Chapter XIII.

Otago Witness, Issue 2170, 26 September 1895, Page 39

Chapter XIII.

I A Tricolour Sash in Five Company. "The Deputy Grevaubal aud Captain Marcy, of the National Guard 1 " said Mathilde. " Captain Marcy is a now acquaintance of my mother's, I suppose. There ia something she is biding from us ; she know!' some dreadful news. I'm sure of it. Sweet Mother of God. protect us 1 " Her eyes wandered as ehe uttered fchia brief supplication to a picture of Mary hung between two squnrely-built windows thai opened upon a balcony overlooking the grounds of the park, and commanding a long line of country. From the picture ber eyes rested onoa more upon the quiet pastoral scene with it? first faint suggestions of autumn. " Presently Bbc pushed one of the windows wide open, and shading her dark eyes with bar hand, gazed intently into the distance. Thon, stepping out upon the balcony, she uttered a short, bappy cry, followed by an exclamation of alarm. " Ye?, it ie Honri 1 I'm sure It is ; but why from tbafc quarter? Surely ho is pursued 1 " She strained her eyes right and-lolc, but no .other hoiscman was in sight. As he diew nearer she notod the rider's hussar uniform. The dying rajs of the afttrnocn sun aptwklod once and again cm the scabbard of his Bwon). The crimson of hifl vest and the red stripes in his shako told out rgtlnet the green of the landecapo. Arrived lit the sunk fence of the park, he slid from his saddle, and, leading hiß horse into the cutting, tethered it thore and climbed the sunk wall to the lawn and ornamental gardens), with the shady shrubs, trimmed yews, and tall box hedges. Mathildo almost hold her breath as sb* watched him. Ho took advantage or every bit of cover to conceal his approach ; and she could tee that his uniform was ragged, the gold and braided trappings of it torn and banging in patches. Yes, he was pursued. Hia life had been in danger ; there was blood upon his face. Ma'hilde felt all her strength suddenly depar;iug from her. Her first impulse wai to call out f o him ; her next was an impuls« over which the window seat, and only revived the window seat, and only came back to sensibility some half an hoar later, when th« Duke carao for her. Meanwhile th« guests had begun to find it difficult to maintain a boaorxing composure in face of the extraordinary- delay of the function at which they had been summoned to assist. The notary and bin officials, with the marriage contract ready for signature, had been regaled with some of the Chateau's best wine. But pleasures overdone are apt to pall. The notary's chief clerk had fallen a«le«p over bis cups. The ante-room in which they were installed was in a dark wing of the Chateau. Already the servant* had lighted tbe candles, and the chief notary had 'confided to hiß Grace's valet that ho feared Count de Fournier bad buen detained by something more than military or official duties. Similar doubts agitated the guests, who had begun to wander aimlessly about the grand talon. Some of them had found* seats under the palms beneath the verandah; others might be seen talking in groups upon the terrace. Tho scene was pretty enough, and might have struck a straDger as Indicative of the general peace aud happiness of tho times. It was a gaily-dressed company; the gentlemen in silks and velvets, rich cravata with lace endß, frilled ouffr, and silrerbuckled shoes, .brocaded coats, embroidered vests, and Bwords with jewelled hilts ; the ladies in shot silks, high-heeled shoes and dainty petticoats, many of them carrying gold-headed canes as well as exquibitelypainted fans; for the elaborate fashions of Louis XV had been adopted by the no leas extravagant court of his unfortunate successor. . Here and there might have been observed the more subdued dressing adopted by the National Assembly, for there weie present a few active sympathisers with the democratic aspirations of the Progressive party which at the outset of the Revo« lution believed it possible "to construct a constitutional monarchy out of a corrupted noblesse, an irreligious middle class, and as ignorant people." They were not opposed to the royal authority, but desired to deprive tbe throne and its Ministers of their deßpotia character; giving to France, fn fact, a constitution similar to that of England. With Tropbine Gerard, Count of Lally Tollendale, they hoped to accomplish this by the simple division of the States-general into two Chambers— the nobility and' olergy forming the Upper House— an arrangement which, In these present days of England, a certain section of the advanced Radical party desire to break up, with a view to governing through a single chamber, the House of Common*. But the Liberals of France found it impossible to stem the torrent of change which they had unlocked ; the flood overwhelmed them, and it waa In the midst of the rising deluge that the Duke de Louvet thought It a fine thing to disregard the torrent. His wife had keener eyesight, even though there was something ignoble in her efforts to provide a bit of dry ground on which they, might hope to abide until the waters should subside. Although, as we have said, there were a few notables present who showed sympathy with the aspirations of tho friends of the people in tbe sobriety of their clothing, the arrival of Grebauval in his tricolour saßh, and hia friend, Captain Marcy, in his uniform of the National Guard, stood out In striking contrast to the rest of the company. " I have not the honour of Captain Maicy 8 acquaintance," said the Duchess ; •' but any friend of cur very good friend, Monsieur Grebauva), Is welcome to the Chateau do Louvet." And she thereupon present**

fa— .. i. . *. ■—. ■■ ■■ ■■ ' ' '■' ■ Daptain Marcy to several of the most aristocratic persons who surrounded her; and, although tho Duke bowed with great formality to both Grebauval and Maroy, he was much more gracious than the Duchesß bad ex-ectcd him to be, for which Bhe was only grateful " Yon did not tell me that you had invited Monsieur Grebauval," »aid the Duke aside to bis wife. " Nor had I," she answered with a frankness that was unusual with her whenever Grebauval was in question. " And his friend ? " 11 He is a stranger to me." "What, then, may be the meaning of their atteaence ? " " I cannot tell." '« The Oount hae not arrived, I fear 1 " said Ckebaaval to the Daoheip, as the Duke passed on. " No," ehe said, with an inquiring expression of countenance. " What is the news from Paris 1 " "For your royalist friends, bad," said Grebauval, lowering his voice as he led her Rslde ; " for the people, good." " Yes ? " eaid the Duohess, repressing her anxiety. "The victory has been dearly bought, raadame; but it is a great viotory for the people." "What Is good for the psople, dear Monsieur Grebauval, Is good for France ; what is good for France is good for all." " I hope so," said Grebauval ; " but you would be wise if you dismissed your gueßta and postponed a ceremony which is inopportune, and, indeed, can hardly take place with one of the contracting parties absent." 11 My t dear monsieur, you know that were I mistress here the chief contracting party has just arrived." "You honour me," >aid Grrebauval, "and I urn not ungrateful.' 1 They little thought that at this moment the Oount de Kournier, unperceived except by a trustworthy servant, had crept into the house " Take me to the Duke's private chamber, Joseph," said Da Fournier to the Duke's sturdy retainer. "I mast wash and find some fresh apparel." " This way, Oount," said Joseph, leading bim by a back stair to a quiet chamber and dressing rcom. " Find an opportunity as quickly as ycu can to inform the Duke that I am here." "Yep, monsieur. Thank God, you have come 1 " 1 " I am pnrauod," eaid De Fournier. " Let no one but the Duke know I am in the house." " Trust me, monsieur le oomte," said the lervant. " I do, old friend," said De Fournier, who &t once began to take off bis jacket with a view to a rapid toilet. It was a painful business to remove his upper garments. His left arm had bled considerably, and his linen adhered to the wound. His hair was clotted with the blood of a shrewd blow that had been aimed with murderous intent, resulting, however, in nothing more than a somewhat severe abrasion of the scalp. His limbs were stiff. His sword arm ached as if it were bruised. But bis muscles were as bard a« iron. He was bathing his face when the Duke entered the room. "Kxonse me, dear friond," said De Fournier ; "I am leaking myself at home." " My dear Henri," replied the Duke, " you are wounded." « " A little," said the Oount, beginning to •ponge hia head. " Let me call my man," said the Duke. " No thank joo ; every man his own valet de chambre is the order of the day," said the Oount. ' "If you can find a little sticking plaster and some clean linen, I shall soon be ready to make my appearance." »' Upon my boul," said the Duke, " you Bet me a difficult task. lam ufdees here without my i' But here iB Joseph ; he is in your !-• will help us." "11l might be of service," said Joseph, U.. ,<ad entered on tiptoe and fastened thu door behind bim. (To be continued.)