If I Were King

by discreet ladies when they walked abroad in Paris in the fifteenth century. She was followed b

the place?" she asked,

ur

was hidden from her while he sat; there was no one in her view save the two men playing cards. She came cautiously forward and touched Tristan, who was nearest to her, on the shoulder. He swung round, with hooded fa

weet, and Tristan knew it well though he listened unmovably. She had lowered her cloak eno

's eyes followed the signal and saw for the first time the huddled figure on the bench. "I thank you," she said simply, and moved away

hurriedly ove

! do you know

ssly, "Some bonaroba who took you for a gull," but T

kinswoman, the Lady K

e cautiously

huckled. "Does lovely

bau

Fran?ois Vi

ing s

e spoke of? Do we

moved slowly across the floor toward the dozing poet. The king watched her narrowly as he, too, began to move, skulking among the shadows along the wall. His goal was the distant space behind the settle, where his cunning mind discerned a good listening place-for to listen was Louis' passion. The king's cread was cat-quiet-the k

to his slumbers that the firm touch had disturbed, and

s him again and whisp

he two visitors. If she thought of them at all it was only to be glad that they had gone their ways and left the place so lonely. Villon followed her almost unconsciously, too sleepy for wonder. Suddenly the woman threw off the folds

a ghost?" the fa

l on his knees as he seldom kne

am, pray Heaven I

little piece of folded parchm

and mean little; that their oaths are like gingerbread, as hot and

site presence was flesh and biood; that her spee

are life.

e I show a s

l and his brain seemed as busy with words as a hi

ut when I saw you the old Heaven and the old Earth seemed to shrivel away and I knew what love might mean, and God-like desire and God-like surrender. The world is changed by; your coming, all sweet tastes and fair colours and soft sounds have something of you in them. I eat and drink, I see and hear in your honour. The

e maid might look at some wild beast of the woods that came in her way. But the p

of. If you meant every word you said, every syllable, every le

ere ready to say farewell to him then and there. Vi

een girl could not fail to read the truth in his voice. Now

little and my broad lands much. He wills that I should marry him. He tried to force me to his will, to

g to her in wonder, started a

The girl came a little closer,

en treated. When I read them I said-here, if a poet s

. The lumes of wine, the fumes of wonder were drifting away f

pink-faced lover?" he asked

t love, but I love no man; I only hate

rstand," Villon

eased his fancy. Her lips were as red, he thought, as the ruby of a bishop's ring, and her eyes out-starred Venus. So

they say. You are little better than an outlaw. You sa

ce from quivering. He was eating his heart and it tasted very bitter, a

what's his name may li

him, a little scorn in

ager to serve m

sword. He remembered his golden vows and his golden verse

and I've got to rub the sleep out of my eyes and th

he instant and neared

for I have had him followed. I think he means to betray the king to Burgundy,

answered her ironically out of the corner of his mouth. He saw

wait here till he comes, pretty lady, for

e girl's ear more than any word he had yet uttered. A new curiosity seem

d softly. Villon drew himself up

ng that the word ca

ur came into the woma

ect to be taken

is eyes were dancing, though

, I will try to be w

eyes shone

h in the same brea

sture with his hands, half i

my phil

not a little. She caught her breath for a

d in an even whisper,

ce as he turned towards her, making as if he would take her face in his hands

if needs must die in y

hat would make life t

ushed a little at her o

g, singing and trampling feet outside. The poet dropped in a moment from

is way." As he spoke he caught her hand and drew her across the room to t

out being seen. When h

ach the street

exhilaration, Huguette leaping like a bubble on the eddies of their enthusiasm. Louis and Tristan too

ort while it last

t long enough,

patting the girl on the back approvingly. Huguette shook her long hai

basted both the jades. Wine,

ing with fresh zest from the scuffle they had just witnessed. Guy Tabarie laughed one of his long fat laughs as he lingered over memory

ered to his

do me a good tur

. He glanced about him anxiously till he caught sight of Louis and Tristan, for whom he made immediately. Vill

whispered. The gi

big man. Yet that fi

the table and stoop

up and grinned recog

er le

ng, sire,"

are s

all the way, till I slipp

ich Tristan had been concealed a few moments before. The kin