The Argosy, January 1906 — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

. business here, THE RAVENS OF THE RHINE, infantrymen. Others were garbed in an assorted costume; one wore the steel helmet of a chasseur. The marquis had drawn himself up stiffly, one hand rested heavily on the edge of the table. He comprehended the identity of his visitors, though the American did not. “What do you mean? What is your messieurs?” he asked sharply. The expression of his face was not pleasant to look upon. He of the helmet advanced toward the middle of the room. “And is it Monsieur le Marquis de Luynes who puts that question to loyal French soldiers? Dame! We have not been asleep, though certain ones might have thought so. We have come for the German spy, Monsieur de Luynes.” His eyes turned with a triumphant leer straight upon Bosworth. The marquis’ face went white with anger. “ And did you think to find a German here? You may go as you have come— by the window,” said he coldly. The Frenchman shrugged his shoul- ders. Bosworth, who felt himself the center of all eyes, opened his mouth to speak. He, too, understood the situa- tion: the men before him were not regu- lar soldiers of France, but a band of Frenc-tireurs—irregular troops banded together, whose object was to rob and assassinate in the name of France. He had heard something of these land pirates while at the University of Hei- delberg; had heard that should the Ger- mans enter France these Franc-tireurs would be shot down without mercy. He opened his mouth to speak, but before a word could pass his lips the marquis checked him sharply. “Leave these canaille to me, mon- sieur; they have seen fit to insult me twice this night: first, by entering the chateau like a band of ecutthroats; and secondly, by aceusing me, who fought for France before they were born, “of entertaining a German spy. I have dealt with such as these before—in Paris and elsewhere; it is they, and such as they, who disgrace the empire.” He spoke coldly and with extreme con- tempt stamped on every word; then sud- denly his manner changed. “ Begone!” eried he in a terrible voice. “ How dare yor, how dare you come here, tainting the atmosphere with your evil presence and insulting a noble of France?” Some of those behind the man in the chasseur’s helmet began to cower and hal’ turned toward the window, but the leader only answered the old marquis’ outburst by a sneering laugh. “And so you think to frighten us be- cause you are a nobleman and have dined in Paris with the emperor. Bien! And there is something else: It was your son, the grand captain of chasseurs, who or- dered me ten stripes upon the bare back and drove me from the regiment. That was two wecks ago, monsiewr le mar- gus, but I have not forgotten. Now, J am here and your son is off somewhere with the Prussians.” “Ah!” said De Luynes shortly. “Ah! And so it is that which brought you here. Well?” The leader of the Franc-tireurs had worked himself into a passion: his teeth began to glisten under his shaggy mus- tache. “ Sacré bleu! And he asks that!” he shouted. “I will tell you, monsieuwr le marquis. ‘To harbor a spy, a Prussian spy, is to be a traitor to France—a bas le traiteur! It is you who would betray the empire to the Germans.” The marquis was trembling and his eyes blazed with passion. Bosworth started forward. | “Look here,” said he shortly, “you have twice called me a German spy; it is not necessary to say you lie, and that: you know you lie. I suppose it was that cowardly innkeeper who told you I was here. You come at night to browbeat an old man and——” ee He checked himself suddenly; he was — eens going to say “and a helpless girl,” but ee a quick look from the marquis stopped Se him in time. He turned fiercely upon the leader of the Mranc-tireurs. “You are a coward. Step out here and. bP ~ “ Mille shouted the Frenchman. He snatched a knife from his belt and struck fiercely at the American. Bos- worth dodged easily; he was unarmed, tonnerre!”