A COURIER OF FORTUNE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12819, 20 March 1905, Page 3

A COURIER OF FORTUNE.

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

'PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT-]

CHAPTER XXVII.— (Continued). •>, When a chance offered lie spoke to Luce to alone. , , ••I have said nothing yet, hub I am not quite easy about that officer. Liicettt.. He was very curious about—Madame Bu ighei do you'tnink he can have recognised you. Does he know vou well'.'' , '• Is it XI. Burgher questioning now. slit. asked, with a "lance. , . "No. We've dropped that; and we le waiting to see what next, Just now its someone a good deal in earnest. „ " Yes, lie used to know me very well. "Is he another of them'.'" He coti.d not lesist the jest, and she laughed back with a toss of the head. , . , T " 1 don't of course understand tliat. won't, J mean "

" Do you think he can have sent anyone after you to make suit; you were .Madame Burgher'/' "Do you think so''" She was KCI ml,s now. "J don't know." "How did you gel rid of the horses. " M. Gerard did that." " 1 must speak to him then. A very little slip iiniv have verv big results to-day. lie called GeVard aside and told him his doubts. "i look (he hordes back to where you lined them. 1 dared not leave them standing here. 1 passed a couple of soldiers, but the} took no notice of me ; and of course I made sure that no one followed me here. "It may be nothing, but when that soldier gets back and this tale gets carried to the castle about the two Pascals and .the one Lucelte, it may be something—especially if tie L'robaile's cunning ears get wind of it. 1 wish you were away." Ihev were very soon to have proof that Pascal's uneasiness had only too solid grounds, They waited with much impatience fur Dubois' coming, and when he came, about ao hour after noon, he brought a grave fate and very serious news. The city gates had been shut again and the Governor's troops were once more searching the city; this time systematically from house to house, and the efiorts of the seaich parties were being in the first place concentrated oil that part of the city in which hi I lon's house stood. m . " 1 passed them at their work, lie said, "and only wonder I was not stopped, You cannot stay here, or you will be trapped. "There is but one course then," decided Gerard. "We must get back to Malincourt." "There is a. better plan," said Gabrielle. " Do von go alone, Gerard, in your monk s gabardine. He. has passed the soldiers, and you will do so. I will wait tor their coming. We know from what Babillon told us yesterday and what Captain Dubois has heard from the burghers, that no harm can come to me. Please." > " No." answered Gerard firmly. " One thing 1 will not do. 1 will not leave you within that madman's reach." " But it is you he seeks. Would it not be safer. Captain Dubois, for him to go alone.' And you, M. Pascal, what say you.' ".It would be safer.' agreed the captain. "Dubois!" exclaimed Gerard. " 1 speak but my opinion, my lord. I shi.uld take miladi's advice. I will answer for her safety." "1 cannot consent.' " It- will be too late to do anything if we dallv in talking," said Dubois. "'We will go together, but I will change mv burgher's dress for a monk s, and he hurried from the room. " I am only a monk outwardly, and it may be well to have an officer among the party," said Dubois, slipping off his gabardine and revealing his uniform under it. "It's too late," said Pascal, who was at the window as Gerard re-entered. ,'." c soldiers are already in the street. Ihe chance is gone." Gerard looked very grave and Dubois smothered an oath in his moustache. " We are going to pay a heavy price for our mistake in leaving Mulincourt, exclaimed Gerard. "Still, we can but make the attempt. Come. Gabrielle. ' - "Monsieur, may 1 suggest?" put in Lucette hurriedly. " There is a chance that these searchers may not know Gabrielle. Let M. Pascal and me remain here to wait for them, playing your parts, while you hide somewhere in the house. When they find us. fiiey may be satisfied to search no fintlier thaii this room, and you will be free to leave when they have gone. If -M. Pascal will?"

" II is well suggested," declared Pascal. " If tiny will not know you. mademoiselle,' lie added, willi a (|iiizzing glance. "1 do nut know all the officers, monsieur," (-lie retorted. Gerard and Gabrielle both protested against the plan on the ground of its danger to Lucette; hut this was overborne, and the two were left alone, while Gerard, (labridle and Dubois went with Madame liabillon to an upper part, of the house. "Rather reversing the due order, this, Lucette," said Pascal lightly.

" Due order?" ".Man anil wife an hour or two hack, and now we're only betrothed, you see." '• M. Pascal!" she cried, laughing and blushing. "Hv vim leave. not Pascal, but ({eraid -—Gabrie'.le.' •' 1 wonder what we ought to be doing when tlicv come. 1 fear my heart is beating rather wildly." "Fitting its beats to the occasion, that's all. As lo what we diould do, can t you find a suggestion out of your experience?" " Canno- you "I thyik ue ought to be making love, Gabrielle. I hats what Gciard would be doing. 1 e.vjwct.'' "We're doing one thing that's right, at any rale. We're talking nonsense, Gerard." "Well. 1 think we ought to plav our par's thorough".y. " Do you treat everything as a jest.' "Neil when I'm Gerard to your Galnie!le. It's a part 1 could play in earliest. "1 (link Gerard is an extremely ridiculoll |KM ciOll. ** "And I think tiabrielle a very charming coquette." " 1 wish they would come, and get it over. I'm a isad coward, and am getting more frightened every minute.'' " Ah, you're anxious to break the engagement. You'll break your Gerard s heart. He was listening intently for the coming of the soldiers, and jested merely that he might distract her thoughts and keep up her gpirilo. "It will be awkward, by the way. if the officer in charge happens to lie —another of them." " You seem to think the list a long one,' -he retorted with a slung. " l.el mo see. To begin with " —and he made as if to tell them oil' on his lingers. "Never mind, thank you. 1 can count for myself." " Your eves make one almost wish I could (.'milit myself," he laughed. "If my eves weie speaking my thoughts "Well":" h" a-ked. fur she stopped. "They would be asking how many hands would ho needed to count -my Gerard's." "Oh. my hand* have long been full. Wait. I hear them, he broke oft", in the midst of ,i laugh. " Yon had better l>e in mv arms and, when the door opens, break awav and utter mv name--I mean Gerard: and then act as though it was what it will be--a mi-'lal-i 1 ." 'l lie tramp of men entering the house was heard, and he put his arm round her. "Look sad." he whimpered hurriedly. " Foi God's sake, don't smile like that." "Oughtn't I to like to have your arm round me? You are, very clumsy about it, you knowGeranl. One might think you had had no practice."' " You seem to know how things should be done." he laughed. " Mv heart is beating like a wild thing." At this moment a heavy hand was thrust against the door, which was flung open, and the soldiers entered. "Gerard"' cried Lueette. "look, look, the soldiers." and then staring wildly at the men, she clapped her hand to her lips and with a (tv of fear tell into a seat. " Courage. Gabrielle, if is nothing, he whispered, in a tone loud enough to be heard, and bout for a moment over her us if in deep concern. 'I lien he turned lc the men. "What does this mean?" lie demanded angrily. With intense satisfaction he recognised two of his own moil among the five who were in charge of a sergeant, and he shot at them a warning look. "It means that we're ir>. luck, monsieur, I think. You must come with us."

• Come' with you? Why? Cannot an honest merchant be about his business without you soldiers hunting him?" : " Your name, monsieur?" " Tourelle. Leave me in peace." "Christian name, please?" "Pascal. You are an insolent fellow."

" And mademoiselle's name?"

"Is no concern of yours." "1/heard it, monsieur, and yours, , too, Gerard the one, and Gabrielle the other. That lis enough for me. You must come with me."

" I will not. Don't you dare to lay a-"' finger on me," and lie made as if to offer a resistance.

" You can explain to those at the caetle, monsieur. ] can only obey orders." " You touch me at- your peril. 1 am an honest burgher." "It a no use, monsieur. You can see that," and at a sign from him two of the men stepped forward. v " You shall pay dearly for this outrage, and if 1 had a weapon—" "Ah, but you haven't," was the blunt reply and the two soldiers laid their hands 011 him.

"And yon, also, mademoiselle, please.'c' The lilt comedy was well acted to the end. and Pascal, full or protest.-;, and Lucettf in tears, were led away : the sergeant unable to repress a smile of intense satisfaction at the capture. They had not been gone long before the others came back to the room.

"The ruse lias answered, then," said Gerard.

" How brave of I.ucetfe," exclaimed Gabrielle. " 1 trust no harm will come to her for this."

"It cannot. It is but a few hours now before we .shall be in command of the town and the castle itself. And those hours will be consumed by this search. Can we go, Dubois''"

" I should wait awhile."

" I am in a. fever to reach Malincourt,' replied Gerard anxiously. " 1 should not counsel our going so far. Could you not find shelter in some house already searched? Indeed, why not remain here-"

" I could find shelter anywhere in Morvaix." declared Gabrielle.

"Then think of tome place, mademoiselle. They have been working from east to west, so that all east of this is sale. There were two of our men in the party just now," said Dubois turning to Gerard. "They must be using them to make up the uumbei necessary." "Good. I decide for Malincourt and should like an escort of them to take us there," he answered, and then asked again whether they could start. Dubois west to the window. "A thousand hells!" lie exclaimed. "They are coining back here. They must have found out the mistake. Quick, my lord, to your hiding-place again! No, no, by heaven! what fortune. Four out of five of the men are ours. I see a way. Hide, but clone at hand." 1 He threw himself into a chair, while Gerard and Gabrielle left the room. The soldiers came hurrying in. " Well, what in it?" lie asked coolly. " Who are you''" " 1 think that's a question I should put to you." " 1 am he officer in charge of the search party. We are looking for the escaped prisoners. and my sergeant has just been fooled in this house. Now, monsieur, who are you? And do you know of this';" " I am Captain Dubois, comrade of Captain Bassot. in charge of the recently arrived troops. These are some of my men, 1 see." The men saluted. ■' Do you know anything of this trick?" "Monsi'nr!" exclaimed Dubois angrily. " Of what do you accuse me?" " I make no accusation, captain. But I have to search the house." "Will, send your men to search it," and Dubois got up and stood by the door, thus barring the way out of the house. If the officer sent the' Bourbon men they would tind nothing, he knew; if he went himself, he would find more ill in he would bo allowed to take away. The officer hesitated a moment and then decided. " I'll search for myself and trust my own eve* this time." ' " It's all one to me," answered Dubois with a shrug. Three men were called on to accompany the officer, and all four were leaving the room, when Gerald, who had Heard what had passed, met him at: the door. "Ah!" was the officer's significant exclamation at sight of them, "as I thought, and he turned "with a smile- of triumph to Dubois. But the smile died away instantly. Dubois was standing before the door with his drawn sword in his hand. It wits he who smiled now. and a grim, significant, dangerous smile it was. (To be continued daily.)