The Argosy, Vol. 83 No. 1 — page 140: what you’re looking at

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

130 Waa)? “T’m glad that he is safe,” said Knowl- ton. ‘“‘You know, he was to have got a rope to me from the Choctaw. I knew that when he failed to do so, and the old Choctaw churned away, left me to myself out there all alone in the ocean—I knew that he himself also must be in serious trouble of some sort.” The Duke of Angouléme made no reply. The American shot him a quick glance. He saw that a change had come into his friend’s face. ““What’s the matter, Jean?”’ “The Marquis de Warren told me about that part of the adventure,” was the reply. “There seems to have been some sort of a misunderstanding.” They had come to the foot of the first flight of steps leading to the series of ter- races. Knowlton glanced up. He saw that the Marquis de Warren had seen and recog- nized him. On de Warren’s face was a look that gave Chan his first almost inde- finable feeling of enmity. _ Some instinct bade him to turn and look back of him. There was the Princess Blanche. She was followed by her band of fishermen, a fairy princess, indeed, straight out of a fairy tale. She smiled at him. This time he knew that his own eyes must have sent back to her something of what filled his heart. CHAPTER XIII. “TONG LIVE THE KING!” HE Duke of Angouléme led his Ameri- can friend up a broad flight of stairs. They had avoided the guests on the ter- race. The fishermen had been sent around to the kitchens for entertainment. “When my honored grandfather learned that I was homeward bound,” said the duke, “he laid in enough of everything to clothe twenty men from head to foot. Also be it known that I have one of the best barbers in France. I'll send him along with the clothing you’re to select from as THE ARGOSY. a makeshift until the tailors and shirt- makers can fit you out on your own com- mands. Keep Salvatore—he’s the barber —by you in case there should be some- thing missing. You’ll find him invaluable. — Would you like a couple of valets to help you dress?” “They’d embarrass me,” replied Chan. They reached a suite of living rooms which commanded a view of more terraces and the outlying park. ‘“‘Your quarters—your home,” said the duke, waving his hand. “I'll send you rolls and coffee here. There’s a clock. We'll have luncheon at eleven—just you and I, my grandfather and my cousin Blanche.” He paused, then added, with a smile: “If you want your friend the king, just tell Salvatore, and the king will come.” Chan found that the Count du Barry was a man of excellent taste, so far as clothing was concerned. Not only that, but there had evidently existed in the old gentleman’s mind some doubt as to the sizes that his grandson would require. There was a large range of dimensions— shoes, shirts, everything. By the time that the devoted and passionately interested little Salvatore had finished with him Chan might have passed as a recent ar- rival from the Boulevards. The Duke of Angouléme expressed his approval of his friend’s changed appear- ance with a joyful shout. Throughout the long luncheon that followed Chan was aware more than once that the old Count du Barry likewise approved his transfor- mation. But in spite of his efforts to think of other things, Knowlton was asking him- self what the Princess Blanche might think. It made him frightfully self-conscious at times. The color kept coming and going from his freshly shaven cheeks as if he were a débutante. ““She’s laughing at me.” And that was the only thing that he was sure of. Vaguely he heard that there was going Go 0) AMG S (C@