The Argosy, Vol. 83 No. 1 — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

126 “Here is the report I have just received from Lieutenant Barros, a good friend of ours. Since the last republican revolution in Portugal he has been reduced to the command of a torpedo boat stationed at Fayal. He writes that on the morning following the disappearance of M. Knowl- ton from the Choctaw he personally searched all the waters thereabouts and found no trace of him. He even engaged the service of numerous fishermen, in the hope of recovering—the star. The quest has remained unsuccessful.” “That was ten days ago,” said the Princess Blanche. ‘‘And nothing further from Santander?” “Nothing since the escape of the Mar- quis de Warren.” “He has spoken to me about it,” said the princess, with the barest suspicion of rising color, of quickening breath. ‘Ah, if he could have done something more than what he did! He says that he saw M. Knowlton go into the water; that, later on, he lowered the rope, as it had been agreed. He hailed and hailed. But M. Knowlton gave no sign of himself, was never seen again. Ah, couldn’t he have stopped the ship?—lowered a boat?” - “He says that, at the time, he was sure that M. Knowlton had returned to the ship by his own means and was safely hidden.” The Count du Barry reflectively ad- justed his cigarette in its amber holder. The Princess Blanche de Vallieres had given him a glance and had hastened again into speech, as if to forestall the thing that she knew he was about to say. ‘Have you learned yet why it was the Reine Blanche was permitted to escape after they had practically. caught us?” “The outlook becomes blacker. It was because the poltroon government in Paris suddenly received a hint that before very long it will have to fight some one else than French patriots.” “Not war!” “Who knows? God forbid! God for- bid, that is, until there is a government at Paris strong enough to face peril and THE ARGOSY. challenge it with a soul above politics and money!” “And our people?” Again the old Count du Barry made a movement as if to interrupt the conversa- tion. But Mile. de Valliéres displayed an increased eagerness to have her questions answered by her cousin Jean. ‘‘And our people?” she repeated. “Faithful, as they always have been. The Nationalists are preparing their proclamations. All the Royalist groups are ready to renounce the Government of the Third Republic and swear allegiance to the House of Valois. We have two ad- mirals of the fleet, three commanders of army corps, fourteen generals. At least two members of the Council of Ministers are ready to turn over their portfolios. The Church and the Army—they are France—the soul and the good right arm —they are with us—for king and country, for the glory which is France!” “But if there should be a foreign war?” “That is why we are in such a hurry. We are patriots. There is no man in the Royalist cause who does not put France ahead of commerce. Sezgneur! When I think of all the politicians, the bankers, the merchants, the traffickers in the blood of the nation in this the hour of her peril, it makes me sick. Should the Germans fall upon us now it would be as it was in seventy.” “These things, sire, were better dis- cussed in council,” said the Count du Barry. “Please, please, dear grandfather,” Mlle. de Vallieres begged. ‘‘Oh, if I were not only a woman how I should love to do something—to fight—to die!” ‘You'll have a chance to do your share, my darling Blanche,” said Jean of An- gouléme. “Tt was precisely that which I wished to mention to your majesty,” said the old Count du Barry, with final decision. “I suppose that I might as well mention it while our Blanche is here. I had a con- versation with the Marquis de - Warren last evening. Of course there is no need of COMMICLOOKS (C@