I c/o'iadu LIBRARY University of IRVINE^ MY LADY'S SLIPPER pper. MY LADY'S SLIPPER BY CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY PICTURES BY CHARLOTTE WEBER DITZLER NEW YORK DODD, MEAD & COMPANY MCMV PS |I 155 COPYRIGHT, 1905 BY DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY Published October, 1905 To JOSEPHINE, PATTI AND JEANNETTE THREE OF THE CHARMINGEST LADIES THAT EVER WORE SLIPPERS o^^ Y 'AT PICTURES THE SLIPPER Frontispiece THE SLIPPER is SOUGHT Facing page 40 THE SLIPPER AT COURT Facing page 186 THE SLIPPER'S WEARER Facing page 226 ' r *-^**iJ *. k \ PREFACE I MUST admit that I really can see no absolute need for so formidable and serious a thing as a preface, for a book of this kind a trifle, yet by no means an unconsidered one, 1 solemnly aver. Yet, true to my habit, I cannot let it go without that final (and com- placent !) pat on the back with which the author dismisses his latest creation to make its bow vii r T "I ^T Si J5 ' > 1 I *w r 9 f I T > r o^SgSj^a>afc r PREFACE io the public the elusive, the captious, the critical, yet the constantly wooed and ever be- loved public ! Now, I have nothing to say about this ro- mance save to declare that al- though in its pages a king and a queen are very much at home, to say nothing of Doctor Frank- lin and Commodore Paul Jones, it is nevertheless not an histori- cal novel there is no history in it unless it be another version of a thing that has happened since the beginning of time and which is therefore a part of all history the love story, viii r * *j ^ * i!*J PREFACE It only remains, therefore, to assure the gentler portion of the reading class farther, that although the scene is laid in France a century and a quarter since, there is no fighting in the book. Not one of the charac- ters even draws a sword. In the spirit of Nick Bottom, the immortal weaver, in fear lest I should "fright the ladies," I have made the characters in the play " roar you as gently as any sucking dove ... as 'twere any nightingale ! " With this I introduce my cheerful novelette to you. ix a FF m ; / T % L'i u \9 r ^ $ T PREFACE And may you have as much fun out of the love affairs of the modest Master Francis Burnham and the brave and beautiful Comtesse de Villars, as 1 have had. CYRUS TOWNSEND BRADY TOLEDO, OHIO, SEPTEMBER, 1905. T MY LADY'S SLIPPER ': f % IV Y * fc 1 r- '4, * CHAPTER I r f. THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT WHAT had happened to me last night? 1 was not certain as to details, but I recalled the main facts with singular distinctness. I had lost every coin that I possessed. A hasty search of my pockets in the morning disclosed the absence even of that one Louis from which, on account of its markings, I had resolved never to part, save in the gravest i r / C y $ J F> *t A & i" ? 1 ^ V 4*Y }'' f %r %T ** .-^ *j* ? 0" 1 i V k^ 1 1 & ^ \ *' % & j? "i \ 1 j f '' 4 THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT a gentleman. True, it was generally the latter that fell to my play. Now I was sick of it all ! I hated wine and women and gaming. I wished, as never before, that I was on the deck of a stout ship again, with the new flag, the Stars and Stripes, fluttering from the gaff-end and the breath of the salt wind in my face. This and a tidy Eng- lishman of equal force under our lee. Gods! That was a man's work and a man's place. This drifting around from one gambling hell to another in Paris, with a crowd of royster- ers and worse this night 4 t a* # y ?T T . ^ r * % '^ & ^ ^rfT 7 . 7 ^*f C / # ?. %. ? 1 f'" 3 "\ ^y r Jl r A **$$ f T r J? r & $ Sj ,' JK 4 fe i '\ r Y J? y "xT ^y j? ' 'C* + V ^ A ' Y J* fr , ^ 1 C THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT ^ jL r \ $ Y ?-* AA after night at the tables bah, % V rl ,W I had had enough of it ! V ^ _ \ It was a life I had never fan- / 3 Iju ^' cied, and if Dr . Franklin had % / v % been at home I had never en- If H r *h rl fS tered upon it. After I escaped *fr a fe- - T % r ^' J Kf rj fr X^fc y *? 4 T J c &' T| 6 V %i' $ YJ 'i" 1 ' %I w ^3 *" ij i 5, y fc 'w . * / t, V' y 1 T i ^SS^y^ ^ - \ r - r| ' ^ T THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT With plenty of money, no oc- cupation, no ship, nor any pres- ent chance of getting one, no friends, and a reckless, adven- turous disposition, 1 fell in with a fast set, and this was the outcome. 1 could not find her either, al- though I swear 1 searched high and low and spent not a little of the proceeds of my highway robbery in trying to run her down. Well, there was no use in go- ing over all this. 1 got up from the couch on which I had thrown myself dressed as I was when I came in last night, staggered over to my dressing 6 T f ., r ' I fr ^ ' 3 > ^r IKSSr % ; ^. k* ^L If^ w $9 r 5 .A \ 1 * V Y* fv !;. f | . gf V -J C T * *HJt rl \ r^ YM V. J. & y T Y J5? v^ v & f *> ^ flrfc V.-j* ^ \--' ** V *>f p^ Sfis vU jS> i ' **- ' ' " '* ' ' ' "^ j i' THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT Jjf ff : & table, splashed my face with {frj '% * C- water and caught a glimpse of ^ $% 5| myself in the little mirror that It : "^ hung on the wall. Worn, hag- ; % i 4 e r gard, bloodshot, my own father r.fi * $ would scarce have known me. jf^e\ *& 1* 1 was ashamed, bitterly so. I rl' f* had never been a gambler or a / i \ 9 drinker, and I vowed that I % y fc V would never be either again. I ^ fv % 1 had played the fool once and IT 3 $* % T I did not propose to do it a sec- T ^ SP ond time at least not in the Jj* ^- ^M 1 same way. Yet these interest- *: * 1* ing resolutions were forced | ft $ into the background by the f r W demands of my present situa- If- / Ik" tion. "!' c * \ T' What was [ to do? Break- ^ *l C Y 7 '^ '7^ ^- & V T>. t & ? i K T tfe Ff T! fr r p i / IT* 3 ^ 5'

> ' ;/ a ,y X # *Vv ^ i J^ rff r. ffi Y ,'' Y i r V^ f 'tf f THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT fast ! I loathed the idea. Still, I must eat to live. I hadn't a cent with which to bless my- self. What was the date ? It was the tenth no, the eleventh of the month. Dr. Franklin would be back on the thir- teenth. Once I could get speech with him all would be well, but how was I to exist until then ? I sat down by the window and tried to think of some de- vice. God knows my situa- tion was critical, but 1 declare that I could only think of her ! Perhaps my inability to find her for she had vanished as completely as if the earth had 8 ' T r rl % V d I *J "31 /f ^ HJW T^ !> * r J jf : /? ^w % W ^V, * 5 X s r T> i T^ IT T A T Y Y& T (, $P ^y if )6 fe /$ : ,f 1 Vj * Tgp &* T V J IT \' tVi .0 (-5^^ d^. "S ' ^^ i* V THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT w ^ opened and swallowed her if i -4 Cf had made me reckless, care- +y> : *v A less, a willing prey to the : % / knaves who had brought me ^ \ '^ to this pass. I will admit, even ^ ! r TJ then, that I loved her. I closed % *J 1* my eyes and I could see her as r | T I saw her that evening outside V" of Paris. I could hear her ^ T &" % scream in the hands of those "/ - J ruffians. I went over the whole fe I > ^p C thing as I had done a thousand l f y - times. My rush at the villains! /' \ r # I was a pretty hand at cudgel- ; f Y J |T playing as well as a good rj * f" : T 1 1 : r >" r r : \r < i* < 1 1 rJ V T r r THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT like a felled bullock. I put my hand up and could feel a little partially healed scar along my cheek where the bullet of the one-eyed scoundrel cut a lock of hair and grazed me. He got a crack on his pistol arm which put him out of action. I could still see his face, convulsed with pain and rage, his one eye shooting fire at me as he re- treated before me. The third rascal was a coward, for he fled immediately. I shall never for- get the look on Mademoiselle's face when she thanked me ! They had torn her mask off when they had dragged her from her horse. I found it again 10 * ^^ r * r T THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT and also managed to catch her horse. Although I was dressed like a French peasant I think she realized that I was of gentle blood. She was surprised at the ease with which I mounted her on her horse. And then when I went back and picked up the slipper which she had lost in the fray and put it on her charming foot 1 marvelled, as I recalled it, that I had not kissed it then before I covered it with the slipper; it was small enough and dainty enough for any man's lips, that little foot, and I was never one to deny myself any simple pleasure that ii r X r r r t T r * V 1* THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT ^ '/ Y M did with the gold piece I had /Y :i\ yi forced upon her in exchange for % ,$' her own. She told me that I 4 'i y had not only saved her from % 3^ r assault but that I had done V : Y^>I 1 more ,1 had saved the honor of lr r , France, and that she would *l T some day prove her gratitude. / % Then fi~ 1 she galloped away from ; ^ ff VI me and left me standing star- v tf \f ing in the road like a fool, ff *H madly in love with her ! Aye , this evidenced my folly, \ I will admit, but as they say % *j f here, "What would you?" Y! (+ ^ She was the first lady I had / \ seen in three years of cruising, \ *s* M'and such a woman ! If you y l r & ihad seen her you would have 1 ~^* r j ; "f 13 r l' s 1 f. "'Sf-. -V- a- T 1 I 1 |t . 4' T _ .^ ''Ji ' / <$i T v; v Y *X : $ '?V, T ^ r C S| f' jl r *t r r L Y r| 'fr ^ r'^ ^ Y T % fr * i V ' ' r . t I THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT understood ! How I had searched for her ! Blue eyes, dark hair ; tall, exquisitely moulded, graceful figure ; a dainty hand to match that foot I had slippered this vague de- scription might have fitted any woman or a million, and she was one of that million. It was no use. I should never see her again, and if I saw her now, disgraced as I was, I must avoid her. So absorbed was I in these miserable musings that 1 hadn't heeded a tap at the door. "Ma foil "cried a rather shrill metallic voice as a man opened the door and stepped within. , 7 V V v'f * "*, THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT " My dear friend, I have rapped several times, and so I took the liberty ..." " Oh, come in by all means, Monsieur du Tremigon," I re- plied, rising and welcoming the newcomer, although with no great cordiality. He was the hatefulest of all the crowd with whom I had cast my lot since I had been in Paris, and I more than suspected it was to him that I had passed those little pieces of paper which began more and more definitely to impress themselves upon my recollection. "I suppose," I said, " that you have come to settle our 15 t \ rjt T!: f m '.' * w^ J * $ THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT accounts of last night, Mon- sieur ?" " There is no haste about that," he returned politely enough, "but since you insist, as well now as any other time." " I shall be honest with you, Marquis," I returned bluntly; "I'm afraid I shall have to ask your indulgence for a short time." He drew from his pocket a package of papers and laid them on the table. I took them up as I spoke, and although I am no great hand at figures, 1 saw that the total was appalling. My heart sank, but I flatter my 16 | I J T *} T r THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT self that I displayed as equable a demeanor as the man oppo- site me. It has always been my practice to put a bold face on everything. "Pray give yourself no un- easiness whatever about these little matters, " said the Marquis in his most genial manner and the more gentle and kindly he was, strange to say, the more I hated him! " Or rather," he continued, interrupting me as I began to speak, "I can show you a way to discharge them with little difficulty to yourself, and that immediately." 'Show me that way ! " I cried. I will avail myself of it at 17 r & * f V & y j& * r T ; f .. ' * THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT once. To tell you the truth, I am sick of the life I have led in this city." "I thought," said du Tremi- gon, smiling meaningly, "that you were scarcely suited for " "What do you mean?" I burst out, glad for the chance to vent my indignation upon some one. " Didn't I bear my- self like a gentleman ? " "Oh, quite so, entirely so. You misapprehend me, my dear Burnham," he protested. "Well, I dare say you are right," 1 replied carelessly, too troubled to press the quarrel further. "I am a sailor. The 18 1 < & ir. I. * r f THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT sea is my world. I am at home there or on my father's planta- tion in the Carolinas. But this is nothing to you. The point is, I am in your debt." "This ring, Monsieur/' said the Marquis, lifting his hand. " Do you know whose it is?" "Yours, I suppose, since you won it," 1 replied. " It was mine." " Pardon me, it was originally mine." "What!" "Mine." "Then you are -?" ' The gentleman en route to London of whose purse you 19 THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT kindly relieved him a few weeks ago." "Impossible !" I cried. "Impossible, but true, Mon- sieur. I recognized you when I met you last week at Varesi's" the name of a popular gam- bling resort "I wasn't quite sure, however. At least, I had no proof until last night. This ring? You remember taking it?" " Oh, perfectly," I said, coolly enough, now that the murder was out. "And this Louis?" He handed me that curiously marked coin. " A pocket piece I have had for I should know it i VI ^ THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT among a thousand," he added with provoking sangfroid. "You have established your case, Monsieur du Tre'mgon," I answered defiantly. "You understand, of course, that I am no common thief or highway- man. I am an American naval officer. Serving under Cun- ningham on a privateer, I was captured, thrown into prison, escaped. Being penniless in the enemy's country, I de- termined to take the purse of the first traveller who came along. I was told that you were an Englishman. When I discovered you were French, it was too late. I can only say 21 r i TJf r r &T 4 f . * ' THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT that I will give you another I. O. U. for all that I have de- spoiled you of, and so soon as 1 can communicate with America you shall have the money with interest." At this long speech the Mar- quis showed his white teeth in a grimace how 1 loathed him ! waving his hands as he did so. "As to that, we will discuss it presently. Meanwhile, what did you do with the papers you robbed me of in England?" "Tore them to pieces and scattered them in the first river I crossed." " Sacrtbleu! " cried the man, 22 * r Y fiflf f r ^Ftn r >t v * I! X Y V THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT touched on .the quick. "I could stand the loss of the money, but the loss of those papers well-nigh ruined me ! " " How so ? " "I was carrying some secret despatches to the British Gov- ernment, in spite of the war, and your blundering made me fail in my mission." " Blundering !" I cried, men- acingly. "Pray be calm, Monsieur/' he exclaimed ; " the word may have been ill-advised, but you will recognize that some con- sideration is due me." He looked meaningly at the little pile of notes. 1 followed 23 " .. ^ r rj r * f. 1 V f- **. T r THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT his glance, snatched up an- other piece of paper, scribbled a line on it, and added it to the heap. " That covers your pecuniary loss, including the ring," I said sullenly; "the other is past my mending." "Monsieur Burnham," said the Marquis, adroitly shifting the ground of his attack, as it were, "are you aware of the exceedingly difficult position into which you have got your- self?" "I should say I am ! Being absolutely without funds, I am forced to ask total strangers to accept my bare word that I 24 1 v 38 r THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT will discharge my obligations so soon as I hear from America. This, with the seas swarming with British ships, may be a matter of many months." Meantime "There is your Ambassador. He knows you, doubtless?" asked the Marquis with what I thought quite natural interest under the circumstances. " Dr. Franklin doesn't know me from Adam," I replied. "He's a Philadelphia Quaker, and I am from North Carolina. He has never seen me, nor I him. He knows my father and family, though. If there were any of our officers in the 25 cfy. V r T Vg I Y V A ''*. THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT city, if Commodore Jones or Dick Dale had only returned from the Texel, 1 should be all right, but as it is, I am com- pletely at your mercy." I hated to say that word, but there was no help for it. The Marquis bowed gracefully. "Your remark is singularly accurate, Monsieur. At my mercy ! " He opened his mouth and tapped his white teeth with two of his white fingers. I wanted to choke him. Why I could not say, for he had been considerate, and I owed him a lot of money. I had robbed him in England, and, 26 K * r T Y T . $ #+ T #; 1 ~ 1 SSeS3^*3fcSi/^p^!-^ 3M f * . T % 5 a X ^ * , f jfi^ fff K v tf p* ^ IT ' : fer^u 3 Jfj? \ JK ^ &'' ^W ^, ; t/-r Ai ^L *.'"'> \ Y T r * T| ^ r| f \ Ji\ rF f A | T \ *% ' <& i\ ^ , \ / ^%T | '*^^ *, ' - 1;l lSyi '- 1 % ^T* IS y V THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT r l r F k y X beside, it appeared that I had ^ r \ Y put him to serious inconven- * ff * oi ^ ience by destroying his papers. / ^ % r - " At my mercy," he repeated, ^ $ V V nodding. ^ ;'.' f "% * 3 "\ have admitted that fact," ? T ^ T>i - w " I said sharply . ' I do not see \ f- T that it. is necessary to remind / F me of it again." \ /; Twu i V V "Oh, pardon me. You Amer- v Vk. I icans are so iiiipeiuoub. ^uiu- ^L* <&> : vt f vate calmness, my friend s , / 7 T English phlegm, if you will. r 3^ ^ Tis a most valuable asset in v T / any game of hazard." ^w f r V s "That's as maybe, Marquis," I returned, wondering the I ;/ r rlv 3s while what he would be at, rl T |T \ w^ "but I play no more games T *?^1 ? r>: <$' C Y 27 1 is f T^ Sr .?' :1 Y "% "% J, f * T,T S.T : % *J ^-T $ \L f v V. .' y5 'V f ' V ^ % *"> v v **? j^i* f f f ' l ,i^' y^ i % ,*' % - T /-, 5^ "*?. * Tj* 5 '-\ *; tj Y iS & , % .^- %| : ^' 'CVs $ % Hifc j I-' i T # r/ u T l Y r Y. T y Y : r T ' : i^ ^^p , \ ?^^ "/ 1? 5 mmmi rr / ; ** % ^?= ^ ^ ttfe. f ^ Wk ' > > ^ * A vf r ^ . T *R r *f T Y - s ? y f* M Y & !'> rs^ ? /i \ m f i Rv ; 1 \ .? " SL % ^ : \ "/ vV r \ THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT '?' J Y 1 . j V with you or any man in Paris & \ *s> X 9 * \ .^ *$ fidence, that my large estates C n "/ rl / ^ 28 rj % 4y % rj *' * / ^ T J; rl W u >' ^k & ^^ K, J 1 > T %. 5? ^ 8L s .~J % V" fc \ c7. * Y 3 ? *Mr w ^ ^ V W *. V \ ^ ,jy ff % V TQ. U ii/l r : VT & vj ^ T J Y I & IS, rfjt" .^ V ^ ^ r / j 1 c r^! ^ '5 A ^Y J^J &.JM&* . I T fr fa r l w y : ; ^J r* g, THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT are greatly encumbered. I have a passion for play. I do not always enjoy the fortune I have had with you, and " he laughed as he spoke. " In short, 1 find myself in very straitened circumstances." " I suppose you want your money and want it quick ? " I burst out. " I can understand that easily enough, and I promise you " "There you go again, Mon- sieur, in your hasty American way," he interrupted, checking me with another gesture of his hands. " I want money, it is true. I was born wanting money, I have lived wanting 29 I * % v T 4 f T > r THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT money, and I suppose I shall die wanting money." "You won't have any use for it after that," I thought, but all I said was : " Proceed, Mon- sieur." "You are doubtless unaware, also, that Mademoiselle Gab- rielle de Rivau, Comtesse de Villars in her own right, grand- daughter of the Due de Rivau- Huet, is my cousin ? " he ques- tioned. " 1 have never heard of the young lady, but I recognize the honor in her relationship to you," I answered indiffer- ently, yet with meaning ap- parent enough, after all. 30 v Y >> r VU K T THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT The Marquis was not devoid of wit or understanding. His eye flashed at this evidence of the slight regard in which I held him, but he proceeded deliberately : " Quite so, Monsieur. Her grandfather is my grandfather also. She is one of the richest women in France. Our re- spective parents arranged a marriage between us when we were children. The carrying out of that contract depends entirely on three people, the young lady, the Due de Rivau- Huet and myself. It was stipu- lated that no constraint was to be used, and that, when she 3i t 5 xr & reached her twentieth year, she was to give her consent without pressure, freely and willingly. If she did so, and her grandfather interposed no objection, and I desired it, we were to be married. If not " he shrugged his shoulders once more "I lose." " Lose what?" "The lady and, incidentally, her fortune." I confessed to a very languid interest in the family history or the love affairs of the Marquis and the lady, but for politeness' sake I asked him another ques- tion. " Permit me, since you have 32 t T^ ^ \ Y f *TJ $ THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT broached the subject, does the lady consent or refuse ? " "She consents, but the Due refuses." "Ah!" " But I hope that his refusal is not irrevocable." " For your sake I trust so," I replied. " Yet I fail to see how this concerns me." "You shall learn directly. Mademoiselle de Villars is one of the Queen's maids of honor. She usually resides at the Court at Versailles. For this week, however, she is on leave of absence, I have learned, and is in residence at the Hotel de Rivau-Huet in Paris." 33 - y f r - y r , * fc - Y 4 * \ ' - if v THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT "Yes?" I said interroga- tively. I was beginning to feel some curiosity as to whither all this tended. " As I said, Monsieur, the Due seems insensible to the ad- vantage of an alliance with me, strange to say." No wonder, I thought, re- flecting that the Due must be a man of nice discern- ment ; but I took good care not to voice my thoughts. " I have decided to compel him to consent," went on the Marquis. "And Mademoiselle de Vil- lars?" I questioned suspi- ciously. 34 It ** r T r r I V \ X ' w * QV* ! *&' : s ? i 1 y i 1 V> " IY # y JS I (^ S rt v 1 4 a r %* , 1 \ .' 1 * % T f" * > Y ^ IT Y THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT "She also wishes it. I may say " he simpered disgustedly "she is more anxious than I." "Monsieur du Tre'migon," I said sternly, repressing with difficulty an inclination to kick him, "do you assure me of the truth of what you have said?" "Certainly." " On your word of honor as a gentleman ? " "As a gentleman and as a noble of France, Monsieur." I ought to have known he was lying, but I did not, and there seemed to be nothing for me to do but accept his state- ment, besides why should I 35 Y . T Y ' ' - '.Y r , r . r T T T % THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT not ? and what was the reason for my questioning him, any- way ? Yet I continued my in- terrogation why I could not explain. " How do you propose to get the Due's consent?" I asked. "There is a way to apply pressure to him, Monsieur, which will . . .let us say . . . induce his consent." "You wish to compromise her in her grandfather's eyes ? " I said, fathoming his meaning at last. "Exactly." " But with her consent . . . ' "Your intuition does you credit." 36 r > r r X tMr ' r r T r t T S^i f THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT "That's more than your in- tention does you," I burst out scornfully. te 1 can afford to indulge you in these little pleasantries, my friend," he returned, with an evil look, "because ..." "Why?" 1 cried. " Because 1 intend that you shall be my agent in the little process." "You are reckoning without your host, Monsieur," I said quickly. I was boiling with disgust and resentment. " But not without my servant, Monsieur," he retorted sharply. He could speak briefly and to the oointon occasion it seemed. 37 ^ r a -r r r Y r T V r * THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT "Servant?" 1 raged. "Yes. Do you realize that I have only to place these things" lifting the coin and ring " in the hands of the authorities and lay a charge against you to have you clapped into prison ? " " I have been in prison before and got out, Monsieur du Tremigon," I retorted defiantly, in spite of a certain un- easy feeling which I would not have discovered to him for worlds. "I can stand it again for the sake of a woman." "You will doubtless get out of the prison into which 1 shall 38 r * f f r r \ T f $ * v^ W5 r * V- ( \ THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT put you, Monsieur, but it will be to go to the hangman, or may- hap to the headsman if you can prove your gentle blood." "What!" "You forget that little trans- action in England. You are a highway robber ! I have evi- dence enough to convict you beyond doubt." "The French Government would never . . . ' "The French Government is angry enough over the loss of those papers, and the punish- ment for highway robbery is death," he sneered. "My God!" I cried. "Tis useless to appeal to 39 s * + % % , ^ \ WM . 1" *5 , aria . s ; =5^5B *i ^5; ^ -. V* A j't sw ft I \ f \ ,1 7 \ y T T 7t *# 5SV is^ y Y J$s i $ /^ fe * If w V Y ^s^ '/ s L * ^ Y JK e. ^ J ML

v r r *T " Rather do you fall back on v'^ I V M I . c* . d your mother-wit if you have V J\ :%:, ~ Vo . any to help you." 4^' * J 1 ' ^ "What do you wish me to V ' : ^j 5 do ? " I asked desperately. T>*^f r & i " Ah, now we hear reason. I *l : 1 : * though j ^ : %: / "Spare me your thoughts," I % 1^ ? ^ v interrupted," and give me your "/ ^ : %,+ '. Y i! plan." "'Tis very simple. We are I ri ? /?r ^ about the same height and / ... \ : ? build. We do not look un- r : lik e |T ir : ^f " You flatter me " if T ^ V-; ' Y % f Y rj- r / .' r J ^ * ^ ' r S-; f \ f' j '% * W 7 ^ : \ T 'v V T^ ? *ap % ^.: o Y ^S L* *^, % Cr T ^Hs 1 >"' '47 *J <' { Y 5 ^ f"" ^r T - f Y T - ippe t 16 lit r /f THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT can easily pass for me, espe- cially if you wear a familiar suit of my clothes. I will get you into the grounds of the Hotel deRivau-Huetbelow Mademoi- selle's apartment. The build- ing is vine-covered. Being a sailor, you can easily scale the wall and enter her cham- ber. You are to bring me thence some article of per- sonal wearing apparel say a slipper, or a ring, or " "Is that all?" "That's all." "Why don't you do it your- self?" I asked him. "It is hardly necessary to enter upon that, Monsieur." s v \t ' rl tfr THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT "If lam to do the thing," I replied hotly, seeing that he did not wish to tell me, "I must know everything." "Well, then," he admitted reluctantly enough, "the Due deRivau-Huet has threatened me with imprisonment if he catches me in his Hotel again." "And you wish me to take that risk ? " The Frenchman shrugged his shoulders. "1 am to do this at the peril of my life ? " I persisted with deep scorn at his cowardice. "It seems to me," said the Marquis, striving to sustain my unconcealed contempt equably, 42 r r ' ' THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT "that your life is forfeit if you don't do it, and ' "Enough!" I answered. "I am in your power. When I made the first serious mistake of taking you for a gentle- man I began my ruin. AH the rest follows logically. I'm sorry I didn't kill you in England. I suppose there's no help for it now. I must do the work. When do you wish this precious adventure undertaken ?" ' ' To-night. If you will come to my rooms, I will fit you out, give you the plan of the hotel and make all other ar- rangements." 43 r r YJf % ' > v T V r r *>* THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT "And those obligations of mine ?" "They shall be returned to you when you place what you secure from the room in my hands." "What assurance have I as to that ? " "The word of a gentleman." "In your case I prefer some- thing else." The Marquis flushed angrily. Why he controlled himself under all my insults I do not know, unless it was because he was so desperately anxious to carry out his plan and I was his only instrument. I was in his power, of course, but I was ? * I TV * , w 7 - v ! f ^ *% f* TXk !? \v\2>> f : ^v * fff TI- % I i fto ^fe. J*^* *^ j3? /^> |^| * T i ^Se - f $ b V i '4* i : \ ! T C7 i T rj IT f : \ r c THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT 4 % : ?? r determined to let him see that IY T, IS! : $ I did not fear him ; indeed, I 'H ?"v : if j am sure the man realized that ? % ; $ ? from my bearing. <} ? ; ^ 'KT "What do you propose ? " he $' ? r ^ V 3 r asked, with an evil look at me. % r . ^ "To go before a notary and "i * r draw up an agreement, leaving : f 3 r the papers in his hands, includ- 1 ^ T j^jl ing the ring and the coin, and */ ^ ' a signed statement, acquitting le " ^ * /^ ' x' '' T V me of all complication in the / f ^ v Vr robbery. These papers he is s* \ : ^T to give to me in the morning, "^ F *J !| t if I succeed. Furthermore, I ;6 V \ i ; won't go into the matter with- T/i I r^>' out the assistance of an old 1? / / r \\* sailor with whom I cruised." J' V r !l "Take as many assistants as f* T # i IS' y V \ i y , t 1 I n i A7- . ' H ^ : 1 % : f w " : T - Cr T/T : '*. T ' i | fey r^ c? \ Cr : ^: # i j$ i '% >^ 4 % : : *-V y. v i V '^ T : r^ T T Jl i : $ j T % : ^ Y ^ SG v>. Tjf Y fLr r / %; ' 1; r ^ : 5 ^ T : 1 : B^Sft^v to r ! ,5 r >J< * * 1^ ^; f.|l i * " V T THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT you please, Monsieur," said the Marquis, malevolently; "and now we will go to my apart- ments. Will you honor me ? " He rose and offered me his arm. " I have to do your dirty work," I replied, declining it, "and that obliges me to walk by your side, 1 suppose, but it doesn't compel me to take your arm, Monsieur." My soul revolted against carrying out my part of the plot, even though by so doing I was in a certain sense oblig- ing a lady. True, she might be and if his words were true, she was in love with 46 T f r r Y T 1 r * T \ 3 *T I r THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT du Tremigon, but I was sure she could not know him as I knew him. Besides, what were the love affairs of the Marquis and his cousin to me ? I had no personal interest in either of them. My only desire was to extricate myself from my sorry predicament. I was in the Marquis' power completely. The case was desperate, life and liberty depended upon my action. I must do what he said unless I freed myself by killing him out of hand. I had thought of challenging him, of course, but I knew that he would decline to fight me and hand me over to the police. 47 f $Y \ A THE SLIPPER IS SOUGHT There was no help for it ; in the hands of a knave even an honest man is helpless. All I had to do was to fetch him a slipper or some personal be- longing from her chamber. She herself desired it ; I took some comfort in that. Well, the long and short of it was that I resolved to do it. I had to ! And yet it was a mean, knavish thing to do, and 1 fully realized it. I loathed the task, but there was no help for it. a . f,; ? * *T CHAPTER II THE SLIPPER IS FOUND FROM some servant in the Due de Rivau-Huet's hotel, whom he had sub- orned, du Tre'migon had learned that the Comtesse de Villars was to be from home that night. He arranged to have me passed through the gate. After that I was to look out for myself. The Due's hotel, which was surrounded by am- ple grounds, was just outside the city walls. The Marquis V 5 T r K'r fln #T t v \ y^& \ CY THE SLIPPER IS FOUND told me that, dressed in his clothes and with a cloak he was accustomed to wear, I should very well pass for him, and that in all probability no one would molest me unless I fell in with Espiau, the Due's body-servant, or some of the upper officers of the household. He swore that the domestics were as well affected toward him as the lady, and as all the world loves a lover, they would be disposed rather to encourage than to hinder. Du Tre'migon, with singular parsimony, I thought, had des- ignated a rather shabby suit for my use. I insisted upon seeing 50 r * Y * T T?. THE SLIPPER IS FOUND his wardrobe and deliberately selected the handsomest gar- ments he possessed, choosing a color that well became my face and figure. He protested, but vainly, for I said that I must be dressed like a gentleman. He complained that I would prob- ably tear and certainly soil his court suit in climbing. I re- turned that if I carried out his enterprise and won him a rich wife he could well afford to lose a suit, whereas if I were caught and shot it would be some consolation to me to know that I was well dressed for dying, and there the matter terminated. I had my way, as I T T l * * \ Y THE SLIPPER IS FOUND usually do. He could make me do the thing he wanted, but I would stand no haggling over costs or hectoring as to details, I let him know pretty quickly. I also took a handsome sword from the rare collection of weapons which he had in his apartments. I may not be much of a card player, but I pride myself that 1 know a weapon, and I chose a blade that 1 could depend upon. I got two pistols for myself and two for worthy Master Buck- nail. Bucknall was an old ship- mate of mine. I knew I could rely upon him. We had fought side by side on several cruises, 52 r I ' f " T f*s ^ * f ^^ B> ^ * p i q v. *V^ T 6 r^ r^Vfll ftV " i > >!* iy Y W OT ^k fs Ijl ^K ^SR E." Z]R 'gC /JH K^v f jS& V .'F ^. ^ ?s ' fp,' vffl /Yk t& tf T T y T *J $? //\M 3wH /mY f % ^5* ^^ f ff fe ^ ? OT Jt % rf.' . T i/t ?>T /Ml 1 ! ^ $ / V * ^ " % * |r % 4 r i THE SLIPPER IS FOUND # \ /, ^ il 'k F and although he had not been r Tc ^ V t with me when I was captured, Th ^ & fe $ '4r s he had lately appeared in Paris # . 3 V ^ /' after a shipwreck in which he y y I \ * : ^ had been picked up by a French T& 4 # % a /> r I frigate. I found him penniless, Xr f ^ 3

r ' . Y H SP % I w s plained the whole situation to f 1L fl \ / the worthy seaman. "* J3T * / * Bucknall was to remain con- V Sv fc t y^3 cealed in the grounds beneath / 5 V \ \ ; s^ Mademoiselle's room while I H G M r V was within. I didn't care to *$ H' H * \ J be taken in the rear, and I knew \ rj H r / \ T 53 S r' %I ft 1 X \ f y 1 ? *-.*< v. .y/* $ fcy ^ \ s3 ^ F s i nlf f \ y k I T ? * ^ i > V T > M i i I/ k w sJ 1 vi V fe 'v & ^ S Y 1 ^. Yv ."V \&, \j tffl *Wl if $ ^m TV y V 4 ^ r y IJ ( ^L T ^F prO ^*^J >N f *j *& A Sr ^fo Sr"' ^H .$ faSAZZr |,r 5 f'l ?" T '',T r ff JXT ^ THE SLIPPER IS FOUND if an alarm were given, that the faithful boatswain's mate would keep a way of escape open for me as long as he could. To him I gave my own sword and the extra brace of pistols. I had studied a plan of the chateau which du Tre'migon gave me and I knew the lay of the land and the position of the chambers perfectly. A bath, a rest and a meal completed my preparations. No, I forget one thing. I knew that many a door that will not open to iron and steel is facile to a golden key, and 1 made du Tre'migon provide me with a rouleau of Louis. He did it with a very 54 r Y * fir 7 f r r ^% THE SLIPPER IS FOUND ill grace, it must be admitted. In the first place, he had none too many, and, in the second, I suppose, he thought he had laid out enough in the adven- ture. I insisted, however, giv- ing him in lieu thereof another signed paper to add to his already rather complete col-| lection. I saw the humor of it, if he did not. These matters and the visit to the notary, where I had things made se- cure from my point of view, filled the day. At eight o'clock, being thus well equipped, we sallied forth. Du Tre'migon had furnished us with a couple of horses. We 55 V T v*T * f ft' , V 1 THE SLIPPER IS FOUND had no difficulty passing the gates he had provided us with the password and finding the Due's mansion. The Marquis did not accompany us. He in- tended to give out that he had paid a visit to the Countess in her chamber, and in proof of it was to exhibit her slipper. The Countess being at the masked ball, where no one could recognize her for hours, no one could disprove his state- ment, especially as she, so he affirmed, would be only to glad to corroborate it. Of course, if anybody saw him elsewhere his plan would fail, so he was to lie close and await our return. 56 " T . ' r # f K ** THE SLIPPER IS FOUND When we came near the place 1 left the horses in care of an innkeeper to whom du Tre'mi- gon had recommended me. I gave instructions to have them ready for instant service at any hour. I expected that we would return for them before midnight. Then Bucknall and I walked boldly down the road toward the gate of the man- sion. Du Tre'migon had told us that his servant was one- eyed, so Bucknall was dis- guised by a patch over one eye, which gave him great incon- venience, by the way, and at which, sailor-like, the old sea dog growled mightily. 57 * \ r r T \ T/f S.1 ' , S r T f 7 . THE SLIPPER IS FOUND I drew the Marquis' cloak well up around my neck, pulled my hat down, and assumed as near as I could his mincing gait and manner. In the dark we might well pass for du Tremigon and his servant. The porter at the gate was evidently expecting us. At least, he made no diffi- culty about passing us through. Then we were left to shift for ourselves. The night was dark and chill. There were no dogs in the yard. The Due kept his hounds in the country. No one disturbed us as we made our way cau- tiously along the wall under the trees to the window of the 58 T fit 1 y f 1 t'f THE SLIPPER IS FOUND Countess' apartment in the second story. A few lights showed here and there through the different openings on this side of the house. Among them a faint illumination came from the window beneath which we stood. I looked up at it with interest. It seemed that no one could be in the room. The light was probably a single candle, left burning in case of need. This agreed with our information. Making sure that no one saw us, we crossed the grass and stopped under the window. The house was an old one. There were buttresses against 59 r/ T T SSjaiV?rT^^ J ^.' r THE SLIPPER IS FOUND the wall, and the one nearest the Countess' window was in a dilapidated condition. A vine ran all over this side of the building. I was always active and I had not dissipated in Paris long enough to have lost my nerve. I glanced upward. It would not be difficult. If the vine held and its stem was as thick as my wrist the ascent would be easy. Wrap- ping my cloak around me so as to protect du Tremigon's clothes as much as possible, and with a word of caution to Bucknall, whom I saw secreted comfortably in the black recess between the buttress and the 60 7 &r. ? ' * > &r THE SLIPPER IS FOUND wall, I quickly made my way up. So long as I had the as- sistance of the buttress it was nearly as easy as walking up a stair, as simple as climbing the battens on the side of a ship. The last fathom was more diffi- cult, but I managed it with a few scratches and with a mini- mum of noise. I had no foothold to give me an opportunity to peer into the room or see what was before me. Immediately I reached the sill, I threw my leg over it and stepped quietly within. I stood by the window listening. Neither from outside nor inside was there any sound. By the 61 . r r r2 - &*< f ' THE SLIPPER IS FOUND favor of Fortune, I had been unobserved so far. Satisfying myself on thispoint, I stepped back from the win- dow to avoid the line of light, so as not to be seen by any chance passer-by in the park, and looked about me. The room appeared to be a woman's sitting-room. There was an air of refinement, of grace and culture about it that made me sure. There were books on the table, pictures on the walls, a piece of some sort of needle- work thrown carelessly on a chair. Several doors opened from the room. According to the plan, that on the right 62 r '* THE SLIPPER IS FOUND should be the Countess' bou- doir, and beyond that should lie her bedchamber. I stepped softly across to this door. I listened. There was no one in the other room apparently. I turned the handle carefully and entered. Just beyond me was the door of the bedchamber. Repeating my performance, I walked over to it and listened before it also. No one was there. I opened the door and peered in. Like the others, this room was lighted by a single candle. Like the others, it was unoccupied. It was quite evident that du Tre'migon's informant was cor- 63 ^ , e T THE SLIPPER IS FOUND rect. The Countess was out. Her maid, who should have been on guard, had taken ad- vantage of her mistress' ab- sence to go off on a little jaunt of her own, I surmised. I closed the door of the bed- chamber softly and began a hasty examination of the boudoir. A dress lay across a chair. A magnificent costume, it seemed to me. A pair of shoes a ravishing pair of tiny shoes stood on the floor before the gown. These might do. But no, a brief examination showed me that they had not been worn ; they were entirely new. Du 64 ' r zi ** r r .,* % ft V * r t THE SLIPPER IS FOUND Tremigon had insisted upon something personal and famil- iar. I walked over to the dress- ing-table, which was covered with a mass of silver and porce- lain toiletcontrivances ; mirrors, brushes, jars, powder boxes, and other things I had never seen and knew not the use of, being unfamiliar with woman's gear, having neither mother nor sisters of my own. They bore the de Villars crest, but so did a number of things in du Tre' migon's own Hotel. None of them would answer. I remembered the room con- tained a closet. Nerving my- self further, I opened the near- f y* V Y v te r THE SLIPPER IS FOUND est door. On the floor, con- fronting me, lay a pair of small, worn, blue satin slippers with red heels. They were slightly shaped to the feet of their wearer from long usage. There were no other feet in the world that would fit those slippers, in all probability. They would serve admirably. I stooped and picked one up. A blue satin slipper, with a red heel ! There were thousands of such slippers in Paris doubtless, yet It could not be, I said to myself, as I thrilled to the touch of it. 66 y f .f H V s V f e^ i It, v y S-J '"SuT 4 T CHAPTER III THE SLIPPER IS RENOUNCED WITH the slipper still in my hand, I turned to find myself con- fronting a woman ! She was standing at the door leading to the antechamber. How long she had been there I knew not. Indeed, after the first start of surprise, I had room but for one thought. For, with a great leap of my heart, I had recognized her. The woman was she whom I had rescued 67 T T V & \ J T V I- . r '! A r THE SLIPPER IS RENOUNCED on the way to Paris, with whom I had fallen madly in love ! For whom I had sought high and low. Whom I had prayed that 1 might see again. She was looking at me com- posedly from under level brows. I observed that her hand was on the bell-cord. ''Monsieur," she said, with no appearance of alarm or anxi- ety and oh, how well I re- membered her voice " if you move, or make a sound, I pull the bell. My servants are within a moment's call. You will be overpowered immedi- ately." "Mademoiselle," I returned, 68 T r r * r r n \ yj T \ T?. V THE SLIPPER IS RENOUNCED bowing low to cover my dis- may and disguising my natural voice as well as I could, thank- ing the Lord the while that my French was perfect, and that in the dim light she did not recog- nize me apparently how could she in that guise and in such a situation ? 'M am at your ser- vice." "I wish," she continued gravely, "to talk with you. The situation amuses me." She spoke as she might in the presence of some newspectacle. Her manner assured me that her interest in me was entirely impersonal. She was tired and bored. This was a novel ex- 69 ^ 1 T THE SLIPPER IS RENOUNCED perience apparently which she wished to make the most of. Reluctantly I admit that I could think of nothing adequate to say I am usually rather quick at repartee, and have been thought to possess a ready tongue, but this situation com- pletely nonplussed me so I bowed more profoundly than before. " What is your name and what are you doing here ? " she continued. " My name, Mademoiselle, matters nothing." In my agi- tation I forgot my r61e for the moment, and spoke in my nat- ural voice. She started, then 70 r - 1? if THE SLIPPER IS RENOUNCED lifted the candle and looked keenly at me. "Why!" she exclaimed, in great surprise, "'tis my knight of the highway, the gallant sailor !" I do not know whether I was glad or sorry to hear her say those words. At first I thought to deny it, but somehow it was impossible. " You have discovered me, Mademoiselle," I said boldly, wondering where this would lead me." "Then you were masquer- ading as a common sailor. Now She paused and looked me '& p a r '1 Vi r l * THE SLIPPER IS RENOUNCED "Mademoiselle, for God's sake, think not so unkindly of me ! He threatened me with imprisonment for debt. That is nothing, a mere bagatelle. I could have borne that with- out hesitation. I have broke prison before." "Well, sir?" "There is more. When I escaped from the British prison- ship I was penniless ; alone in England. I halted the first traveller I met, thinking to despoil the enemy for my needs as an act of war. That traveller happened to be the Marquis du Tre'migon. I met him after- ward at at places where they 88 , ^T pp V . *n 7 V ^^^ C'sJ K* ("f ') ** & r"' v Tg 'j SM! ^' * & tt v^> r ,* : "^, { K '/; f 1^ '% if* ^>, J^ %'l : v^ 1 ffi : % It T$ -v r % *JJ? ? T y| : W r "K ^ ?e * 3i * r 'Av ' fe ^ i" Jk . \ : Y ? * ^ L^ % . ? C : 1 "1 i I ; w s& - V THE SLIPPER IS RENOUNCED $ ' \& y> play in Paris," I went on. i, . |X s ft "He won all my money, a V ^ .'V I y 'I y \ ring I had taken from him and ^ : : 3 i \ t$ a coin which bore certain ^' : # a V - markings. These things were ^f : : Mr : ^! v T V^ 2f proofs positive. He threatened V : i. to charge me with highway *!' IU* i ^Y E% robbery. The punishment is y Y$ i f death I pleaded with him, ^ : i/f : ^ Y* promising to repay him if he */':. K'' 1 would give me time. Our JT ; - y (' * v'J X. \ Y- minister is absent , Commodore 3 ' p : iv Paul Jones not in Paris. I was # :\ \ y desperate. 1 loved life, Made- ' Y : " : f f : Y^ d? %' moiselle, for it held you as a rl i ,p> "& f possibility." ^ : *xi \ f "But that you should come 7* / ; J5 Y ^* V* here, Monsieur ? How does Vj . h Y .T^ that- ?" 3, * : Y? s 89 ^. j.|, : '^' ^E- & : '^ : C" ' ji ^ . f'^ T ; W ^! * Y 5 ' T/v St -J if _? T ^*" '- ; * $g Jb" /;> 's r ^ ^ '^i ;i ,Z I! fti V Tr- u 'U V| JV > "^ r y^ ' V ^/, Vn, : ,^ . m 4 /fii iji Y ioT f! i' ;', T | S Y _ uj '^k i i Y.-: Y^ Y''. Y 'V T ' EO 'Vi. *l $' \fl? ? df"' :-^ _-a' :^rv r^ ^^i ft.' ! 3 f- *f- -' J -' ? tjf^ V ?/"' ^j J4 * : T r T & r w r. r / Sr THE SLIPPER IS RENOUNCED "Hear me, Mademoiselle. The Marquis du Tre'migon has informed me of the nature of the agreement re- garding your proposed mar- riage." " And what did Monsieur du Tre'migon say as to that ?" ' ' That by the terms of the contract three people must con- sent willingly before the mar- riage can take place." "Three, Monsieur?" " He so informed me, Made- moiselle." " And those are ?" "Yourself, the Due, your grandfather, and himself," Her lip curled. 90 $ $.* ^fi j* & ' U \ t& I r \ *% i /r T -v r ; F F 7 * r | r THE SLIPPER IS RENOUNCED "But if she love him ?" I urged. " Monsieur," she said hotly, " she hates him !" v\ r .4 I IY . ^\ f T THE SLIPPER IS RESTORED "Who is there?" "I, your grandfather," was the answer. "Enter, Monsieur." "The door is locked." How I blessed that lock ! So, I doubt not, did Mademoi- selle. I heard her go slowly into the antechamber, where she seemed to be fumbling at the lock a few moments before she opened the door. Then I heard two people enter. "Wait, Messieurs!" cried Mademoiselle as she caught sight of the second visitor, " I was preparing to retire." With marvelous quickness, as I 104 v r/? T .1 f \ t THE SLIPPER IS RESTORED afterward learned, she had taken off her bodice, with what tearing of laces and hooks you can readily guess, after I had entered the chamber, and was now bare as to neck and arms before her grandfather. She hastily slipped on a loose dressing-robe and once more turned to him. " Tis only my good spiau, Mademoiselle," said the Due quickly. " 1 am very glad indeed," said Mademoiselle, with a gay little laugh, which bespoke her power of self vellously well ing beautifully in my listen- 105 control mar- besides ring- f -r ''-.Y *r ^ JJ3 r T r f 1 ,1 / " / 1, THE SLIPPER IS RESTORED ing ear, ''for you caught me quite unaware." " \ thought," continued the old Due as he entered the boudoir, "that I heard voices." He looked around suspiciously. "You did, Monsieur," an- swered the Countess. Was I mistaken, or was there a tremble in her voice ? Her situation was grave. Did the Due discover me, he would kill me out of hand, unless I in- flicted a like penalty upon him, which, under the circum- stances, never entered my mind. " Great Heavens !" thought 1, "are you about to betray me?" 106 Y - * r T ' THE SLIPPER IS RESTORED "Whose?" went on the old man again. "Mine, sir ; I was singing." She began again that little song, the words of which I recall so well and even, the music of which I shall never forget, although I am no great hand at carrying a tune. A song is one of the few things I can't master, by the way. "Humph !" said the old man. "You did not go to the masked ball?" "No, Monsieur, I was tired. I had been reading in the li- brary and have but recently come here." 107 TV T * % r| r * ^ $ T| ' THE SLIPPER IS RESTORED 'There was no one in the anteroom when you entered ?" "No one, sir." " Have you been in the room beyond since you came up ?" "Not yet," " "Espiau!" " Monsieur le Due!" " Examine yonder chamber. It may be some thief has con- cealed himself there." The Due turned his head away to survey the room and Mademoiselle shot one glance, pregnant with agony and en- treaty, at the old servant. He had been as a father to her from childhood indeed, he had been her father's foster-brother. 108 " T -rl ^SS^S^sS -* 3? *yj * f THE SLIPPER IS RESTORED "Very well, Monsieur le Due," answered the servant. I heard him crossing the room. What should 1 do? There was no place of concealment. The window happened to be barred, else I should have thrown myself from it. Should I fall upon him and run my sword through him ? I drew the weapon, without making a sound, and waited. The door opened slowly and only partially. Espiau saw me at once. He put his finger to his lips and closed his eyes. "1 see no one, Monsieur le Due/' he said, turning his head. 109 f T r v f THE SLIPPER IS RESTORED " Examine thoroughly," re- turned the old man. spiau thereupon stepped into the room, looked under the bed, shook the curtains, making a deal of noise as he moved about, and managing to say to me softly : ''Silence, as you value your life !" Presently he returned to the others. I breathed a long sigh of relief. I remember wiping the sweat from my brow. " Monsieur le Due was doubt- less mistaken," said the old man quietly. "Yes," said the Due, "I'm glad of it. Times are in such no r r ' ' ff &i* V r% <* r THE SLIPPER IS RESTORED disorder. There are many masterless men about, and your apartment is easy of ac- cess from the garden. I must change it, Countess." "At your pleasure, grand- father," said Mademoiselle, and then she actually began to sing that little love song a third time. The courage of that girl was superb ! It made me love her more madly than be- fore, if that were possible. Being a fearless man myself, I was naturally attracted by such qualities in a woman. She was the mate above all others for me, and I determined she should be mine, if wit, assur- iii ft,; Y ' T tf & J r^ ' * f \ f 7 THE SLIPPER IS RESTORED ance and a bold heart could bring it about. "I am glad to find you here," said the Due, "for I have brought you some papers which require your sig- nature. I intended to leave them until morning, but unless you feel inclined to retire "No, Monsieur, 1 never felt so wide awake in my life," answered Mademoiselle. "Good! 1 1 will leave them with you. Espiau will explain them to you, and we can finish the discussion in the morning. I am tired and feel the need of rest. Good night." "Good night, grandfather," 112 &T ''. Y THE SLIPPER IS RESTORED said Mademoiselle ; " may you rest well." "Good night, my child," said the old man, relaxing for the moment the formality of his address as he took her hand, drew her toward him, pressed a kiss upon her fore- head, bowed to her as to a queen and walked away. The two left within the boudoir moved not until the echo of the Due's footsteps died away in the distance of the corridor. " Mademoiselle," at last began fispiau in a voice in which sorrow and affection strove for the mastery. H3 r k$ V : 7 r \ r ; ; ' r a 1 K ..<.' S F : %*< I * V* THE SLIPPER IS RESTORED "Judge me not," said Made- moiselle quickly. "Who is that man?" I thought now it was time for me to make my entrance. I opened the door, therefore, and presented myself. "My name is Francis Burn- ham, my good fellow. I am an officer in the American Navy." " How came you here and what would you do ?" "That scoundrel duTrmigon sent him here to compromise me," the Countess inter- posed. " The dastard !" exclaimed the servant. 114 ' T . T ' " : t f r f r w i ; > < ; 1 i M ^5 ^i Cj IT !^T & % ^ : ^& r V,' ^'; ^ mi i J# V r J , ; i?. IT s \l 'C 1 flV Y$ Y |f"g v * . jj v -> /t V Sr IK\ \ ^ sf? ^i i J ^ : **>' M \ r\ 55 THE SLIPPER IS RESTORED Y '; ' ' A" I |Y f \ " But Monsieur did not think v' : Y% ^ IY it was I, continued Made- L%'j :j& ^ '^ moisel e, who looked even more T 1 ^A % ^ beautiful in the negligee she 5^ i ,^ y i'* had assumed which gave me Y 75 ;% r /^' delicious glimpses of neck and ! "J<* * ' f 1 * 1 r T ' z$t\ , fi \f iv . TV- * * * r Y * -i THE SLIPPER IS RESTORED "My friend," I interrupted, "what Mademoiselle said is absolutely true, and I believed, furthermore, that 1 was doing her a service." "I need not your assurance for that, Monsieur," said the old man proudly ; "the noble house of de Rivau does not lie." "I wish the same might be said of the house of du Tre'migon," I retorted lightly; " but be that as it may, I am not anxious to forfeit any man's good-will." " Not even that of a servant, Monsieur?" he interrupted. "Not even that. It was a 116 It M : T Y * r w ? - 1 &* : 1 & " *$ - T^^^^^Tir^^^^ "*r d ^r^ 4' ^ 1 ? ^ "rf 1 * . ^T* 1? i\ \ 5 T \ y * S %" : I * i :*I\ ^ THE SLIPPER IS RESTORED r l / 6; 1 ij i$ case of life or death for me. I / v j : : *li \f am in du Trmigon's power. 5 i*Y f, i ^ r Not knowing that it was Made- ^ %, : \ it w moiselle for I did not learn ?' 4? ^ i y Y until this evening that she was 3? ? /< r ^ the Comtesse de Villars I ?" i r 1* came. I am sorry. I am go- "1 T \ ing back to give myself up to y T| i \ C the Marquis. You may guess 1 4 cf r what that will mean.' He v^ %T if >\ shrugged his shoulders. (< Be- %d "1 \ ; 3$ V Cr fore I go, allow me to express I |T {> % my gratitude for your forbear- fl \: : ^ ance. You have saved my life. ^ ?l: |T The Due would have killed T| t lit : % me, for [ should have made no ^ 51 i .^" resistance." %:- tt 17 " It was death for me to see Y J \ :-. T : 5 you there to suspectbut T| r$j /p * if* r i" 1 , ^. /<> |^ $' ' : V / : T> g ] \y * /I Ir ^ 5^ 1 Y% ' j '*v- ^' kf 8 9 ? ^ tff IT >* 1 J ^ ' ?* *% ;" ^ IT T^ C T y^'l V 1 1 " Qf : ^ fr ^> ^' " ^J 1 % !/ ; " r /'-' iT T \ 'iv A JT*i? I | 1 pl.TJ j j r f vx 1 i* s T?, T THE SLIPPER IS RESTORED Mademoiselle will forgive me " said the old man. " There is no need, my good fispiau," said Mademoiselle, extending her hand. The worthy servitor kissed it like a gentleman. Indeed, I dare say, compared to du Tremigon, and others I had met in Paris, he was as fine a gentleman as any of them. " 1 should like to shake you by the hand," I said. " Monsieur honors me," said Espiau. 1 didn't know whether there was sarcasm in his voice or not, but we shook hands vigorously. 118 T '* u* r| l - 1- r *" Cr *. THE SLIPPER IS RESTORED " Mademoiselle/' 1 continued, turning to her, "there is but one thing for me to do." " What is that ?" "To wish you farewell and to go as 1 came." "Wait," said Mademoiselle, her hand on her breast. " I have something to say to you. " "At your service, Mademoi- selle." " Espiau, can you trust me further ?" "In everything, Mademoi- selle," said the old man. He was a well-trained fellow, with as much tact as discretion. He bowed to me, and I swear I couldn't help it, I returned his 119 ~& '% & .* \ * y i y V *. V * p if * "fe r **i * r \ ? 1 V f V T ; * T^ " f t* X H F I ^ t$ " ^ * I T **j? 1 3 *R / t- I Y C* THE SLIPPER IS RESTORED r j? ff w 7 ' 1 bow as if he had been an equal, ' A <* and he marched out of the "% $ '/ room as stately as a grena- ? \ ^% |? dier. 5 ,? !$ V " Is there no way," began */ ^ '^ Mademoiselle hastily, "for you % * f to escape du Tremigon ?" . qS^ Cr $ \> "None." ^ y. + F " I have money." 1^ ^" yp V? v "Mademoiselle,"! cried, "I V ! V Cr ^ shall take nothing from this ^'Y ~-7 % J5^ M room but the recollection of ^ / / ? r \ your kindness, the conscious- y s ^ ^ * ness of your worth, the sense 'Y w \tf 5? of your beauty." T r v yi& " But you will be imprisoned!" fyj \ w is "I have had this hour of ''& 2 f V freedom. The rest is nothing. " ) vOf \* % "They will put you to death." f y rl K 1 20 % c # a!" rJ '^ T >s s. "i /.;' w J Ta /r "f ^ $ iftf TVgS 1 S V 4 \ f L Y V /f % t / \ Txl 1 % left' ^^ T^ S & KJ*" Y 2 &J F I y. ii r V ri 1* K 'I' fv V % A fr ii. (j5 &. HA\ ffi *s '/ I** ^F

have allowed me to kiss her. V T ^ % Y | to hold her in my arms ; above c T *p all, never would she have given *l VI % i * 125 * ;v i 5 T~ 4 ! i IT- ity : r ?-? \> * 7 ; | r T i T IjT Ti' ";* m\ ''* T-C' r i rj & j ' :/ . - r r ',; i rr7 ^ ^r T i :! \.t ' T| yf 1- T T^ : : '.; T % r ! ' 3 Y %* i^ ' T IIKj T * ^ , T? .; f tf? ' A H I % THE SLIPPER IS RETURNfcD me that little slipper, against which my heart throbbed so madly, if she had been indiffer- ent to me. If she had not loved me as I loved her. Did I intend to give it to du Tremi- gon ? Never ! I should let him do his worst. Something would happen. I should get out of it in some way. When we reached the inn we found our horses ready. After we were safely mounted old Bucknall broke the silence. " Did ye git it, yer honor?" asked the old sailor. "Get it, Bucknall? Do you remember my telling you of the lady whom I saved from 126 T 7 Y T J f ** T * r *> * s THE SLIPPER IS RETURNED highwaymen on the road to Paris ?" I had to tell someone. It would have killed me not to have been able to confide in a soul, and the boatswain's mate was faithful and devoted be- yond the ordinary, I very well knew. " I remembers it well, sir." "She was the lady in the house yonder." "You don't say so, sir!" " I love her, Bucknall !" "Then ye didn't git it ?" per- sisted the old salt, coolly. "Get it? Of course, I got it." I replied. "It's in my waistcoat, over my heart." 127 V r $n * THE SLIPPER IS RETURNED give it to the "You'll Markis ?" "Never! I'll keep it until the day of my death." "That's likely to be pretty soon, your honor, if what ye say is true." "1 can't help that. I wouldn't give it to that lying hound to purchase my life. When I die I wish it buried with me." And then I told him squarely what a scoundrel the Marquis was and how he had befooled me about Mademoiselle's de- sires. " Wot are ye goin' to do, ef I might ax yer honor ?" I'm going to du Tremigon 128 , T ft* r t T THE SLIPPER IS RETURNED and tell him I refuse to do his bidding and let him do his worst." "Wot'llhe do?" " Clap me into prison, I sup- pose." " Hadn't we better cut an' run fer it right now ?" I can't. He has my word of honor that I would report the success or failure of my mis- sion." "I guess he ain't troublin' hisself about honor, is he ?" " 1 suppose not." II W'y should you, sir ?" "That's the disadvantage a gentleman labors under in dealing with a scoundrel." r r # * f $ 3 F T THE SLIPPER IS RETURNED " I see. Hev ye thought that ye'll be sarched by the police an' " "By Jove!" I interrupted. "That's so." " An' wot ye've got'll be tuk from ye ?" This was a new complication. I had no doubt in that case that the slipper would eventu- ally fall into the hands of du Tremigon and my sacrifice would avail nothing. What was to be done ? I could think of nothing. I had no friends in Paris in whom I could trust save this humble sailor. Unless I gave the slipper to him I should have to throw it v T Y f r THE SLIPPER IS RETURNED away. In truth I should never have taken it. It was a mad impulse that possessed the Countess to give it to me, a madder that prompted me to receive it. Yet who that loved as I, could refuse such a token. "Bucknall," I said at last, "you are right. I cannot keep this slipper." "That's true, sir." "There is no one that I know in Paris to whom I can intrust it but you." " I guess not, yer honor." " Here it is," I said. I am not ashamed to say that I kissed it before I gave it to the sailor. It was dark and he could not y 6 f & Y r * THE SLIPPER IS RETURNED see, but if it had been broad daylight I should not have cared. "Wot am I to do with it, sir?" " I want you to do it up care- fully in a package. Put the best wrapping about it you can manage and tie it up shipshape. Leave it at the American min- ister's for Dr. Franklin when he comes back, which should be to-morrow or next day. You can get someone there to address it to my father's plan- tation." I gave him the address and made him repeat it many times until he had it letter- perfect. 132 Y X YJ * 5 > r \ *'>* ' : 'Now," 1 said, "you must leave me and shift for yourself. Here" -I reached my hand in my pocket and took out the money that du Tremigon had given me. I might as well be hung for an old sheep as a lamb, 1 reasoned, and I passed it all over to the faithful sailor. "You speak passable French," I continued he had picked up enough of the Lingua Franca of the Mediterranean on different cruises to make himself under- stood "keep yourself- close until you see the American minister. Tell him of my plight and perhaps he may be able to do something. At any THE SLIPPER IS RETURNED rate, see that he forwards the package. You need not say what's in it." " What about my hoss, sir ?" "Give me the rein." "AnM thanks God toget off n him," returned Bucknall, slid- ing to the ground with great alacrity. "And, harkee, Master Burnham, ye ain't seen the last of me yet, sir. I've got a few idees in my ol' head, sir, an' don't you git ready for death too suddint like, yer honor." He turned in the darkness and was gone in an instant. A short time brought me to du Tremigon's house. He was waiting for me, wellnigh con- 134 T * * r J / ft i * "T^esii^slsiis&^: T^Fn f $' M THE SLIPPER IS RETURNED sumed with anxiety and curi- osity. I do not care to go into the details of our interview that night. Suffice it to say, I felt entirely free to express my opinion of him and that I did so without let or hindrance. Of course, he carried out his part of the program, and at day- break I found myself in prison facing charges of highway robbery and debts amounting to many thousand francs. But I was happy. I had as- surance of the love of Made- moiselle and I didn't care a rap for anything else. I felt that somehow, in some way, 1 should manage to get out. I rj? T / H rj &si * THE SLIPPER IS RETURNED was the most cheerful prisoner under such a heavy indictment that ever occupied a cell. Confinement, I will admit, was a little wearing upon me. The first day passed, and then a second, without a sign from anybody, and I was greatly re- lieved to learn that my exami- nation had been set for the morrow. The turnkey who brought me my supper and gave me this welcome news also slipped me a note. I was hungry enough for the prison fare was scanty but the note claimed my attention. It was in a woman's hand, of course, and could only come from her, 136 * T T s *d fr r ' " e fr . t THE SLIPPER IS RETURNED although it bore no crest and was not signed. This is what it said : The turnkey and the under-governor of the jail are bribed. To-night, after supper, you will be removed to an- other cell. This overlooks the street. The bars of the window have been arranged that they will come out at a touch. When the clock in the nearby church strikes twelve, a messenger and a horse will await you in the alley. The note stopped there, and then a few words had been added apparently as an after- thought : These presents from one who cares much what happens to you. If you had been in a like situ- 137 V ifi.T b r T T v THE SLIPPER IS RETURNED ation you can guess what happened when 1 finished read- ing it. When I was calmer I put the note carefully in my breast pocket and fell to my supper. I knew that I should need all my strength, and I was of a practical turn of mind even in the midst of my most romantic dreams. I had scarcely finished the poor pro- vender when the turnkey re- entered. He was followed by a couple of other officials. The turnkey in a harsh manner, as if to impress the others, although he winked knowingly at me, said : " By the order of the com- 08 v * " V T ir ^ T f J v r THE SLIPPER IS RETURNED mandant you are to be trans- ferred to another cell." "I do not wish to be trans- ferred," I exclaimed hotly, to keep up the deception ; "this cell suits me very well, and I am satisfied to remain here." "Your wishes are not con- sulted in this matter," he re- turned roughly. "You villain!"! cried, men- acing him. " Have a care, Monsieur," he threatened. "If you don't go peaceably we'll have to take you by force. Here, men !" His two assistants stepped forward. I concluded that I had done enough, so grumbling 139 n V ag^p <5 T r ':': * g>l Y , v\ 5 y THE SLIPPER IS RETURNED mightily, and giving evidence of my displeasure, I suffered them to lead me to the other cell, where I was soon locked in for the night. With what impatience I waited for the ap- pointed hour ! At the first stroke of the bell I was at the window, which, of course, I had previously ex- amined. The bars came out in my hand. Some one had chiselled out the mortar and re- placed it with putty. I gained the sill, scrambled through and dropped to the ground below the window. It was a long fall, but I alighted safely upon a truss of hay, which had evi- 140 * * T \*x r THE SLIPPER IS RETURNED dently been thrown at the foot of the wall to receive me. I got to my feet and looked about. A man approached me. He had a weapon. I was without arms, and although I stood ready to spring, I had no doubt he was a messenger. "Monsieur Burnham ?" he asked. "The same." "Come with me." I followed him down the narrow street on tiptoe. So far as I could see it was entirely deserted. The street opened upon a little park or square. Under the trees I made out horses. There were three of 141 - -'r f / f m ';. f r & '. r fr !FS T THE SLIPPER IS RETURNED them. A figure sat upon one. My heart leaped into my mouth as I discerned it to be a woman. However, I was allowed ab- solutely no time for greetings. One of the horses was turned over to me. My conductor took the third, first handing me a hat and cloak. Then he mounted his own hack and, indicating that we should fol- low, made his way rapidly into the adjoining street. On ac- count of the lateness of the hour, and the fact that the jail was in a remote and unfre- quented portion of the town, the street was dark and empty. We passed a swinging lantern 142 It T *J; r v v * * X THE SLIPPER IS RETURNED presently and its flickering rays fell upon the woman who had persistently avoided con- versation with me. Even under this faint light, although she wore a mask and was shrouded in a cloak, 1 knew * that it was the Countess. Nothing could stop me then. I swung my horse in toward hers and laid my hand on her arm as we cantered along the deserted street. "Mademoiselle," I said, "it is to you that I owe my free- dom." "Not yet," she replied, but she did not shake offmy hand, and we rode side by side, the tfTSTni A * . * A " THE SLIPPER IS RETURNED horses going at a good pace. "First, you gave me some- thing to live for " I said. "That was?" "Yourself. Now you give me life to enjoy you." " Monsieur," she said, dodg- ing the issue, "we have but little time to converse. I learned of your plight " How, Mademoiselle ?" " From your servant, an ancient sailor. He followed you, discovered where you were imprisoned, and immedi- ately sought me." "How did he get access to you ?" 144 ^-.f 1' \ r r r fc ST a THE SLIPPER IS RETURNED "He had a^talisman, Mon- sieur," she answered after a moment of hesitation, "that nsured him an immediate nearing. " I was completely puzzled, but now Mademoiselle gave me no time for reflection. She went on hurriedly, as if to stop further questioning : "I bribed the commandant and turnkey. 1 provided these horses. The man ahead of us ' Espiau !" 1 exclaimed. 1 Yes. He will conduct you out of France." 'And you came, Mademoi- selle ?" 'To say farewell." 145 r/ J i* * THE SLIPPER IS RETURNED "Never!" I cried. "I will leave France, Mademoiselle, but not alone." "You mean?" " I take you with me." 1 Impossible !" " But do you not love me ?" She was silent. " Would you have done all this for me if you had not ?" I persisted. " Gratitude, Monsieur, for services rendered, and " "Nonsense!" I said, laugh- ing, " you know that you care. Why, I have lived in the prison upon the memory of that - " You are cruel, Monsieur." "Is it cruel for a man who loves a woman to take the 146 3$ c US Is i T ^ V I THE SLIPPER IS RETURNED woman, if she loves him, away with him?" I was young and reckless. I didn't care what happened. I urged my horse closer to hers and slipped my arm around her. She struggled, but not very hard, and despite her endeavors I kissed her. Then she gave up, for her head sank on my shoulder. "Don't!" she whispered. " You are so strong. 1 cannot let you go- That was a wise pair of horses, for they stopped while I poured out my soul to her there and then. What her answer might have been I know not. Yet I 147 r '%! T $' U T T rj IT rl - TV THE SLIPPER IS RETURNED solemnly vow that I was quite prepared to take her away by force when we were suddenly alarmed by Espiau. He had most discreetly ridden ahead a few paces ; now he came back at a gallop. "Soldiers!" he exclaimed hurriedly. " The King's Guard ! We must flee !" "Monsieur," said Made- moiselle, quickly releasing her- self and thrusting a little parcel into my hand, "here is that talisman. Go! unless YOU wish to disgrace me. Espiau and I will remain here." She had right on her side. For her sake we must not be 148 f THE SLIPPER IS RETURNED found together. To assist in the escape of a prisoner charged with a capital offence, was a serious matter. 1 swerved my horse and started away. But I had not gone ten paces before a heavy hand seized the bridle and a stern voice bade me stand in the King's name. Lights appeared on the instant and I saw that I was surrounded. I cast one glance backward toward Mademoiselle and Espiau. They, too, had been arrested. It was a trap ! The whole party had been taken. Back of the men who had stopped me I noticed a single horseman staring hard at me. 149 it , r i f % rl * */ * - Eh THE SLIPPER IS RETURNED " Have you got him ?" he asked as he drew nearer. "Yes, Monsieur le Due." I recognized his voice. It was Mademoiselle's grandfather, and this was my most un- promising introduction to him ! "Take him to my house," said the old man shortly. The next moment du Tremi- gon spurred through the throng. It was he who, with the remainder of the King's Guard, had apprehended Mademoiselle and Espiau. He shot one venomous glance at me, in which triumph was mingled with hate, and ap- proached the Due, whispering 150 ? ^ 1 T " tf ** 1 r ^-;^ Pf \ ^Sf\ %fd :t?^ :|i j^ii V f % Y I* / V 1 f r f l\i v THE SLIPPER IS RETURNED r/r r :| II? i \ a few words. I saw the old IT : ' :%: :'^: ^ ~ man start violently ; a look of VI ||; i ^ anger and dismay crossed his F i i ^ ^ face the Marquis spoke ear- S : : ,- ^ I* i T^ : t' ^* , ": P . '% ^ '^ : /r : 1 I 14: T : wl r-'. I vi J T T : ! i T A' 1 r T T p^ r 4 T T THE SLIPPER IS RETURNED "And not to the Due's house ?" "An oubliette will doubtless be safer and more comfortable quarters for Monsieur," said the captain politely, giving the order to march. Fortune had been both kind and unkind to me once more. Yet on the whole I judged, as I lay in the darkness of the damp, wretched dungeon, from which no escape seemed pos- sible, that the balance was on the side of kindness. I had enjoyed a breath of fresh air. I had been vouchsafed further evidence that the woman I 152 r ' ' ' r Yj T A >> s r < . T ^ >"^Y3 s> . V VC^ ? A > v* 1 - , T r * y ^ w T r J : .'. : r6 T"|^ . / r >A V *-*v f XT '% ^ f i - ' _ T A ^-. r ^ |r VJ!, w V \ ^/ IN B ^ ! K THE SLIPPER IS RETURNED W "1 ' $ count, that is. I was filled (F fs? ^ r Yyl I rj f tf with anxiety as to what would 5 '. v fe. larly vicious-looking man with IP 4; i v|: 1 one eye. The light was not r^ ? : ^ ' clear and I was not able to see \ : \i ^ distinctly. Yet I recognized ^ Y y^i 1 r him. Where I had met him, r V\ rj under what circumstances, I \ : ? f \ : * r could not at first decide, but in r JyJ \ \ r t the darkness of that dungeon ^* 1 T* Wjf ^ r ; % % ^ T it all came back to me. He T y 1 : T : ^ 154 r SY /': V' r s V'i ^ !* 3 / T rj ^ - ; y .1 jf $ P ^) 4* tV ^& t r T '$ 1 f\ V' f *^*r % tip ^ T> V 1 { V *!: ^ aF %r Y *4 M y - ^ *f fa tttf r E Y^ JF % & f ^ & fc itl #' ^T T o* T J^ at* y^W I/I cc ^. : ^ ' '"T * THE SLIPPER AT COURT who had spoken to me first, evidently one of the great ladies of the Court. "Your Majesty," I replied, finding my wits at last, " 1 knelt as every gentleman should, to the queen of his heart, and when she stepped aside and revealed to me the queen of all hearts, I was so overcome as to be unable to rise." "Perhaps, Monsieur, you have sufficiently recovered now to approach more nearly the throne," she said, obviously pleased at my compliment. She extended her hand to me. I got to my feet, knelt again 164 ' * Y Y t ; T r r ? T r THE SLIPPER AT COURT before her and kissed it. Queens are always beautiful, and it was a great privilege to be permitted, but 1 swear I would rather have kissed Mademoiselle's hand at any hour. However, I reflected that the honor of America was in a measure committed to me, and I think I bore myself worthily. "Rise, Monsieur," said the Queen graciously ; "the Com- tesse de Villars I suppose it is bad manners to look at one woman when an- other woman is speaking to you, especially if that other woman be of royal blood, but 165 * f %r f /-, rj? V , T t rj T R i r * THE SLIPPER AT COURT I could not help turning my head at her words. There stood Mademoiselle more beautiful than ever. In- deed, I have observed that she always looks the better the more beautiful the background against which she is seen; and Marie Antoinette might be Queen of France, but in my eyes she was only a back- ground to Mademoiselle that morning or any other morn- ing for that matter ! " Mademoiselle de Villars tells me that you have rendered me a great service." "If to love Mademoiselle de Villars," I began, " with all my 1 66 * F * % r - * & T ' r I f f T T THE SLIPPER AT COURT Marquis du Trmigon's fol- lowing last night, Your Majesty." "I know whom he means, Madame; I saw him, too," said Mademoiselle. "I heard Monsieur duTr^migon call him Babin. Strange to say, I did not recognize him before." "That agrees perfectly with my recollection, Madame," 1 asserted confidently. "I re- member that the man who ran away that day on the road called him by that name." "And you think the Marquis du Tremigon wanted these papers ?" continued the Queen, am sure of it, Madame." 170 " * * &* I r THE SLIPPER AT COURT " But why ?" "Your Majesty knows that he is a suitor for the hand of Mademoiselle de Villars. He hoped doubtless that if he could get the papers he might " I hesitated. It was an ugly word to say, yet the Marquis du Tremigon had shown himself to me in his true colors, and I knew there was no knavery he would stop at. " He hoped to influence you, and, through you, Made- moiselle. By the terms of her father's will she must consent willingly to the marriage, else the contract is void." ' You seem to know a great 171 . T T T r * T T t f * s. ',' i r THE SLIPPER AT COURT deal about the affairs of Made- moiselle, Monsieur." " 1 intend, with your permis- sion, Madame, to know every- thing about them in the future/' The Queen smiled. "He is droll, this cavalier. He speaks like a Frenchman, and woos like an American." "Have I your permission, Madame ?" asked Mademoi- selle. "Certainly, my dear." "It was the Marquis du Tre"migon who betrayed us last night," she said, turning to me. " Another score to be settled 172 Y IT * r ? rl Y Y T T T "6 r T : T 1C lit THE SLIPPER AT COURT between us," I said under my breath. " He has a creature in his pay in my grandfather's house, and through him he learned my plan, "explained Mademoiselle. "He laid a very clever trap. Although he could have stopped me at any time, he allowed us to go on, that we might be caught in the act. Now he hopes to win my grandfather's consent to this marriage, and perhaps by that means force it upon me." " You shall never marry him," I protested, utterly oblivious of everything, everybody, except Mademoiselle and that fact. * T ' THE SLIPPER AT COURT "And why not, pray, Mon- sieur ?" asked the Queen. " Because, Your Majesty, I shall marry her myself." "Indeed!" "The word of a gentleman, Madame," I said. " But are you a gentleman ?" asked Marie Antoinette. There was an accent of raillery in her voice that robbed the question of its sting. "One day you masquerade as a sailor. The next day you enter Made- moiselle's apartments " she knew all, then ! "as a thief. To-day you stand before me as a criminal." "I plead guilty to every T r$ \ * i ft'' \% . m i * T * s *J ? \ * f V 1 3j A ' ^' *i. i g yy~ |i ^FT \W" m rj | . " l 1 x I* THE SLIPPER AT COURT 1 k| / : 'sj : f rl charge, Madame. I am a jvi : % j *1 J^. sailor, 1 am a thief. Last night V :^ /f 1 I would have stol -n " ^ ^ irll %, "What, Monsieur?" "fe $ V C* "Mademoiselle." y '' *f ^h te T 'From her grandfather ?" IT *J *ti M " From the throne itself, Your ! S Y ' T Majesty," I replied fervently. / H Again the Queen smiled pleas- ; ?i _ !"f T Y antly at me. u*l' % * "Enough, Monsieur," she T- : ";/ T .. said, rising ; "I have exerted ^ 1 ^ v VI myself in your favor. I had ^/t i ri ; % * an order from the King to bring v-. i ''55 Y r you here. 1 have requested Y| i ^ T v, V the Due de Rivau-Huet to con- .i^ i A \ sign Mademoiselle to my care. 1. p Y T^ 5 I* I wished to thank you for the * V 1 4 175 r Cb :| -g~ - ~*"~ f *~ j T '^- '*' A 1 ;j T.. ,.' Y;; i : ! T {fl**; V. 'ji ,; , 7 -.' w- JS *Sv tj~* r "T ;" T It ;V If* rj- :4\ \M A 4* r THE SLIPPER AT COURT to ask you to wear this in memory of my gratitude." She drew a rarely beautiful diamond ring from her finger and extended it to me. I kissed the hand and slipped the ring upon my little finger. "Your Majesty overwhelms me," I said. " The reward scarcely equals your merit, Monsieur, and it does not even approach your assurance." "Mademoiselle would make a craven bold, Madame." " Doubtless," said the Queen. " And now we have the honor to wish you a safe return to America." 176 y Ifev.CjI : t i \K T kr \ *$ ''e* F r ]y^ . $ : r : * idt p A ^ J& Y "sJr Bi\ i> e ^^K vfe ^0 ^C 4? ': i * i fV^ ^ 1 T f >^ 3s I V i y k y : 3? |T % ^ ? 1 vh *\ '. : ft r ,y ^T V / ^ : nS A '4 Y *$ ; Y J& * w 13) * % *.$ i, T w . l\ ^ f THE SLIPPER AT COURT r| * Y f* I? ment later he entered under T r)J ^ *, the guidance of the messenger ^ fr /v \ and stood by my side. He did ^' 3 V \ t not recognize me, of course, but "^ ./ \ ^ V we bowed to each other cour- y * V Ti teously and then waited quietly i< > * . r r rfc i for whatever was to happen. . *"?< ^ V 4^ V ^rf ^1 V j# %, -^B k vL ^ 1 & T Kjr ^ ' r r 1? fWPf. THE SLIPPER AT COURT You come at an opportune time, therefore." "Any time that I can be of service to Your Majesty is op- portune," he answered the clever villain had a glib tongue, as he had a fine taste in clothes, I could but admit. " I wish that Your Majesty," he con- tinued, "could give me a re- turn wish for my remark." "And what would that be, Monsieur ? " "That every woman in France might desire to see me, Ma- dame." "That would be an em- barrassment of riches," she returned lightly. 185 ' r I i *? / \ v A r Y I * * ., THE SLIPPER AT COURT " I should be satisfied if the one nearest Your Majesty cher- ished that desire," was his quick rejoinder. He shot one glance at Made- moiselle. I could see them by moving the hangings slightly, and 1 did not scruple to look. The old Due stood like a stone, wondering why he had been broughtthere, and as yet unable to comprehend the situation. ''You said that you wished to see me, Monsieur ?" asked the Queen, disregarding his last remark. "My desire gives place to Your Majesty's." And my will claims prece- 186 " " i- iippet at (ooutt 33^ T T THE SLIPPER AT COURT dence of yours, Monsieur," she remarked with a touch of impatience. "Proffer your petition." "Your Majesty, I love de- votedly the Comtesse de Vil- lars. We were betrothed in childhood. The time for the carrying out of the contract our fathers made has arrived. I crave Your Majesty's influence to persuade Mademoiselle de Villars to honor me." There was a certain amount of truth in the rascal's words. I wondered if he really loved her a little bit, or whether it was only for her money he sought her. wm ' v t 'V r r * V a'. ' r T - i T THE SLIPPER AT COURT " But Mademoiselle de Villars does not love you, Monsieur." "With Your Majesty's aid I trust I shall be able to teach her to do so." "1 fear that task is beyond you or me, Monsieur du Tre- migon." " Permit me in Your Majesty's own interest to dispute that assertion." " How now, Gabrielle ?" said the Queen, turning to Made- moiselle. "I hate him !" she cried. I could see du Tremigon wince. You hear, Monsieur ?" hear, Madame, but " he tore off the disguise now and 188* " " * T \ r - . n s ': T 7 f . ^^3 B-J rs IP y ; I i : : s i, 31 ? I T r -) ; 1 r : r! 1 1 * F i : ) i ; ' y* ri"* : T T # i ; -\i i r ; i ( THE SLIPPER AT COURT ; r : i ^ i : spoke with savage firmness :i \L% Y ; * ^ " Mademoiselle must marry ; % \\\ ~ : i r ) me." "Must , sir! These are strange ^'r PL^ : JE IKf: v *> ; i x words to use to your Queen." r5| t%, " I speak to a woman now," * ; : ; rj r :' I if answered the Marquis. . Cji ifr! 1 , : ; i " Explain yourself." / i EW: T : * "Mademoiselle is seriously : i 1 ^ compromised." IN^I Mi '^ I could see Mademoiselle start ISl i- i LV Y Y i ^ and clench her hands. -ru The ; 17 Queen motioned her to remain 1 v ; *J silent. * r ; /ir "How is that, Monsieur?" . N-f T |? , * she asked quietly. J iA: ; r "She received me alone in : /; y ) 1 her apartments the night before ^7 : i : 1 last." - : 'F 1 r T : y . : | ^ i 89 f, i i /, i ; \ */ VT ! !* i '?' l : iS T .' V I i i C ; T / <* ( " Y j ! : r/i ft T % ^ r : * : If * ; : T V g* * "> I *s ; -'T %; ? T iXjM: \ $' \ & j | f ; Iw r ^ SV : W : JpT ^* ' * .'i r ' ?r- 1; ^ *r H ! /i : \ T 'U : T / ' " A | : aa y * ' ^%i v, * ** Sr * KXS rKv * I V '. *| : r .'/ & Y 5# 'C ; : vJr aJffi T ^ j_ v r T r '1 *sS M ^ : T$ * r THE SLIPPER AT COURT "You coward !" cried Made- moiselle. "Patience, Gabrielle," said Marie Antoinette quickly. "You have proofs of that as- sertion, sir?" From where I stood with a backward glance I could see the old Due. He had his hand on his sword, his face was as white as death. He was per- fectly rigid. He had been told to remain where he was, how- ever, until he was summoned, and he would not move. "You have witnesses ?" con- tinued the Queen. "Madame, I have. I was seen to go through the gate 190 */ r .I if' * sf T y r THE SLIPPER AT COURT after ten o'clock. I climbed to Mademoiselle's window by the ivy. I remained in her apart- ment over an hour till mid- night. It was this suit that I now wear in which I presented myself to Mademoiselle." He turned swiftly to the Comtesse. "Does not Mademoiselle rec- ognize the habit ?" he queried, with a triumphant leer. She shuddered away from him. And indeed he had on the clothes I had worn ! "You do recognize it, Gabrielle ?" asked the Queen. Mademoiselle said nothing, but it was quite evident that she did. What the Due * if r "% > r i* Y *> **t * T \ * F ^ ? 7 tft 7t V ^ THE SLIPPER AT COURT thought of all this I could not tell. "Your story," said the Queen composedly, turning to the Marquis, " is most interesting, Monsieur, if it could be be- lieved." " Out of consideration for one of your maids of honor " I could have killed him at the hateful emphasis he laid on that last word "I hope I may be spared the pain of public testi- mony, Madame," he replied. "You give me your word of honor that three nights ago you were in Mademoiselle's apartments ?" asked her Majesty. 192 r ** ir T r e rj* .v s r r v $ Y THE SLIPPER AT COURT "I do." "Your word of honor as a gentleman ?" ' Your Majesty has said it." 'Oh, this is infamous in- famous !" cried Mademoiselle. * And you, Comtesse, what do you say ?" continued the Queen. ' It is a falsehood, a dastardly falsehood !" A look of relief swept over the old Due's face then. His apprehension gave place to a growing anger. I could realize how hard it was for him to re- main quiet beyond that cur- tain. As for me I would have given everything on earth ex- v V & RY T ' * I I V Y , I 1 Y THE SLIPPER AT COURT cept Mademoiselle for leave to go out and kill du Tremi- gon. " You do not wish to marry this man pardon, this gentle- man Gabrielle ?" asked Marie Antoinette. "I would rather kill my- self!" "Monsieur du Tremigon," said the Queen, gently, " have mercy !" ' ' Madame, love has no mercy. I am passionately devoted to Mademoiselle." "And is that why," asked Marie Antoinette, with a swift change of manner, "that you set your man, Babin, and two 194 f. r T ffT * V * r %, T THE SLIPPER AT COURT other ruffians to attack Made- moiselle on the road to Paris ten days ago ?" She drove her query home with the directness of a sword- thrust. The Marquis gasped, fell back, utterly dismayed. He moistened his lips and strove to speak. " I I do not know what Your Majesty means " he faltered. "I once had a servant called Babin in my employ, but I have discharged him." "You did not know," con- tinued the Queen pitilessly, "that Mademoiselle was carry- ing papers of infinite concern to me ? Relying on your 195 t' v: * Y r #, 1 * : f T r 5 I , r T . Cr * f If * % THE SLIPPER AT COURT sense of honor " she smiled mockingly k< I tell you the truth. They were letters that I had written years ago silly, foolish letters, which yet might have given me trouble. Made- moiselle volunteered to get them from their owner who was willing to part with them for a price and bring them to me. And you, Monsieur du Tremigon, having learned this in some way oh, 1 have fathomed the whole proced- ure," she went on, rising and confronting him with outraged dignity in royal mien " you thought to get me in your power and force a consent 196 f f &r M * V \ rf; \ '*. ( t \ ,'< : V *$ ? 'V> * ; r T/5 . ^t : J2 '. T : - : P V T/' : r <. T *\ i ? c I S . \ \ j ^ V. "* ; i fr L* ^T : ^ r 1 i ) ' r, (r V i % I *'v & **jk : ff : ,^ gj k f 1 : '' ". \ J : % 5?' & : V II ^^, k! ., T & ^ ' T . I T ^ V *N * t r t , tr V THE SLIPPER AT COURT servant of the Due entered and fell on his knees before the Queen. " Rise, my friend," she said, with that gentle grace, that benignity, that ought to have endeared her to the whole of France, high and low, rich and poor ; " were you at the Hotel de Rivau-Huet on last Wednes- day night ?" "Yes, Your Majesty." "Were you in the apart- ments of the Comtesse de Villars?" " I was, Your Majesty." " Between the hours of eleven and twelve ? " "Yes, Your Majesty." 198 T r ft* 1 gs- f 1 1 * V servant's word before mine ? " 4 ^ L V 5 said du Tremigon furiously. $g : r 'j y "We shall see. Call Mon- Y! if- $* \ sieur Burnham," she said to $ : *% '% I the attendant. 1 ^ if' T ^ I did not wait to be called. v i i V Cr \ I was through the door in an >: ^ ^i i ^ Y/ f instant. Du Tremigon started if* $ Y with additional surprise when y IS 'C ^ he saw me ^ r| 1", " What do you know of this Y! : \ T K '% charge of the Marquis du Tre- r ': *Y| Ki If migon ? " asked the Queen '% If y '^ *L* after I had saluted her. *$' %' f n %jT ** i "Your Majesty, I know that T i? \' 199 r j \y if % ^^ * *!P i*' f ; t^' ^'" i E 3 IY oif V -$'" \ ': J? : 8 Y % ^ ^% 1, ^ /f Y/r <*. T % ?j ^r Y/ ; ' V V V. Y '*5' 'if''. % .' T J '^Y Y? IY :> 1 1 JF \ : /' \ ,/ ? % jit' "*% :| : VK Jj < ft Y T ^ V ; Iv , T 5f' Y Y>? : *$T ^ V. jf : \ i '% r %. ;r Uj i^ *% X ; (/ T ; Sr ; J ; " T jj % :^0 "^SS ' * ^ i & ' Y r l ^ ISs. i Oh r rS - v \ '* :ft = 3 * f : f V f 7 IT THE SLIPPER AT COURT the Marquis du Tremigon was in his hotel between the hours of eight in the evening and one in the morning. By no possi- bility could he have been in the apartment of Mademoiselle de Villars. Furthermore, the man Babin was in his employ yesterday." " You hound ! " cried du Tre- migon, and then 1 stepped toward him. He shrank back. I stepped nearer. The Queen might have interfered, but I rather think she enjoyed it. "You know," I said, frown- ing at him, "that you were not in the apartment of the Comtesse de Villars on that 200 V 6 r f 1 r %: / 7 & i r * i i! ',' : V t J? i * "I T */ ; ? fe ' V /^w , '? Y ** yf , Y'4 speak. 'Not a word, sir, or ' 3 $' Jr I'll kill you where you stand ! " % / c i r SB I continued sternly. / ( Y "Your Majesty, " he cried, dex- 1 r Y terously avoiding me, " will you < os ' condemn me on the testimony y y of a lackey and a criminal ? " w I started toward him again, v , T J? but the Queen raised her hand. ^' J 'Y She looked at the equerry r ' once more , he was an old and G? Y| if trusted attendant, upon whom V j ^ she could rely. Yl V w a "The Due de Rivau-Huet" - ; ' v' 1' she pointed to the door : % & y V "bring him here." V J X < 1 >< The Due was almost as quick % T "\ T 201 'v ^ - *<, Y ;- ^f > : *l & |, t\ K V r i .f/' \ 4' r} i T r U * ?" Y% V' / r *^ '^ T y 1 T % * f' J ?' " V "And I tell you," burst out! * ^fe * the Marquis, desperately, "that r T'l r "4 v this man is a common thief, a " r ^ g v T \ highway robber and" He ^ ' ' w pointed to me. '%\ t f,Y "Have a care, Monsieur," ^/ V * M said Marie Antoinette quickly ; ? -j Y f "highway robbery is a grave % * & y accusation. Was it on the ^ % y road to Paris that he corn- Cr y T i mitted this highway robbery ? i l v j T * This is a most serious indict- / fi? i$i' '& * ment. Look again. Think ! 'Af / /.J" Do you press the charge ? Do 4**' % Y A " cte you really mean it?" ft ? r I s \ Y 203 ^ fr , J$ ^ f I fl < vg? T- I F '*& j " ', T T. r/t V \ Ss F ; ^ r , V w " : . A v r r. i rjj ^7 > a*'-* '}. *? T^J j ,# JijJ / VA i ;f yv r V Tf X i y r T l Cr ** W V 1 "^ .'v % ( ; V ^ . Ml T i 9 ^ T jl j ?' %* it %J $ 1 'Mr J r ^- v] ^'^ T'- j rf* J $v "*5 jjjf. K zss&BBma F 8 t T ^ r * v CHAPTER VII THE SLIPPER S WEARER H IS Majesty the King ! " cried an usher at the great door, throwing it open. " His Excel- lency, the Minister of the United States, Dr. Benjamin Franklin, Commodore John Paul Jones, Monsieur Bucknall, sailor," he added. Into the room came the King of France, a stout, heavy-set, rather stupid-looking young man. Following him I saw 204 I | . v f r Y J. THE SLIPPER'S WEARER the familiar figure I had seen many portraits of him in public prints of Dr. Benjamin Franklin. By his side and it was a good sight for any eyes- walked the handsome little daredevil of a Scotsman in his naval uniform, looking as cocky as if he had been strutting on his own quarter-deck. And then did my eyes deceive me ? came the rolling form of worthy Master Bucknall. I blessed that honest seaman in my heart. He had brought Mademoiselle to my assistance in the prison and now he had completed his work by looking |up Dr. Franklin and the rest. 205 I ^ Y - V Y I. Y V \" T % r Y T . , y ' s X Y $ V Y F r I f T ; V r THE SLIPPER'S WEARER Where he had found the Com- modore I did not know. I had heard he had recently arrived at L'Orient, but not that he had come to Paris. " Madame," said the King, approaching the Queen, who courtesied deeply before him, "I wish you good morning. Ah, Due, I am always glad to see you. Mademoiselle de Villars, you are fit to stand before Her Majesty, and I could pay you no higher compli- ment." I was amazed to hear this fat, commonplace, prosy-looking man speak so pleasantly, but in sooth Mademoiselle, with 206 T T , f V r T f r 'I \ "I \ + i !| Y s > * 1 . | A */ * t $ w ftfc \ ' V THE SLIPPER'S WEARER r }} ! ;^. ft _^i Y >> * ^ ^ ^^A t" ,* : {/-P 1 Y o r ) f 1 < *j^ <. IT' \ to 5" /*: fi 1 : * T J' '*&.. * J ^' W \;.^ Iv *. i jS | THE SLIPPER'S WEARER k| ,?TY : a 1 ?> T ! c" C( " Looks he not like a cupid's tj %: 1 i V ff. messenger ?" queried Her vl (> : I i Y% Majesty, smiling, and then the .^ !--*V -% \ J^' King broke in. !% ! ff y t^Y " Have you sent for the \ ? /! r y prisoner, Madame ?" V i : V r i "Your Majesty, he is here !" ^* r ^ r 5 "What, this gentleman ?" / 3 The Queen bowed . f> 1 '"t* / r % " What have you to say for v : \ r J yourself, sir ?" the King asked |* \ v V %? me. . ^v* V % " Much, Your Majesty. I am / : / an American naval officer, as c ! / Y J Sr Commodore Paul Jones can ,1 \ |V' \ bear witness." 3c i* /* y 9) y "Ay that I can, Frank. Tis Rfe i: i / |r true, Your Majesty. He sailed rj Tip [JJ \ T J with me on the Alfred, and a f r|. IY 211 r 1 : ^ > d ' % ^ ' ^ -A { \ i tf Y 4 3.T * ?, ir r ^ ^ f* is.* T J-.Y. T/i 1 '% V f y i I* 1 *. *'i F> r $ ^ v' r r "^ '? r V 1 r J?- % #*' ?T '^ .'*' v ^ IY 1 ** * Y v >T \v Y J? V ^ * A g >^ vi ! ' \ Y Is |T % " r ;: 1 1 f |J o!p r. ^ $Y 1 :C rl , rj ig '3 *i' , i" & T f %H . f]8 c ; t THE SLIPPER'S WEARER better officer I did not have, and I say it who have a right to testify." "Good," said the King. "Proceed, Monsieur." " I was captured with Captain Cunningham in the Revenge" "Give me a fleet, Your Majesty," interrupted Commo- dore Jones, "and we'll stop all that." The King smiled and nodded to me. "I escaped from a British prison-ship, robbed a gentle- man in England, got money from him, came to France hoping to find Dr. Franklin or Commodore Jones. Neither 212 8fe ? fcr % 1 r / *> T ' *V * THE SLIPPER'S WEARER was in Paris. I lost my money, fell into the hands of an enemy, and was lodged in jail, whence I have been this morning brought here by Her Majesty's gracious interference." "How did you lose your money ?" asked the King, quite as a father might have spoken to his son. There was something pleasant about the plain, homely man. I hesitated not a moment. " I am sorry to say, Sire, that I gambled it away." The King shook his head. " I can make good your loss," he said ; "but play is the curse of the young nobles of my 213 , / T FT T r M?.| r SH THE SLIPPER'S WEARER Court, and of all strangers who come to Paris, as well." " Your Majesty is most kind. When 1 can hear from America I shall be able to discharge all my obligations, and I wish to say to Your Majesty and before you all " all meant Mademoi- selle "that I shall eschew play in the future." "Bien!" said the King, with a pleased look. " There were charges against you of highway robbery, 1 believe?" "On information laid by me, Your Majesty," broke in du Tremigon. " But Monsieur du Tremigon withdraws the charges now. 214 r T r ' r6 * *? % I s* rm $ Y r a Y j? i & THE SLIPPER'S WEARER Highway robbery ! It hath an ugly sound," said the Queen. " How is that, Monsieur du Tremigon ?" I never saw such a look of baffled rage and hatred as that on the Marquis du Tremigon's face. He was completely powerless. The evidence against him was too strong. He tried to speak, but there was no help for it. He bowed at last with a bad grace. " I am too much of a gentle- man " -I have always been suspicious of a man who pro- tests his quality overmuch, by the way "to contradict the Queen of France," he said. 215 I* rJ f T Iff V i. T ff tf Y ' * E? F Y THE SLIPPER'S WEARER "Good, "said the King. "But there were some papers ?" " Monsieur du Tremigon lost them, unfortunately," again interposed the Queen. "Very careless, I'm sure," commented the King severely. "I, "volunteered Dr. Franklin, "will be surety for Monsieur Burnham's debts to the Marquis du Tremigon, or any others." "The word of a gentleman so vouched for is sufficient," said the Marquis, raging in his heart, but helpless. "I'd rather pay him the money, doctor, and owe it to you," I said softly to Dr. Franklin. 216 Ij \ - ^&r i T r V &T THE SLIPPER'S WEARER "Is it a great sum, lad?" whispered the Quaker aside. "Our exchequer is running low. And, hark ye, that high- way robbery in England 'tis hardly a crime of which you could be convicted in France." Now, why had neither I nor any one else thought of that ? I am usually quick to see all sides of a case, and this failure annoyed me for a moment. " We will attend to the debt," said the King, after a momen- tary consultation with the Queen. "Now, gentlemen, no more of this." Of course when he put on his 217 'iT fr! n T / r V.T , 1*1 * 3 THE SLIPPER'S WEARER royal look and said that, there was nothing left for me to do but acquiesce. " Pardon, Your Majesty," said the Due de Rivau-Huet, who had noted all that had occurred with ill-concealed impatience, not to say indignation, "Mon- sieur du Tre'mlgon has another announcement to make, I believe." "What is that, Due?" asked the King. "Your Majesty is doubtless aware that my son and the father of the Marquis du Tre"- migon entered into a contract that their children should be married at a suitable age, pro- 218 (U tr ;* 1$ r % > fv.* * * THE SLIPPER'S WEARER vided they were both willing to carry out the agreement ?" " I have heard so," answered the King. "The Marquis du Tremigon wishes, in the presence of these witnesses, to renounce all pretension to the hand of Mademoiselle de Villars." "Your Majesty," protested the Marquis in one last desper- ate attempt to gain his end, " Monsieur le Due mis " 1 believe I am not mistaken, Monsieur," said the Due, very stately and magnificent, with his hand on his sword my heart went out to him looking hard at the Marquis. 219 Tjr % tf * T T r f i'T THE SLIPPER'S WEARER "I am sure," added the Queen in her silvery voice and you would have thought she was conferring the greatest favor in her power upon the wretched du Tremigon " that the Due is right. Monsieur du Tremigon," she went on, with a woman's spitefulness for which indeed I could not blame her, "is no more desirous of marrying Mademoiselle de Vil- lars than he is of pressing the charge of highway robbery against Monsieur Burnham." Du Tre"migon could not trust himself to speak again. He clenched his hands and bowed low before the Queen. 220 * ? r- % r V ?r r \. - - V *S : > * 4' % tl A fe r$ f V' \J? ( ^a i* ft 3 V ^ c r| |C r V 1 n y?* \ #& 7 p $ w m ^ A i y i* "^. r j C r % * 1 *y*' C THE SLIPPER'S WEARER r| p I .f +p ^ I declare that, though I hated C % v 1 5 him, and despised him as well, "% ft r' for one moment I was almost / % v % sorry for him. His humiliation % ? * / % was so great, his agony so keen. sy i; r v " Furthermore," continued CT * r J f y the Due impertubably, " Mon- \ if* &4 T sieur du Tremigon wishes Your / yA' % If Majesty's permission to with- V : f V * draw from Paris and retire to '%' J*^ - his estates." y V V'T \ V / f "As the Marquis pleases," \ ' V \ / % said the King indifferently. w % SV % *a ^ Had I been King I should ^ */ *1 A | have been consumed with rl \ Y dv ^ -curiosity to know what this ^ % \ was all about, but His Majesty f- / . a^ iv cared little concerning it, ap- v| 5 V v r parently, for after turning his 3 # .. 221 "% IT / i' y ^ : ^-. C? s T ; -'J 17 F C t? I w ff f w $ ^T, y/f ^, V % T j |,v *, ^* jr V Y|- ^c" 5? r| & J| ""tfc y m 1 Vs 4r % ? r % J^ J ^. !* 1 6T fjvv ' ;'k* f*^ 1 * w^ y & Y. c ^ %i ?p i 1 ^ ^ JS S^^siiKi v ^Pr^Ttf ... THE SLIPPER'S WEARER back on du Tre"migon, who backed out of the room, he said to Dr. Franklin : " Now that we have settled this affair, doctor, I want you to look at a lock in my cabinet that interests me greatly. Gamain brought it to-day. Its mechanism is curious and com- plex. It will interest a scien- tific man like yourself, I am sure." "I shall be glad to attend Your Majesty." "Give me leave, Sire," again said the Due de Rivau-Huet. "Your Majesty," continued the old man, standing very erect, " the Marquis du Tre"- 222 T 9 < I T WITT \ :S r / I* r * THE SLIPPER'S WEARER migon averred that he was in my granddaughter's apart- ments until a late hour the other night." " It is false," said the Queen. " Madame, 1 know that. What 1 wish to know is, who was there ?" "Monsieur! Before them all !" exclaimed Mademoiselle, startled beyond measure by this surprising development. This unlucky speech in itself was a confession. "The King is the fountain of nobility in the land," continued ' the Due, striving to regain his composure. " You are a maid of honor to the Queen, Made- 223 ft r. 5 t 1 *$ T * THE SLIPPER'S WEARER moiselle. That gentleman " he pointed to me " heard the accusation and denied it. These are his friends. Here is some mystery. I wish an ex- planation." " But, Due " began the King, with a puzzled look. " I crave Your Majesty's par- don. Even royalty may give place to the feelings of a grand- parent. Will you allow me to conduct this affair in my own way, Sire ?" " Go on," said the King. "I am satisfied that the Marquis du Tremigon, whom I shall interrogate later, with the King's permission " 224 I $ r * . f II r \ f THE SLIPPER'S WEARER " I will give you a lettre-de- cachet to the Bastile for him, if you like," said Louis with a truly royal carelessness. " I thank your Majesty. Mon- sieur du Tremigon was not there, but I insist some one was, and I demand. to know who." No one spoke for a moment. "Espiau, you know?" " I have nothing to say, Monsieur le Due," replied the old servant, turning pale. " Will no one tell me ?" cried the old man, grief in his heart, appeal in his tones, shame in his bearing. "I will," I said boldly; "I was there." 225 \ *& r Jr f T/* ; ?' j f V f \y It" & "5? THE SLIPPER'S WEARER , 'You, sir!" "Even I, Monsieur." "How dared you? What do you mean ?" He put his hand to his heart. I was nearest him. I stretched out my arm to help him, but he thrust me away. " Answer !" he cried, imperiously forgetful of the King, the Queen, every- body. " It is very simple," I replied quietly. "On my approach to Paris I had the good fortune to be of assistance to Made- moiselle." " In what capacity ?" " She was set upon by three ruffians. I drove them off." 226 T r r t. f W> eatet f a Y Y THE SLIPPER'S WEARER "Whereabouts?" I was ignorant of the road, but Mademoiselle came to my rescue. " Near Paris, on the Versailles road, Monsieur," she said. "Where was your escort?" queried the Due, turning to his granddaughter in amazement. " I was alone, sir." " Alone on the Versailles road ?" "In my service, Due," inter- posed the Queen softly. " Pardon, Your Majesty. That is sufficient. Proceed, Monsieur." " I thereupon fell in love with your granddaughter, sir." 227 X r Y Y f f I r. r \ V * - K THE SLIPPER'S WEARER " How dared you, sir ; a beg- garly " Monsieur Burnham's patri- mony includes rich land enough to make a county in France," deftly put in Dr. Franklin at this juncture. " But in America " said the Due scornfully. " The finest land the sun ever set on, Monsieur," broke in Commodore Jones hotly. The King waved his hand for silence, and the Due turned to me again. " I sought your grand- daughter far and wide, and at last found her at the H6tel de Rivau-Huet," I resumed. 228 r i r ? >? -^*s-^jy^ * \ r THE SLIPPER'S WEARER 1 had a hard task to keep to the truth and yet make a satis- factory story. " And was it at her invitation you entered her apartment ?" " Monsieur le Due !" ex- claimed the King hastily in warning. " Grandfather !" cried the girl, recoiling from the outrageous accusation. "Sir!" I replied, with spirit, "the question is an insult to your blood ! I came unex- pectedly, unknown, unwel- come like a thief in the night." "You dared ?" "It was a prank, a foolish 229 r r ft $ fjr T? T *% |T f , " * T SB V/1 x THE SLIPPER'S WEARER trick ; I have no excuse but my passion." "And you were alone in her apartment with my grand- daughter, Monsieur?" "Pardon, I was there, Mon- sieur le Due," said Espiau. "Then tell me the truth now, unless you forget your ancient fidelity," exclaimed the Due, turning to the unhappy servant. "You saw this gentleman there ?" 1 shook my head at him, but he was looking at Mademoi- selle. Disregarding my warn- ing glance, she nodded. The seal upon the servant's lips was broken. 230 ' T T * THE SLIPPER'S WEARER "Yes, Monsieur le Due," he answered. " And where was he ?" "In Mademoiselle's " he hesitated. "Speak ["thundered the old man. "Bedchamber, Monsieur." " Mon Dieul" cried the Due, his composure giving way at last. He put his face in his hands with a movement sin- gularly like that of Mademoi- selle a short time before. Is it that Master Shakespeare in great crises voices the uni- versal cry of the human heart ? For like the father of Hero in " Much Ado About Nothing " 231 Y r # RT r ,r > r y THE SLIPPER'S WEARER and indeed the whole affair was somewhat similar in my mind the Due finally broke forth : " ' Hath no man here a sword for me ?' ' I have not the sentence ex- actly, but I give the sense of it, and I pitied him from the bottom of my heart. But the love of the young is often cruel to the old. " My grandfather ! my grand- father !" cried Mademoiselle, sinking to his feet, "think not bitterly of me ! This gentle- man has told the truth. I had but spoken a few words to him when you came. He did me 232 r T Y rj irj r ^ THE SLIPPER'S WEARER a great service. I concealed him." " Why ?" groaned the Due. " 1 was afraid that you would kill him." "Afraid? What is he to you ?" It was a dreadful situation for a young girl. She had never told me in so many words, although I was sure of it in my own mind, and for her to be compelled to declare it before all these men was indeed hard. Yet with a heroism for which I can never be sufficiently f * %_ 1 fc* IW A V. & - A A -**r *"^f*^ VX m >* A * iv * -*rv*.+~r -^r m. * undauntedly. " I love him !" 233 , V I . f i & ? if V ^ $ % r . '^ > $' /? V ^ v"/. *\ > 9f 4- ^ V \ ? V V ; 1? / V #' 1 : - # t r r* r ' ; T " *$ ?> T t f T & C* * jT y THE SLIPPER'S WEARER "You love him!" exclaimed her grandfather in amazement. "Monsieur le Due de Rivau- Huet," I cried in my turn, springing to her side, lifting her up, and slipping my arm about her waist, " I have the honor to ask you to give me the hand of your grand- daughter in marriage." " She is a countess of France," replied the Due. "The best blood in the land flows in her veins, Monsieur." " I have some indifferent good in my own veins, Monsieur le Due," 1 asserted proudly, nam- ing some of my mother's people. Is this true, Monsieur ?" 234 K' V e s THE SLIPPER'S WEARER vouch for it," said Paul Jones, who really knew little or nothing about my ancestry, but who, as he said afterward, would have sworn to anything on my bare statement to help me out. "Your Majesty," said the Due, turning to the King, but he got no help there. "If you will give your con- sent, Due, "said Louis, " I shall not withhold mine. Indeed, under the circumstances " he paused significantly. The Due groaned and the gracious Queen came to our rescue again. "Monsieur le Due," she said, 235 T? I T ft r & VvT f + THE SLIPPER'S WEARER stepping near him and laying her hand on his arm, "think ! Monsieur Burnham is a gallant gentleman. As good blood as any in France flows in his veins. In America they have no kings, but they are all princes. His Majesty in his kindness consents. This will cement the union between the two countries against England, which is so dear to think of. Will you sacrifice your pride if I ask you, . and bless the pair who love each other ?" " Madame, it is as you will," he faltered. " I had cherished other dreams. Still, there can be no higher degree than that 6r - T ;i THE SLIPPER'S WEARER of gentleman, after all. No, though he sit upon a throne." "The royalty of virtue, the royalty of honor, the royalty of courage," said Dr. Franklin kindly, "make this marriage not an unequal one." " 1 am an old man," continued the Due ; " this has been hard for me. But let the young love have its way." "And you will forgive me ?" pleaded Mademoiselle, ap- proaching him nearer. "Your Majesty will permit me ?" asked the Due. He took her in his arms and pressed a kiss upon her forehead and blessed her. 237 pr '/* \ r . X r/ 4 n Jf I ^ T ** _ I * * v f : * ~ THE SLIPPER'S WEARER ''Sir," he said, turning to me and bowing, " I hope to know more of you before I commit this child to your keeping." " I shall strive to merit your kindness, Monsieur le Due," I answered, overwhelmed by this happy turn to my fortunes. "Mow that all is settled for the second time," said the King, greatly relieved, " Dr. Franklin, Commodore, and you, Due, will you all come with me ?" " We attend Your Majesty." The four gentlemen bowed low before the Queen. The King bowed to me, Dr. Franklin and Commodore Jones 238 r J ** 1 * " - THE SLIPPER'S WEARER shook my hand. Our kindly minister made an appointment to meet me later in the palace. " You were lucky," he said. Indeed I realized that, for I replied : "Thanks to you and the Commodore." "Nay," said the Quaker, smiling, "thanks to Mademoi- selle herself, and to your own ready wit." Then they left us alone with the Queen and Bucknall. " It strikes me," said her Maj- esty, looking at the old sailor, "that nobody has said any- thing about the part you have played in this affair." 239 T V Y 1 r C T r Y r f -r> / ^Y : W T *. - ; "31 ^ r 1 T - * T * ii r Y . / 9 % i* " r r , A Y i*' * ^ * > M v . *%, \T ' ' _& _ T T ^ 'S . ? r J r w i (' THE SLIPPER'S WEARER \ T 4- ^ ; Y "Aye, aye, mum," began 6 tfw. \ F* the sailor in great confusion, J V \ \\ "w'ich I means Yer Honor " ^ ' \f "'Mum' is delightful," % " n* laughed Marie Antoinette. ? 4 " Y "I was at me wit's end wot |Y - . f% course to lay this mornin', an' rl ?^ Y '. w'en as luck would hev it I f r run into Commodore Jones in , T 3 r>" g the street, jist in from L'Orient v # * _ T "^>i 1 he never forgits a shipmate, Cr 4 i x. T ma'am, no matter how humble ,t y * Y % an' ups an' told him about ? ^ Mr. Burnham. He fetched me %^ Y.* |", to Dr. Franklin, an' you ^ V ^*'< knows the rest, Yer Ladyship." 5 H' " 1 shall not forget you," said * Y the Queen, lifting a well-filled 1 Y s purse from the table and put- C ^ : V 240 i r| 1 T . $* r, r \ . 1 i^ . f Y^ ' t f. jc 3 |Y r| V : - s & : Y^ ^"v % / > ^ V \(f % *v * 5 fc 1 : ?>* r% A V ' ^ C T Y s 2$: " T" A *^ A , ^ V v*> r : *?' ta YJ H T $3 t r - T f - Y :,f rl r r : % *' a ^s& T & THE SLIPPER'S WEARER ting it in Bucknall's hand. The old sailor was not without a streak of gallantry. " It's the hand wot gives it, lady," he said, "wot makes me wally it more'n the gold pieces." "You will await Monsieur Burnham without the door," she said, dismissing him gra- ciously. "Monsieur Burnham," she began as we three were alone, " you are a thief after all. You have stolen the fairest jewel of my Court. I ought to be angry with you, but I am not." " I thank Your Majesty." 241 Y t '< Y . wefe*Ss -- - v^J^P^ 1 r % r 5 T V v L % THE SLIPPER'S WEARER "You will be very good to this daughter of France in your own land ? " "Madame, I will cherish her as the King his crown. Nay," I added quickly, "as I would cherish Your Majesty were I the King." "You pay me in pretty speeches." "They come, Madame, from my heart of hearts. After my country and my wife, my sword is yours." She was gone. Of course I took Mademoiselle in my arms, and this time there was no hesitation on her part in re- turning my ardent caresses. 242 .* Y# 9 '\ " ^ >& r c 3 * *k^ j$ L ' ''K "Ok * "* '. f _ cannot tell, for I took no notice ^f; : : )'f f T \ of time or place I said that .#' : / T while we each had the gold % i i V r. |Y pieces I regretted that I had no *l i |* Y T ring to slip on her finger, noth- l :^l i ^ r / ing of my own to give her to \ i,^ V bind the engagement. Of // i % \\ course I could not give her the : V : v > *^V ^T Queen's diamond yet. She 3 & l[v 1 was very close to me, and &, Y ' doubtless could feel what was %-, : # Ji :[|* in my breast-pocket. M ; V;Y \. : |Hj 1% "You have one thing," she JL ' Y " :P\! !M replied demurely, "that you &' f :j . : i ; - r could slip on." :-S JC '' " What is that ?" $v i ^ Y ^Y 243 r | Cf ! ; S E < ^ ' ^ .' 4.V T S T i TT 4> 7 ^ i T > 1* i I * J A : , i' f Y. *1M *Y ^f J :|' rj! : v< ^ * *w * i c : " Y ; ' Y '>', r 1 i ^i '* ; hr / Y " *V t : c > I 'Y 'f, , 1 ;.fr "" ii ;V-p "'x 1 " y' n v i^Y * 1 \-'/ &Y i ^ 'J 1 Y V- >'! y r $ ."S II ;ftj^ *. ; * | |H T T - r "''^ ^ 1 ' V - : ' -LJi^ T \ V r $' A ' T \ v V * Sri THE SLIPPER'S WEARER " Have you forgotten the talisman ? " " The talisman ? " I cried. I am stupid sometimes, not often, and 1 was thinking so hard of her that 1 did not catch her meaning at first. "That which Master Bucknall brought me that I gave back to you." "Oh!" said I; "the slipper that saved my life ; that gave me hope." "And hope gave you assur- ance?" "And assurance won me you." She drew herself away and sat down in the Queen's chair, 244 T Y r r ' T $P T THE SLIPPER'S WEARER and no royal person ever be- came it so well as she. Then she fumbled at her shoe a mo- ment, and thrust out one dainty stockinged little foot at me. "You might put it on," she whispered, blushing vividly. I am not ashamed to say that I kissed that foot before I cov- ered it with my lady's slipper. r g r* T>- DUE GAYLORD PRINTED IN U.S.A. flitii A 001384283 6