Argosy All-Story Weekly, April 14, 1928 — page 81: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

HIS SERVICE TO FOLLY. ting posture, he saw Gefondo at the window, astride the sill. “Young master, how went the night? Speak quickly, for it is day- light. I have had the devil’s own time finding you.” Basil told of the supper and scene - in the emperor’s bedroom. He was too weary to do more than speak briefly. Then, careless of Gefondo and all else, his head dropped on the pillow as the hunchback was saying: “ Dreams troubled him? Ill luck for the man of herbs. But there’ll be more than dreams trouble him ere he awak- ens.” When Basil did awaken, Gefondo was sitting at the head of his couch. His chin rested on his breast and he slept, but stirred when ‘Trelawney moved. “ Having served you on board ship, T asked to be near ‘ Sir Fool’ in court,” he said. ‘‘ ’T'ake warning, young mas- ter, and when you ask favors of a king make them modest. “Now, I could have had this prize of Grand Pré, for I was present when Sans Souci turned his toes to the stars. But I asked nothing for keeping a still tongue, while De Banana seized that accident to set high value on his si- lence.” “T have known modesty to cloak deep design,” suggested Basil. Gefondo laughed, without making a sound, stretched his arms, and rose. “Tt is a pity you do not understand the island tongue,’ he said. “ For deep designs were hinted at last night at table. ‘There is talk of appeasing those whites who still refuse to bow their knees to Christophe’s yoke by adding a white queen to his harem. “Tt is a way of statecraft to provide an armistice by mating their royal pup- pets. Christophe is afraid of interfer- ence from England.” : Basil leaped from his couch, staring at Gefondo an appeal for further en- lightenment. Then he yawned. He thought the hunchback was mocking 219 and tormenting him, perhaps trying to rouse him to some impulsive deed which might serve Gefondo’s purpose. He felt that the hunchback was plot- ting against Christophe, and that he was cleverer than any one at court. Cruelty and cunning were stamped on his features. The spaniel-brown eyes were inscrutable and betrayed few emotions, “I did not see you at the emperor’s table,” Basil remarked casually. “I was not to be seen, but I heard. I heard them argue whether to pun- ish Frére Mathieu for speaking against what he terms the atrocities of Christo- phe’s reign, or try to appease the grow- ing rebellion by the course I mentioned, of making a white queen. One year ago, for less than half the boldness of this priest’s speech, they had killed him at his altar. “Straws tell which way the wind blows. Also, rats desert a sinking ship. I wager Frere Mathieu will live after the death of Christophe. “ But here is water that all English- men love to dabble in.” Gefondo drew aside a tapestry hung in the doorway, and Basil saw a courtyard beyond, where a stone lion’s head spouted a bright stream into a pool. Flowers grew along the walls of this pool. A humming-bird sipped and splashed like a living jewel, its wings gleaming in the sunshine. Basil stripped and plunged, emerging pink- fleshed from the chill of rock-cooled pipes which brought the water from a spring hidden deep in the mountain. Gefondo assisted him to dress in garments he had brought for Trelaw- ney, and he was clad in tight-fitting black silk, with a cape of red and blue cut in points, and each point weighted by a bell. A jester’s cap with a long drooping point had another bell. There was a puppet on a stick in the same dress, with tiny bells. Basil’s lips drew sidewise in a wry smile, and his blue eyes were troubled as he shook the bells. CORMICGLOOOLK< (E@)