VAYENNE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 10240, 1 September 1909, Page 6

VAYENNE.

[a serial.]

By Percy " Brebner I<ys), Author of "Princess Maritza."

... ; .j ;» _

SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAP- • .TEES..' . [Roger Herrick, an Englishman visiting Vayenne,' finds * iexcittement fegaixiing the succession 'to* the Duchy of Cayenne, which lies -between a soldier Count and'' the "sfeholar of' I?ass6y.. Herri'ck 'is informed "by' a dwarf 'ox- a plot'to kill the scholar as' he- r ides - jfroni Passej* with ' Christine- de Liancburt, the ' prfetty 'descendant of ; the lite Dake,''"- add I/euiasle,' a "captain, ; r |»d iit once fides off warn them. The escort' is attacked, and th 6 Duke wounded; but Herrick lifts him onto his horfeand rides'into- si wood, • wh'djre" b6th are captured by forest; thieves. Herrick is tied to a tree and the Duke.'taken away". temaSle and Christine find suid release him,' and Hernck' then prides, madly to'. Vayenne .to expose s treachery and raitee a' rescue party Meanwhile the Cbtfnt delates his'rival deadl"' Herrick reaches" the ' city and learns frdiit • Father" Bertrand, a powerful priest, that he (Herrick) is the real heir to the Duchy through his grandmother ' Herrick. successfully claims the throne' at the coronation ceremony of'the 1 Count. Father' Bertrand finds Herrick too strong a man for his purposes and intrigues with Christine' and others for; Herrick's overthrow. A foreign Power threatens Vayenne, and Herrick leads his troops to the frontier. Jean, a dwarf, learns of treachery in the city against Herrick.]

CHAPTER XXIII. The Gates are Shut. When Count Felix left the castle he returned I to the Place- Beauvoisin. Countess Elisabeth turned quickly towards him as he entered the room. She did not put her question into words, but he saw it in her eyes. "It is the only way, Elisabeth," he answered. She turned away from- him without

a word. "Cannot you understand, dear, that I am a broken man and have no choice ? Do you think I enjoy' tta sullen temper of de Bornias or the patronage of this priest?" '. : . "But you love Christine." "She must be my wife. The country demands it. She will hate me, you say; well, may there not presently lie a way of escape in that? "Her power shall be nominal before we have reigned long together. ' A woman who 'hates is nd wife for a Duke of' Montvilliers. Do you not see the road of escape?".She laughed.' "The nominal power will be yours, Felix." ' : ' "How little you know me," he answered.'

"I know you for the tool of de Bornais and this Father Bertrand." she returned. "The other night in the Riie St. Romain it was plain that they only used you for a purpose. They tried to use this Roger Herrick for their own ends, but he has proved too strong for them.' They are forced to plot with a weaker man—with you, Felix." ' "For what purpose?" ''We are not in their councils," she answered, "nor, perhaps, is Christine, but their aim is not to quietly settle the crown upon you. This Herrick is a man, one who' holds what he has, and will fight for it to the bitter end. This plotting you favor can only breed more dissension. It is civil war these men are bent upon." "Herrick has made civil war already," said Felix. "He fights upon the frontier," she answered. "The rumors are uncertain, but had he been defeated we should have heard certainly of that. 11l news ever eomes quickly. He wins, Felix; that is the ruth, depend upon it, and for such a leader men : easily fight arid die. You wijl wake' one morning to find Roger Herrick at the gates at Vavenne, a victorious army at his back." , "Then we must fight," said the Count. .. "Fight! Where are yonr men? The rabble of the city ? Are you fool enough to trust to such reeds as de Bornias and this priest?" "No. I trust in myself," Felix answered. "To-day not a hundred men would raise a cheer for you in Vayenrie, that is why you are to marry Christine. Site has scruples in leaving you out altogether, but she will be Duchess, with all the power held at the pleasure of these two men." "You exaggerate their abilities." "Felix, answer me one question. How came it that the enemy were gathered on Ihe frontier, ready, waiting? It was not the crowning of Roger Herrick which brought them. Perhaps de Bornais and Father Bertrand could tell us." "You are fanciful, too, Elisabeth. Tell me, how would you have me act?"

"First fling this plot in the teeth of the makers of it, and then ride out, and offer your sword to the Duke." "How absurdly the dearest of women can talk," said the Count: "and afterwards beg his Grace's sanction to marry the Countess Elisabeth, I suppose. Are you really serious? Would you have me bend the knee to this adventurer?" "Better that than be the tool of de Bornais. As for marriage with me, all thought of that is over. I told you the other night that your participation in this plot separates us entirely, and for ever. The plot may fail, indeed I believe it will, but whatver happens, I step out of your life." "Elisabeth!" "The choice has been yours. To-day you have seen Christine, you have passed your word. I have already written to Christine for permission to leave the city. See, here is the letter." "No order is valid without the signature of both of us." '"I'oor Felix, how dense you are! You are a tool. You will have to do as ycu are bid. The tool has no choice liow it will work or what work it will do."

The Countess had taken up a definite position. Whatever the Count's faults were, he had succeeded in winning the love of this woman, a love that was ready to sacrifice itself-in his interests. Elisabeth had never really considered the possibility of becoming DucheSs of Montvilliers, and since it seemed certain that Felix must be Duke, there had from the outset been a hopelessness in her love. With the coming of ;Roger Herrick, however, the' whole aspect of affairs had changed-. v There may have been some unreasonableness-in her love then, for she hoped that Felix would accept the inevitable. pope,- in fact, had burst into flower. But not only did the Count refuse to accept defeat, he was indefinite besides., He; strove to serve two ends which were totallyopposed to each other.. He must fight for his rights, lie was obliged;to mafcty Christine,' yet he tried to believe that the future held happiness for him in the love of Elisabeth. His whole scheme was an impossibility, and the Countess knew it. With this new plot his last chance of definite- decision :had come; ha had made his choice, and Elisabeth had accepted the inevitable!'" They were still together, although siI lence had fallen between them, when ■ Father Bertrand was announced. There was eagerness in his face; aild his manner had nothing ot its usual' cahn and .strength. - ' „ "You were with "Mademoiselle this afternoon, Count, but I understand that nothing absolutely definite was fixed between you." "She has not said definitely .when the inarrfage 'shall take "place, 1 : if th-i'li is what yon mean." ." • "She has spoken, definitely now,", the priest answered; "It will' be the day afteil to-morrow-. ; Already the news' is being spread through. ;the-,city."' "Here is proof of-'=mv statement th-it & tool has no; choice,:' said the Countess. - , • :.. ..

"Why this sudden haste?" asked Felix haughtily. Elisalieth's "words and 'tße" priest 8 bearing angered Mm. : ■> - "Mademoiselle'had: the fool Jean arrested, but he escaped*'by means of a hidden ropefrota tie terrace of'the Souti Tower. They'are" him, by t-he may- not -fonnd:" - ; - '.'He should have been killed, as I said.;Eelix. 1 -i- v • i "The fact'remains 'that he ,is free,

and faithful; to-Roger- - - <- I' Ay, had 'wit. enough to prepare so-unexpect—-eda; way ofi' escapes yamnay • be" r gure. that he has wit enough to find, means of i - communicating wxth_><his -master-/' said the Countess. "Your .bubble scheme ts pricked, already.- •■ ' I "Madame, I " | ; "Andyon will be called upon, to pay the price, father,'' she went on. "Words d&' nbt deceive •me, and -upon • honest men there is ever a 'mark ,that , cannot be mistaken .T" : Wbhien ! 'miy fail to-rea-son adroitly, but instinct carries them to the heart of fhe matter," : ' \ > "Being a priest, I know littlo ofwomen and their methods," he answered. "The. day after. to-morrow Count.' You will ; 'be ready ?" " . * "Yes," was the answer, given firmlyj after ! a momenta 'pause. \j . Elisabeth came slowly ( across the: room. ' "Until then use. my,house as you will,' Felix, but it : is- better' that we should meet no more. Your road and mine arenot the;;same.; '' "I. wish you well upon your joiitney; I hope that in strewing it with so many and great/.dif--'ficulties f false; prophetess. For my own journey. I have much to prepare. Good-bye!", She held out her hand, and there was a smile upon her lips. After a moment's hesitatiop Felix took her hand, held it an instant, and let it.go. ;He did not believei- this was a final parting. She spoke no word of farewell, to the priest, but, taking up the letter she had written to Christine, passed out of the room. . ;> .• ''She must be watched. She is a dangerous woman/'' said Father Bertrand. "With her you have naught to do, said the Count,' turning to him quickly. "I shall be ready. Yoit have delivered your..message. I have-answered it. You may go." . , Whatever the priest s knowledge or women may have' been, ' he understood men. Ho understood Count Felix. Why should he resent his tone? He would fill the part that had been allotted to him. Father Bertrand's mind was full of graver matters than paltry quarrelling. Jean's escape had brought matters to a crisis. . . Vayenne was full of "excitement. Some' searched high and low for the dwarf, others •made rapid preparation for the wedding. The rabble filled the cafes - arid'- the "'taverns again,' and ■ hung about the corners of the streets. Jean was- nowhere to be found. As lie slid down the dilapidated roof the men who had sprung'upon the wall recovered sufficiently! from their consternation tp fire at him. Hajf-a-dozen bullets spattered about him, . and it seemed impossible that he' could escape being hit; indeed, so suddenly did he drop through a : hole in the roof that they believed he' was "wounded, if "not killed. No'man, however, was ready to trust himself to that swinging; rope, and bncf'of the soldiers cut it from its fastening. At least ho one should enter the castle that .way. -, ' No long time elapsed .before men were searching the'house which clung like a limpet'to the castle wall, but there was ho sign of the into some hole to die, even as a wounded animal will, that hole w'as not" to be found. . -.. ■ But Jean was not hit, and knowing how soon the liiie and cry would be at his heels, he lost no time in getting as far away from the house as possible. The fast deepening twilight favoured him; lie knew every alley and byway in this corner of the city, aud ; he ran lightly, dodging into doorways, and waiting now and again to escape the observation or some passers-by. Not many could know of his arrest and escape yet, but' he' did' not want anyone to see him in this part of the city. He had always come here secretly. He had no haunt in the neighbourhood where men would naturally look for him. The house by the wall, which legend peopled with ghosts, had served as a secure retreat before now. Jean . reached it unobserved, and waited for" more than an hour. It had grown dark then, and the dwarf climbed down the' face of the wall, and was soon sending his boat with vigorous strokes to the secret land-ing-place on the other side of the river. Farmer Jacques had not seen him in his mdtely' before, and he laughed aloud as the strange figure came in at th.e d00r....

"Hist, there is no time for laughter," said Jean. "Lend me a cloak of some kind to cover myself, and a horse, farmer. I must borrow a horse to-night." "The horses' have done work enough for to-day." ' 'Then one of them has got to do more than enough for once," the dwarf answered. "Art in trouble, Jean?'! "Ay; though it's not my own —it's the' Duke's." ""Which Duke's?" asked Jacques. "We hear such stories of first one and then the other that Vayemie would seem to be full of them." "The' Duke's —the one fighting yonder," answered Jean. "I must, ride to him to-night." "Well, for all you're a fool, you're a friend of mine, and have done me a service "before now. You sliail have a cloak and a hprse, Jean, and come to think of it, the beast that carries the saddle best has had a lazy day of it. You'll find plenty of pace in him. And, Jean, I heard a report this morning tliat the fighting was all over yonder, and that t'lie Duke was coming back. Is that true?" "My heart leaps at the possibility, friend Jacques," said the dwarf; "and mark, if any come asking about me, you have seen nothing of me for many a day. If the lie is distasteful, think of the good it will do your country, and find consolation." So, while they searched for him high and low in the city, Jean galloped away into the night towards the frontier.. And that "evening Mercier returned. He had no news for the men ;at the gate, no answers to the questions which assailed him in the streets; he went hurriedly to the Rue St. Romain. Father' Bertrarid rose from his chair as lie entered the room. ■ "Well, Mercier?" "I have been long upon the road. I have had to • make my way warily" to Vayenne for fear of fallirig into the hands of the Duke. He has many more friends in the country .than we supposed. These papeirs will'' tell you, father." ; "I had hoped for one word—victory," said'-the priest as Mercier placed the packet .on the table before liim. "It is some days since I Jeft the frontier; and r have come on foot. Even' this news is old, for''ev&hts iare moving rapidly. Read the papers, father." Mercier watched him as he broke the seals and. read the communications hurriedly; By the priest's face it was impossible to tell whether the news were good or bad, but Mercier. evi T dently knew something of what was written'there.' :"Is it bad news, father?" he asked. "It might be better, my son." . Mercier bent down, to him, and whispered : ' ' ' " "Father, why not leave Vayenne "for a "little while?" - The priest smiled. "You must be faint, and need rest and' refreshment after -your trying, journey, or- you would ' never give; such foolish • counsel. ' " D,<ies • a man . turn aside out of'the' tr3ck f when ,:the-'race ,is just", woii ? - These-ihen are "n,ot"iour masters."'"And' he struck. 1 the vpiapers sharply with sudden "paMon.' ; "The commands must come from us, not from them. This Roger Herrick is a. good. mani and I am'sorry. for him; but he stands in our path,. arid must be ; swejpt aside even as-though lie were rubbish. I shall have other papers, to b? d<?r livered presently: Qd, ''r^t/'" 1 Mfercier, and.; have no fear.- ; Within the city there is safety. Vayemie J is living With closed gates." _ ' Father Berti and "still smiled as.jVlercier went out, Tint J the 'mbmeAt' : fie 1 .was , alone he turned to itha' papers , and studied them, carefully.": -And-as he did so his face, became there : was an 'anxious look in his eyes. ">. (To".be continned;)

• ; r :f- '-iU+SZii. It's most consoling," when -you're ill, To 1 tMnk-about-.the.doctor's bill,, And'add unto T the>time you're lost,: The at"ten<Janc&.cost... Anii'realise r twas laok. of' That 'ypa . all- the rgreat es- | peiise,, ' * Becausewhen, first your chest got V > wheezy, " ■ ... 'Cure would "have. \ made-things, easy.*. ■*. _ , i 2