The evening world. Newspaper, June 14, 1916, Page 15

ROMANTIC TALE OF loa y JUSTIN HUNTLY McCARTHY (Conyright Paget Newspaper Service.) STNOPSIS OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS, As 1 Hrancoia, Villon puehes open the door he, with hia mot Hinder has deren them Acdoinken Burgundian foldier finds in the anow « git) baby Ising benlde Ata dead mother and. he" brings the Infant. to louier Villon, Though poor, he takes won wif the care of the little one, On one of the if’ garineute is embroidered the Miuguette "The girl and. bos grow ras pigemates, “Tien the Bumnind 8 authority and disappes 1h When Francois hears of the Canon of St. Reno’ Giakes his way to The hous Grd man'n. avmpathien, of the mot! cols a come Fu rye a well.to.do living in Paris, and appeals 10 With the "consent the Canon pimceeds to give Fr i home and an education ¢ t Church oF the A thie ‘in im taken 10 ar, where ind Here he acta “temporarily as PFatoureritie, A knight w Tore in het Krancots seagate to Humiette, Mestre Hobart engages Francoia t The lad write vere to t Acfiuaintance of an Hiphe.. Sermo 4 afterwart Francois watches a girl dancing in & tent, “Roth she and the rvgh-looking slowman Wh her acom strangely familiar to b CHAPTER XIl. Wager of Battle. HINKING that he must be dreaming in full day Fran- cols shut his ey. Kept them shut while he faithfully counted a hun. @red, and then opened them again. In tho interval the dancing girl had floated somew nearer to the spot where he stood and he saw clearly tat the resemblance which he had read was no fancy but unquestionable fact. Then in a flash memory epoke im- Peratively to Francois, clearing the riddle that puzzled him. ‘This dancing creature, that was permitted by Prov- fdence to resemble the Lady Am- broise—her identity was revealed, bu cause he knew through her who it was that he had always striven dimly and unsuccessfully to decide that the lady Ambroise suggested to him. That great pufflan loiling there wa explained This master mounte hank was no other than the Burgun- dian soldier that had dwelt in their tenement in the days hen Frar is was a small child. Further and more important, the flaunting girl that skipped, as it were, to the moun bank's whistling was his sweet lit imperious she-playfellow of those an- cient days—Huguette, As the crowd melted about him and the shock-heads were busy plucking up the stakes and garnering the ropes, Master Francois, conscious of & atrong desire to advance to the tent and have speech with tts in- mates, found his spurt of motion re- ad by a heavy hand on his jer, He turned and saw Philip Sermots “So, my thing ef tinsel, you are in the thick liversior You have nothing better to do than to gape and stare at mountebanks, {t would seem. Fra was nettled by the speak- ers assumption of a right to reprove Sermois snddenty changed the sub- ject of conversation. ‘There was a brave dancing jade, he said Have you ever seen a face like hers bore France said nothing, and con- tented elf with shaling his hea Suddeniy swinging his hand, Ser- mois dealt Fra box of the ¢ vioic directed tout it sent je lad staggering and sprawling to the ground. When Francois painfully of ost in the dis- ned hin feet t nois was ‘ancois looked this way and that a sight of his enemy, On looking t way he found himself, to his sur- e figure prise, face to face with his good lord, Messire Robert d'Estouteville. My lord had just quitted the tilt-ya where he had been exercising, and had witnessed the assault upon Fran- What i# going on here?" Messire vert asked “If you please, my lord.” Francois said stoutly, “1 will demand satis- faction from this fellow when | next encounter him "Good!" conimented Messire Robert and nodded his great head in ap oval, “Do you know where (his low dwelleth?” Yes, my lord,” Fr 4 answered, “He lives with a kinaman of my uncle's, the Very Rew. Canon Anselm Fommier, hard to the chuieh of St wren tyr.” Shall we stroll there together and see if he be at home?" Messire Robert suggested In waat seemed mora than a pinch of s 1s ois and Mes sire Robert stood in the dark and dusty living room of Canon Anselm “Reverend sir,” exclaimed ran. cols, “thi my honored lord and Host gracious patron, Messire Robert H stouteville.” : and 1," said Messire @Estouteville briskly, “have coma in search of a youth of yours with whom we wish to change a few words he, by a happy chance, witan? "Yes," Canon Anselm replied, with = surprised look Uweu lis gentle face, He called Philippe Mesaire Robert pushed open the door leading Into the garden, and placing. 4 massive hand upon the shoulder of ro dohim into the free air Wit erof che other hand he beckoned to Philippe to follow, Phil- ippe obeyed rigidly “This lad here.” said my lord gravely, “maintains that he has re- ceived signal affront at your hands, and he demands satisfaction, He is a clear and pleasant space strip off your jJerkins and go at hammer and anvil, til! the one or other of you be worsted two. you peeled to their s d faved each other, the elder eollectod and wary, the younger eager and. impatient They stood opposed and poised for @ space of seconds, Then Francois sprang forward, hoping to get jn the first blow. Suddenty ho seemed to be aware of the end of the world, What had really happened was that Ser- mois, reaching at him with one «f hig long rms, had caught him a clout on the side of his head that made his temples ring agaur The 2 <!roke from Sermois toppled Pran ver-again, He put his fnge Ye neck of his shirt to tons ! nd ing ding he carried at neck ona vs of eilk. It was a smal! pendant of en POET, LOVER AND ADVENTURER. i | him the seeking fingers of .the lett | The Evening World Daily Magazine a a RNS RRS SAR TOI, We FRANCOIS VILLON, amelied gold, and it was set round with @ circle of small stones in this order; Amethyst, moonstone, beryl, ruby, opal, Jacynth, sapphire, emeraid, diamond, emerald, lapis-lazuli, opal, | ruby, emerald, They spell thus tne) name Ambrose de Lore, The lady had caused it to be made by a jeweler of Saumur, and she gave it to Francola to pay him, as she said, for his pains in her service in the carrying to her of so many sweet verses from my lord. Before Sermois quite realized that he was attacked Villon was hard upon bim. For an appreciable space of seconds the lad in black, taken by surprise, gave way. Then with a beastly scream of rage he flung himself upon his chal- | lenger, clapped his large hands about | his throat, and hurling all his weight against him bore him to the ground There he knelt upon him, and whi the clutching fingers of his right hand labored busily to choke the life ou: of hand slipped under the neck of the shirt, = Messira Robert caught Philippe Bermois by the back of the neck, “Let go,” he said grimly, and Ser- mois released his gripping right hand, while he closed the fingers of his left hand tighter on his palm. Francois dropped from his relaxed grasp and sprawled supine, Philippe Sermois was facing Mes- sire Robert Estoutev Why did you screamed. “ET will tell you why I interfered, young master." my lord sald sternly. “T interfered because you were turn- ing a fair fight into an unfair on Be up, knave,” he commanded, “and be off. Francois was led away in and cheer by his master Next Morning Francois awoke to memory of not inglorious defeat and to discovery that was worse than de- | feat—the discovery that he had lost his precious talisman, the gracious gift of Ambroise. CHAPTER XIII. | The Tournament—and After. IEWED in one regard the so- Journ of Francois at Sau- mur seemed long enough to bulk out a lifetime, so crammed had it been with incidents, so heady with new and stimulating emotions, Came at length the tournament; came the great Let it b that Messire fb overcame the lord of Geauvau i horse and on foot, with sword and with lance. Messire pert poelved ory from the white the prize of v hand of the Ambroise—whoin interfere?" he honor eve of the at t last the day of tournam) suffi nt hi rbert record ville lad King Rene had been pleased to ap- point Queen of Beauty mon—and, better still, such a glance of admiration as very nearly made the stout knight who had fought so | well fall from his saddle in a swoon | of joy It was now blown ab that the Lady change her d'Eatoutevil Messir the rivers the morni for the vad in Saumur Ambroise would soon surname for th ol Beauvau was walking by je away from Saumur on Katte the great tourna. ment in a mood of bitter melar choly. Very quietiy, from the cover f the hedge, a shabby black figu up d itself, “Monseigneur,” sald mois, very rospectfully, ‘has it eve been your fi une to hear an an- tique fable about a lion and a mouse?” Ot course [ have," Messire Beauvau retorted, crossly. “Honored sir.” Sermois began, “we stand in a public road that affords no comfortable place for private mune, Will it please vou to withdraw where we shall be more private and discreet?” ‘lL have no need of private speech with you, fellow. There is no service you can render me.” “Are you sure of that?” Sermois said, evenly, “Not even if the service were to help you with the Lady Am- brot Lore?” Philippe Ser- “What in the devil'a name.” asked the knicht, angrily, “ean you do for me, fellow, that is likely to prove of service to ine with regard to the Lady Ambroise de Lore “My Ie said Sermois impassive- ly “It is in my power to bring you ‘oe to face with your lady this night and to learn of har love for you. We said Messire de Beauvau, [ will meet you to-night at what time and place you name.” It so huppened that Messire de Beauvau was, as it were, forced upon the attention of Francois that same evening. He well nigh ran into a man muf fled in a great hooded ¢ that w walking at a swift pace in trary direction Francois stood in the roadway and looked after hia departing figure thoughtfully, What, he wondered was Messire de Beauvau doing abroad at that hour and so mysteriously mantled? The fantastic though curred to him that possibly Mess de Beauvau might be attempting t visit, Ambr If this were indeed the case, it was a matter in which it was his duty to Messira Rober: t be informed. Instantly he turned in is course, and under cover of the deepening darkness, followed Messire da Beauvau Contrary to Fr Messire de Bea a halt at the val 8 the ¢ tons ome to Ambroise ois's expec vau did not « dwelling 0 The cloaked gentleman led him to @ region of the town that was bu sparsely sown with houses. It was in the neighborhood of the town gib bet Ty was dark In neighborhood of the gallows, with the exception of a single blote of crimson light that glowed like the eye of « cye through the sinister” gloom house to which this flaming pateh belonged waa small and low, and scarcely to be called better than a cabin. It had no immediate: neigh hora, Toward this unlovely dwelling Messira da Reauvau made hia wa with Francois hot on his track When Messire de Reauvau the cabin Francois ot d seo that raised his hand as {f to strike against to he the door. Rut before his han could fall upon the panel, the door opened swiftly, as if some watcher had hid Jen there and waited on his comin A faint flicker of candle-lent for a moment teased the derkness and then disappeared, and with it disay peared Messin Neauva Vran hastened to follow In the tral of Messire de Beauvay, He dnesday, _Jun Life’s Little “lfs” could hear the mutter of voices with- in, though he could not distinguish the words that were uttered. ‘The w W that opened dy like a double door, tad been slightly wjar to admit some measure ur into the curtained room. Very cau ously Master Francois enlarged pertire by u couple of Inches or so. 1 was, as it seemed, but a single curtain that ran on a rod across th whole length of the window. It was a thick curtain. Very delicately Francois took hold of one of these game folds between his finger and thumb, and drawing his dagger pri ceeded to make Wita its sharp point an incision in tha cloth This is what Francois saw when he ped into the room: Messire de uveau was on his knees in the middle of the floor. with his back to Francois, He was clad in a gala worthy of court of King Attor a little while a figure ap peared in robes of the deepest black In his hands be carried a great na ked sword ‘Then from behind curtain came the soun n’s voice that was sin ing into the room she appeared to be the Lady Ambroise de Lore. Beau- vau sprang to his feet, in spite of the restraining hand of his white companion, and made as if he would leap toward the woman, Rut the figure in black swung up its great sword in menace, and the wom- pe He the fantast of a wom- ing, and com- an swung back behind the curtains and vanished, and the figure in white kicked over the and the Heht flamed and faded, and in a moment all was darkness inside the roo Straimhtaway Francois decided that he had seen and heard enough, and turning bis back upon the hew he ran at the top of his speed along the wae by whieh he b There was ve in the lad’s mind as to the main meaning of the scene he had been witnessing Ti was plain that somebody, for son rea n, WAS aking Mesgire de Beau Vau the vietim ¢ mystification ‘or Francois had known very well, after the first hearty gasp of nishment, that the vision of Ambroise in bine and wilver was not Ambroise at all, but the dancing girl whom he had seen at the riverside and whom he had played in his ehildhood h neois decided ta walt at all events, till the morrow when would try to find the Burgundian and Hue te But though he sought all Sumer on the morrow bi 1 find no trace of them. CHAPTER XIV. The University Student. 4 PRANCOIS seemed to return | f} to Paria from all the won } } derworld of Saumur a trot. fashion «Mora thar ever, as the miles between him and aris dwindled, did call to the lettered life appeal Those early days of University life e uneventful enough. In a word, ne Was a pattern of students Whon Mes Kovert d'Estouteville re turned to T 6 brough! with fim whilom 5 and poet, ‘The lad was yo Provost Kept vpen Bouse Lor Lis Lista . JIM. WOULD HAVE BUILT A HOUSE ON oa! | ReneS aes ARE YOU PREPARED P4 FoR THE SUMMER _ HEY, MINNIE - LETS BUILD: ONE OF THESE QUEEN ANNIE HOUSES ON OUR LOT, \F CATNIP GROWS OUT THERE de Beauvau some Messire paid a visit Paris rrand of his ng. He waited upon the Lady Am- broige in her father's house, and took the first her company to press hs suit. The lady Ambroise replied, such maidenls of as be cam ion, that she was be trothed of Estouteville and would very shortly be his wife ‘Yo her surprise Messire de Beauvau met this inn with @ vehemence of such ocension of solitude tn duly with quickness color the ocd the to lora ent statement proach in which terms as fickle, false, changeable and double-dealing were freely used. The young lady passed from amazement to indignation and from indignation to perplexity, for she soon perceived that the lord of Beauvau was very much in earnest, and said the strange things he did say with patent sin- cerity, When he taxed her with the meeting in the lonely house in Sau mur by the gibbet she stared at him with so honest an astonishment as would have convinced him if be did not carry tn his pouch evidence that must convict the maid of her faith lessness, From his pouch he inconth nently plucked a pendant with precious stones thut speiled her name, and proffering i on the palm of his hana to her gaze, asked her if she had ever si hat trinket before Ambroise eyed the toy with « look of recognition “LT gave that ring.” she sald, “to Nttle Francois Villon, that was then my lord's page, because he had been a feteh and carry for my lord and de- served a guerdon, Pray, how did it me into your hands? so happens at within doors whe to the Red Gate, and s beating heart, at the pr “it you know) anyth trinket.” the lady cut now what you know "Why, Madonna,” lie sa this is the pendant that you gaye me a While ago and made me haps the gift. And then by unkind nance I float it and became unhappy. How has it come back to you, and is it to come back to me? The lady Aimbr lad toward Mass r there was @ frown on her face Francois drew a jong breath Dear lady," he said y lord has been deceived and t 4 not strange that he has been per xuuded to th wild thoug ' It so happens that | know some of this strange matter, and can something to set w& crooked story straight “What In the devil's name," asked Messire de Hevuvau “de you mean by this knowledge ars? Will you teil me that | did not see the Lady A Was worked upon bs mag Very surely,” ran plied “you did not see the lady Ar 48 that night, for had but just i+ r presence after bearing her a messa from in rd. Yet you were no worked upon by magic, but by a trick Whieh 1 could see through An you saw that night is weil-nigh as Uke my Lady Ambroise ay « not my lady, but a dancing gir), whom Mosire da Reauvau looked pus Mud cusp.cous, prety tillage, Sreentimiens New York toning Word y ” iy May I ask your lordship,” said Francois, “how It came about that you visited that house that night? Were you persuaded there by a ruf fian of Burgundy?” “The fellow that persuaded me there, sald Messire do Beauvau, “did net look what you Would call a rufflan, and did not speak like a Burgundian, He was a clerkly-seeming fellow in shabby black, With @ face Like a bad cheese Francois struck his hands t her in his excitement at the tHlumination whigh came with Messire de Beau- van's words. “TE know th fellow your lordship de ribes,"" h d, “and ft can read the riddle of the gift. He Ix a. tellow med Sermoix that was 4 kind of ving man to the Canon Anselm Pommier.”" Messire de Beauvau frowned, Am broise stared wide-eyed “How,” asked the knight, “did this Canon's clerk come to have your jewel, and why should he play so gross @ trick upon me?” “That is a plain tale,” sald Francois “This fellow and Thad a quarrel which was followed by a fight. After the scuffle 1 found that 1 had lost my Jewel, which he, no doubt, secured. Me cherished a grievous grudge against Messire Robert because Mex- sire Robert handled him roughly when he was King to throttle me, and this, | take it, was bis way of re venge Messire de Heauvau, his business in Paris despatehed, returned with all speed to Anjou, and as soon as he had reported himself King Hene and acquitted himself of his commission, he greatly astonished Canon Anselm by flaming like the sun into the cool Rray of his Canonage, Hut when the Canon had learned Messire de Beau vau's business, he could afford Mew sire no satisfaction, Philippe Sermoia had taken Duteh leave of him long since, even, as it seemed, in the haste of his departure taking with him, no doubt by mistake ain coins and other trifles of Value belonging tu the Canon To Francois a catastrophe « with the news, long expected, drea ind ignored, that Ambroise de Late was very presently to be married to my lord Robert of Rstouteville CHAPTER XV. A Lecture in Hall. ASTER PRANCOIS paid his respects to my lord, paid his respects to my lady, He penned for Mes oe Robert a mof an epithalamiun ily, has not been preserved At last broke the fatal, fateful dawning of the day that was to make Ambroise de Lore the bride and wife f Measive Robert d' bstouteville Francois, with the fu onsent of his xcellent uncle, was permitted to grant himself a jay for the morn ing trom hia stud that he might attend the ¢ mony of Marriage at Notre Dame. He wandered the narrow streets is one in a dream, He ente La “ of sem onse ashess, the hall much-talked-af-new-con m Ge revere BO Was Tealy aWaee oF By Jack Callahan iF. HADN'T FEARED SUBMARINES . DO THEY TAX You FoR WATER OUT HERE ? Suddenly, however, the blank gilence Way shattered by a strident inquiry “You, sir, you in the corner tt nursing your chin, What is your opin= ton as to the proposition Lt have placed before you?" In the speaker Francois recognized Philippe Sermois At this inoment a fellow-student, who sit t benind Vil oped Ws If to tle hin shoe, and into Villon's Whispered: “Pleasure superior virtue.” Francols gave a gasp, first of re lief and then of apprehension, He put a bold face upon it, and faeng Sermois with a stare as steady as hy could command, he spoke “Master, you Were speaking words of wisdom touching ‘the proportions o the two ere npulses of Pleas ure and Virtue He saw, by the slightly foiled ex pression of Sermois, that he was, at least in some degree, upon the righ tack. In buzz of surprise that fo lowed, Francois was able to catch further whisper softly reaching his ear from behind. “And what.” asked Sermois sharply ‘was the conclu whieh humbie intelligence permitted itself to areive He was’ not in the least hum Villon saw that at a glanc jo far h 4 changed from the Saumur days he now showed swollen with pride and arrogance. Master,” he answered, “you were expounding, with a clarity of thought A felicity of phrase, and a luicidit language the astonishing suprema of the quality of Pleasure over the quality of Virtue Francois prattled away — giit returned to him with bis first sens of being on sure ground. Hix dread of Sermo had lessened with th sound of his oWn Voice Whe e lecture came to end Villon turned swiftly round an th come so timely to his ald. instantl he found himself looking full | 6 face of a youth whom, because he was undoubtedly several years older that himself, Villon was inclined to isan elder, but Whom he was prompt to ew he of the handsomest men he had ever beheld Was tt you! he began hesitat- ingly, anxious to express hia thanks, youth continued, “There is a travern n praising, but {t to let tt speak for itself He turned slightly ar nthe shoulder of a had wat beste hair What nace ire ¢ dreain asked Villon gave My na id the 1 . tute, swan willing . t ” 1 a) been probeuaced Sesupbc and ip e 14, Modern “SHE” ot manhood attll deserved cherubi Reni other Italian the epithet de Montigny be Pole of humanity blood in his ver jlooked more Italian th Francois began the Jwith a question said he, “can you tell me jt same lecturer was from 6 Wrath you so dexierousiy de- nded me? “Tt know very little about the fel- low," Guy chuckled, “and [ care less, He is a Frenchman, bailing last from Germany, aod he calla himself Brother Sententius, He p ‘ases to Jteach the philosophy of Life. Presently, the head of Villon was. huddled on his bosom; his lids sealed, and he was snoring fitfully Montigny winked at Tabarle and smiled. ‘Then with dexterous, dirty fingers he proceeded to rifle hla vice picking his pocket of its little f coine and relieving him. of nt about his neck that had Rift of Ambroise, appraised with @ slightly contemptuous and giid th 1 ly Into hia pocket. Then bidding Tabarte arouse the sle er he rose to depart He paid the reckoning out of the cash of Francois, whistling the tune of a ‘Tuscan ballad while Guy clapped Fran- heavily upon the shoulder | So reeling, the trio made thetr way, ‘tow purlied and came to @ halt be- {fore # sinister-looking house. Fran- [cols who by this time had suffered jhis voice to trail away into silence, Was as one that walks sleeping, but Jerk of the halt aroused him from ned to an= He had a and he n he was. tavern talk the loot approval, hiv torpor, He was bemusedly aware that the roof the house din to @& rap 1 signal from tagirl stood in the passage holding # candle, and that for some the three followed the girl up creaking staira inte 6 Rene, with an elab f ceremonial, pres com, Whom ‘Tabarie was propping with efforts to the laughing Mace. This Mace that Keng patronized, this Mace to whom he now presented neols, Was one of those daughters that Parit has always mothered ither handsome nor ugly; having on effect of prettiness that analysts lenied, and yet that sometimes and to certain temperaments could afford to defy analysis, ‘To Francois, if he ‘had been sober, she would not have appealed at all) but as he was some three parts stupetied with liquor, his first impression of Mace was of a dagzling enchantress whoo once aliured and welcomed, Francois woke up from a drunken sleep to find himself physically sick and mentally in an agony of abase- ment. CHAPTER XVI. The Easy Way to Hades. RANCOIS seemed to sta to the Red Gate through } streets peopled with flends and spectres, When he got to his uncie's house he found the door happily open, and be was able to slip upstairs, unseen and little room, unheard, to his own whieh never oked so clean and and precious as now Ry and by he pulled himself to- gether to face day's work at the University He was extremely chagrined to find himself depleted tn pocket of bis silver pieces, and, which Was still more tragic, to find that the gift of Ambroise was missing from his neck, It way with a troubled mind that Francois, approaching his own par- ticular elassroom, saw, in the narrow street ahead of him, Kene de Mon- tikny and Guy Tabarle leaning against a bulkhead in an attitude of careless expectation While he Was feverishly asking how he should best carry himself, Rene de Mon- tikny, Who had caught sight of him the moment he had appeared upon the cobbles of the street, shook him self free from his prop with an easy Krace of @ movemen that wy Tabarie, imitating his action, sought in vain to copy. He advanced, some- what to Francols's astonishment, to greet him with smiling face and ex- tended hand What a marvellous, mad raseal you " he eried before Francois could stammer a syll “You drin me and Guy here you spend the ht In Paradise, nnd you turn apy Ne to ar u sas fresh as nisy, while Guy and I are aa yeile saffre You should t thankful that you have good friends to watch Mace would have rtaint keted Mf | had not forestatled he As Rene spoke he dived into the ' ynoof his dirty doublet and drew thence something which he extended \oxbut fist to Prane Suddenly He a!) his ton, fin grimy ting: ' 1 the pendant of Amt h M ear jewel!" e 1, and “ {it eagerly wh ne itb era volent stn houg 1 « t for ever.” Why, so you Would,” Rene assure him, “if tt had not been for my fore. 1 knew 9 te Villon sure, drank Mont sw wd to Guy, who promptly o gow ‘ forta flag 1 ene . v in ns and then extended it to Frencolm of @ hand upon his shoulder, iction does not contain @ more wonderfal TALE of MYSTERY and ADVENTURE than By H. RIDER HAGGARD NEXT WEEK'S COMPLETE NOVEL IN THE EVENING WORLD Who was the strange, beautiful creature of marvel- ous power and almost endless dwelt in the Caves of Kor? FASCINATES THE MIND ing, hi ars that CHAPTER XVII. Brother Sententius. ASTPR FRANCOIS, leaning over a lonely bridge and looking into the river, found his meditations tn- terrupted by the tmpositton Turn- 6 found himself face to face with Philippe Sermois, 3 Sermots was not, for the occasion, clad in a acholar's robe, but was habs ited rather after the manner of @ well-to-do burgess that might some great man's eteward or secre~ tary, rip) The faintest ehadow of a emile ed for an instant over the face of Sermois, tt is well,” he said in his level voice, that carried a aneer with it as 4 spearhead may carry a smear of poison, “that I have found you, my student of old sages, my lover of young ladies, for there is a saying of my mouth to fit the hearing of your ear, I do not Nke you, and if you are wis way, you will keep out of my If Francots stil! went chill at the sight character f: von to himself, and he aired effront- of th 8 fellow he had now a or rascality to keep up, ery by shaking the paw of Sermois away from his shoulder, “I cannot imagine why you should dislike dently; “but you, why, we ean ery quit sald Sermois atolidly, me." he protested {mpu- as [ have no great Iiking “I will tell you why I dislike you,” “Indeed I have, ue 1 think, told you already; but tt Is always @ pleasure to repeat such in- form tion, When I first saw you f was poor, dependent, despised; little better than for the wine than nameless, little better penniless; thirsty and nd flesh of life. You came frisking by, pampered, well fed, cho. with and an ape's grin on your fa y pr shall crossed my again, 4 knight's coat on your body and were suffered to run errands to ty ladies, of the ance have been for that. krip of your mi thumb ‘a You were the lap-do; nt fable, where I shoul the jackass, [ hated you IT hated you later for the ster-bully's finger and the back of my neck. I ate you because you have path and because it | written that you will cross my path But it ts also written ‘att will kill you one of these days, and you will only be remembere: remembered at are Killed “it much composure as for the talk was uncomfortable talk, the place sufficiently lonely to and inake but if you all, because I you. it is writte) he replied with ns he could muster homicide feasible, t 1s written, re You so very surely the reader of the writing, Brother Sententius?" Sermois almost grinned at the car- riage of Franc Paris.” he said. ia @ dunghill that. rears shrill cockerela, TT think you crow louder here than you crowed @ year ago in Anjou. loudest who crows last, and the ttme But he crow: im not yet for me to bring you to « reckoning. I think, in the meantime, it will please you to know that {tis a wreat purpose of mine, though not in- deed my chief purpose. to gratify my desire you lift fo the lady Ambroise, But if « hand [ will fling vou tnto the river, and you will die before your time, wa why would be a pity, for I rather to follow the appointed Francois, indeed, had made a move. ment mois, futilit 4s If to fling himself upon Sar- but had refrained, realizing the y of such an action. Sermois. walted for a few seconds, watching him blankly; then, paying him @ 4 risive heel and went his way. salutation, he turned on his Francois could not widen his cheat or heighten his head, but he could at least so train his wits and school his limbs as to make the very utmost of his heritag of manhood. Up to this present he had seen others efficient in ; but it had scarcely occurred to that such efficiency might de vdvantageous, if not imperative, for him The house ville rt that v wer ri who was an bert, given and taken, “would it pe possible for ai something of re 1 Tish, Matekeener at the ol Messire Robert d’Estout d soldier, and had he English wars, is went hotfoot, ong yeurs in s man Fran ery hour he said, when greetings ban wo ne us I to learn jeraft and the manage of arms?” Francois tugged at Old band You are not the lad I should pick from a bunch to make a soldier of,” Gilbert looked thoughtfully at with his honest eyes and his beard with a sinewy he said thoughtfully, "What is ehis bee in your bonnet? T thought you were in training for the prieathood, or the 14w, or some such sleepy bus Francois I was, and so answered, “b { am, maybe," tit has come into my mind that L might be wise to learn something of handcraft as well as be craft against an evil chance. Therein,” said Gilbert approvingly, “you have acted well, So, if you are nieed in earnest, [ will teach you how to defend your head, my lad.” Francois assured the’ old soldfer that he was in earnest, as indeed he Was; and he proved his earnestness thereafter for many and ma day, He stole hours from the new plea ures he delighted in to seek out Gil- bert and learn from him the noble art of how a sword should be handled, cause the old soldier loved the lad » taught bim of Nis best, which i” very good; and because Villon. was ni le of wit and of limb he learned with a will until his learning wage translated in a very considerable meaaure of ski! As for Brother Sententtus, who to Francois was Philippe Sermols, he lisappeared from the University as myster ty as he had appeared n, leaving behind him a bubble of reputation as a teach and preachar which soon burst and dige persed. (To Be Continued) asi