; your accent tells me that." .

" 1 am of Paris ; my master's affairs have brought me to this district."

"Ah, Paris!" exclaimed the officer. "I envy you, monsieur. Married'/" " My wife rides with me," said Pascal. " Her name':" " Lueette." The officer looked up with a quick smile. "Pardon the smile." he said. " but the name is unusual and recalls associations for me." "The devil it does! Can she have been flirting here as well - .'" was Pascal's thought, but he looked stolidly at the questioner as, he replied, producing Daubau's pass: "I can save Your time, monsieur, i think. I have a pass." , „ "The date is yesterdays, and the officer shook his head. Did you mean to start vesterdav? 1 am afraid it is no use to me. But I need not trouble you further except in one very simple thing. There win be plenty of citizens who know you, and 1 will Bend a man with vou to anyone who will identity vou 1 don't distrust your word, of course, but I rm compelled to do this work. And the Governor of Morvaix. as you may have heard, is somewhat exacting. I am really forrv," he said, rising. " Perhaps Madame Tourelle will await you here,"

It was most courteously suggested, buS none the less embarrassing on tha'b accounts "I think ; not, monsieur. '■>■■' She ; has some matters to see to, I believe, which our earlier, departure caused her 'to put off until our return this evening, and will no doubt prefer to see to them now while I fetch a citizen to vouch for me. For the present, monsieur, good morning. Accept my thanks for your courteous discharge of an unpleasant duty." But the officer was not to be shaken off. "1 should have been glad to speak with her of Paris. It is some years since I was there. Ah, Paris!" and he sighed as if in pity for himself. "When I return, monsieur, it will give me pleasure to see you again. I will not trouble you to send a man with me, but will bring back someone who will satisfy you as to me."

" Nay, monsieur, it is no more than a form. 1 will send a man," and while he turned away to give the necessary instructions, Pascal hurried out to Lucette.

" Go back to Gerard, and tell him the way is blocked. I'll find you at Babillon's. Go at once, for God's sake. The officer here pricked up his cars at your name and may know you." Lucette drew the end of the shawl which wrapped her neck and shoulders across the lower part of her face as the officer came out and looked curiously at her.

" I know him. indeed," she said.

"Ah, these flirtings of yours, Lucette!" whispered Pascal, as she wheeled the horse around. " Yes, in an hour, here," he added aloud, " and don't keep me waiting. It is as I thought, monsieur, my wife will return to meet me here." he said lightly, turning to the officer, wh<f was looking very intently indeed after Lucette.

" Umph ! Curious! A strange resemblance!" The words were muttered in a lowwhisper, but not so low as to escape Pascal's sharp ears, and the officer gavo him a quick, suspicious glance. Pascal's easy indifference appeared to reassure him, however. " Here's the man. monsieur," lie said.

And again Pascal cursed his luck. It was the soldier with whom he had made friends in going to the castle the preceding day. But he put his usual bold face on. the matter, and with a. salutation to tho officer passed out with his companion. The officer looked after him thoughtfully, re-entered the guard house, read over the replies to his question, and pondered them. " I must be wrong," he mused. " But if so no harm can be done in having her followed. ' Pascal Tourelle of Paris—and Lucette!' I'll send the names to Boutelle at the castle too, and be prepared against their returningif they do return. No, there might be trouble that I didn't detain them. But I'll have the wife followed." He gave directions for this at once, and thus laid * train that was to lead to serious consequences. Meanwhile Pascal was cudgelling his wits how to get rid of his companion, and felt none too easy under the sharp glances which the man kept casting at him, as they walked side by side. " Did I hear your name was Pascal Tourelle, monsieur?" asked the soldier suspiciously. "I don't know what you heard, my man, but it is my name. Pascal the First, that is." " You've been a soldier, monsieur, haven't you? 1 judge by your bearing. " "In the Paris train bands. But one twin was as much as my father could spare to the army." Twin?" questioned the man doubtingly. " Yes, twin. Pascal the Second," laughed Pascal. " A good soldier he is too; and, like a good soldier, with a palate for good Mine and an eye for a pretty face. Lately come to Morvaix. His presence brought me here. He's at the castle." "I know him." was the reply, with s smile and a nod and a knowing wink. "What! You know Pascal the Second!" and he stopped and held out his hand. " Any comrade of his is my friend, and I can <"o what ho very frequently can't, pledge the friendship in a flask of good wine." "You're wonderfully like him, and to bear the same name is curious too.'' He spoke as if still suspicious. "Ah, if you knew the devils of nieises he's got me into in Paris with this same name which my father's whim gave us, and this strange likeness! But come, where shall we have the wine?" The soldier soon found a wine shop, and Pascal plied him freely with liquor, a second flask quicklv following the first. When the second was 'still half full ho rose and said : " We've no time to finish it, I fear. We must find M. Grimaud, the leather merchant, who will vouch for me at the gate." He coined the name at a venture. " "Lis a pity to leave it," said the soldier, eyeing the flask wistfully. "I don't get such liquor every day." "It's a. good reason for your staying to finish it. while I fetch M. Grimaud." " You'll come back?" "Nay, if you wish it, I'll stay," and he threw himself back on to his seat with an air of impatience. "Be quick, my good friend." " You'd better go. . It's too good stuff to swallow in gulps," and the soldier winked appreciatively, as he emptied his glass leisurely in sips and refilled it. " Well, we'll have a third Reason in, then. Luck waits on odd numbers," and he ordered the third flask, paid the reckoning, and took half a glassful. The '" third reason" carried conviction, and When Pascal next rose to leave, the soldier no longer raised any objection. What step to take next was a'question of some difficulty. The exiwrience at the city gate had shown that Gerard could only hope to leave if some burgher of importance could be found to vouch for him, and the first thought was to. try and find someone who would do this. But where to go? He could not tell who were for the castle and who for .Malincourt. and to look for Babillon was prcttv much like looking for a bullet that iiad 'missed its mark and buried itself somewhere in the ground. He was standing in the market-place gazing about him vaguely, and debating the thin" when a stroke of fortune came his way° He caught sight of Dubois and hurried after him. The old soldier was in a gruff mood. "These burghers are fools: you know the sort, Pascal. Babblers, gabblers, brawlers, windbags, with never an ounce of resolution in the lot," he said in reply to Pascal's question as to how he had fared with them. " A cataract of talk and nothing else." Well, I want one of them to come and talk now," and Pascal told him what bad occurred and what was needed. "They'll come and make you a speech, * round hundred of 'em," said Dubois, with a gesture of contempt. " But I would. not trust to one of them to act like a sensible man." " But can you find one to identify Gerard and get Sim away?" "No. They'd think I had some underhand plan and waste half the day in talking about it, and another half in making up their minds and —" " Stay, man, don't take example by them or you'll split my ear drums with your growling. Can it be done?" " Babillon might do it." "Where is he?"

" I don't know." "Where are you going." . " Anywhere out of the reach of (heir cabling. They're going to meet again at midday for some more babble-babble. Why did von all leave Malinconrb? •'The Governor surrounded it and made two attempts to get it in the night, "These wine men say they waited on him after the firing and he assured themthere was to be nothing more done, and that be intended simply to sit down before the marso i and wait for you all to come out. To starve you out, that meant. Hos recalled all the search parties; you can see that for y°.U\y el we're out now, and want to leayf . the city.'' ,„ Where are vou to be louna. " At Babillon's house. You know that? "You'd have been safer in the maison. I'll do this. I'll try and find Babillon, and if I succeed in getting someone to vouch, for you, will come to his house. You had better go there and explain things, and what mouthing numskulls these precious . burghers are." '"■ "'/:■■.%' • .'-'-: ,:■'?; " You'd better arrange some place of safety in case we have to leave Babillon's and can't get from the city." '"I'.'yunj »i " You'll be safe enough where you are, i) what they say is true, that the GoTernoi thinks you are all still in the maison and means to keep you there." " You'll lose, no time?" '

"Am I a .burgher?" and with this last growl he went away, while Pascal, with » laugh, hurried to Babillon's, and reported how matters had gone, and that there was nothing to do but to wait. (To be continued daily.) , ~?