The Grey Cloak

tinois of equivocal yet enduring fame. It was constructed in the severe beauty of Roman straight lines, and the stains of nearly two centuries had discolored the blue-veined Italian marble

ouse of dread. There were no gardens; the flooring of the entire court

and, and the master of fence had been the law-giver. Three of the House of Périgny had closed their accounts thus roughly. The grandsire and granduncle of the present marquis, both being masters of fence, had succumbed in an attempt to give law to each other. And the apple of discord, som

ere not envied of their knowledge. It had been tenanted but twice in thirty years. Of the present generation none could remember having seen it cheerful with lights. The ign

the days when a marquisate meant the office of guarding the marshes and frontiers for the king. Besides, the marquis had been the friend of two kings, the lover of a famous beauty, the husband of the daughter of a Savoy prince. These three virtues balanced his moral delinquencies. To the popular awe in which the burghers held him there was added a large particle of distrust; for during the great rebellion he had served neither the Catholics nor the Huguenots;

was in this grim chain of evil repute one link which did not conform with the whole. The marquis never haggled with his tradesmen, never beat his servants or his animals, an

ficers from Fort Louis. There was wine in plenty and play ran high. The marquis, however, while he permitted these saturnalia, invariably held aloof. It was servants' hall gossip that the relations existing between father and son were based upon the coldest formalities. Conversation never went farther than "Good morning, Monsieur le Marquis" and "Good morning, Monsieur le Comte." The marquis pr

ose had lost its military angle, and drooped slightly at the tip: which is to say, the marquis no longer acted, he thought; he was no longer the soldier, but the philosopher. The domineering, forceful chin had the essentials of a man of justice, but it was lacking in that quality of mercy which makes justice grand. Over the Henri IV ruff fell the loose flesh of his jaws. Altogether, it was the face of a man who was practically if not actually dead. But in the eyes, there lay the life of the man. From under jutting brows they peered as witnesses of a brain which had accumulated a rare knowledge of mankind, man's shallowness, servilit

ly with honey. Presently the marquis drank the wine and struck the bell. Jehan, the marquis's aged valet, entered soon after with a large candelabrum of wax candles. This

quise at twenty-two, when Marie de Médicis had commanded the young Rubens to paint the portrait of one

is voice, if high, was still clear and strong. "Ha

ord that he would return late

Is that what he calls them? When d

due this moment, unless they h

rrange some chairs next to me, bring a bottle of claret, and a thousand livres from the steward's chest. And l

delier, the illumination of which brought out distinct

clasped over the top of his walking-stick. Occasionally his eyes roved to the portra

orn to express beauty, man to express strength. We detest weakness in a man, and a homely woman is a crime. And so De Brissac passed violently? And his oaths of vengeance were breaths on a mirror. Ah we

marquis lived in the past. The future held for him nothing cut pain and death, and his thought seldom went fo

aced three chairs within easy distance of the marquis, and

It is simple. And they will promise to pray for the repose of my soul when I am dead. My faith, how easy it is to gain Heaven! A thousand livres, a prayer mumbled in Latin, and look! Heaven is for the going. The

self, for he was

; "Have I not forbidden you this

t ere the marquis was again disturbed. He turned in his seat to witne

es a new species of animal. Next his gaze fell upon Brother Jacques, whose look, burning and intense, aroused a sense of impatie

rd." And while a shade of color grew in his cheek

ed nor by cunning; not handsome, rather plain, but wholesome, amiable, and with a touch of those human qualities which go toward making a man whole. There was even a suspicion of humor in the fin

hat I may be

eply. "What do you call him?" indicating the I

Indian name; but I have b

or me that

ing slowly in French, "the whit

is flattery. "The white chief

marquis; "but it seems that

onot; "but he was quick to learn, a

atholic?"

nd prou

wagging his head. "I should like to see th

questionable irony, "will you permit me to tell you a s

ian?" mal

ne relative to an act of kindness

d the marquis. He swept his hand toward the wine, but the

ole a dozen livres from his uncle, the priest. Arriving at Beaune, he became speedily destitute. He wrote home to his mother for money. She showed the letter to his father, who ordered him home. Stung by the thought of being branded a thief in his native town, he resolved not to return, but in expiation to set out forthwith on a pilgrimage to Rome. Tattered and penniless, he took the road to Rome. He was proud, this boy, and at first refused to beg; but misery finally forced his pride to its knees,

cane, was distorting his lip

he issued from the chapel door, he was accosted by an elegant cavalier, who was having some difficulty with a st

e marquis's face was

he episode distinctly. I wa

For those five pistoles renewed life, took me to my journey's end, and eventually led me into the Society of

h well, I will leave you with the illusion that it was an act of generosity. And as I remember, you were a p

these words. Chaumonot did not notice it, but the marquis, who was a perfect judge of all those subtile phas

met you till

Monsieur." The tone w

stared into space; but he could not conjure up the memory he

atures were without

the past. "I received your letter in regar

the reputation

arquis dryly. "But why should I give you

that sum was suggested by me because it

eligion which seeks political domination is not a religion, but a party. And what are Catholicity and Huguenotism but political fac

" said Chaumonot, "to bri

Monsieur, that would be a simple task compared with an attempt to convert me to Catholic

eur?" said Broth

ppositions; it must have facts. Why should I be a Catholic, to exterminate all the Huguenots; a Huguenot, to annihilate all the Catholics? No, no! Let all live; let each man worship what he will and how. There is but one end, and this end focuses on death, unfeeling sod, and worms. Shall I die to-morrow? I enjoyed yesterday. And had I died yesterday, I should

there you stop. You possess thought, but you can not tell whence it comes, or whither it goes when it leaves this earthly casket. This

Well, then, a soul has the ant, for it thinks. What! a Heaven and a hell for the ant? Ah, but that would be droll! I own to but one goddess, and she is chastening. That is Folly! She is a liberal creditor. How bravely she lends us our excesses! When we are young, Folly is a boon companion. She opens her purse to us,

hy such as yours that corrupts and degenerates. It is wrong, I say, a thousand times wrong. Being without faith, you are without a place to stand on; you are without hope; you live in darkness, and everything before you must be hollow, empty, joyless. You th

expectations. He astonished the good man by

rage to support it. You are still less a Jesuit than a man. Brother Jacques her

approbation. I should say that Monsieur le Marquis's philosophy is the cult of fools and of madmen

ly. "I compliment you both upon

deeply. The marquis mo

e degenerate days!' Corrupt and degenerate you say? Yes; that is the penalty of greatness, richness, and idleness. It began with the Egyptians, it struck Rome and Athens; it strikes France to-day. Yesterday we wore

. Had the possibility of the thousand livres become nothing? Again he sighed. He glanced at Brother Jacques, but Brother Jacques was

lence, but not removing his gaze from the logs, "

never fought without cause, just or unjust. And the Rochellais have

l, Monsieur?" int

for every life I've sent out of the world, I've bro

ndian witnessed this sign of agitation; but the conversation was far a

tell you frankly that it had been my original intention to subject you to humiliation. But you have won my respect, for all my detestation of your black

ery night in yonder wilderness I shall pray for the bringing abo

fter all," and the marquis smiled maliciously, "I am giving you this money to embarrass Monsieu

into your purpos

acques musically, "I am ab

vres?" l

your creed, and on your death-bed desire to die in the Church. Should that time ever

, the bold grey eyes and elegant shape of this young

l send for you whenever I consider favorably the subject of

" The young Jesuit stood at full height, his eyes brilliant, his nostrils expanded,

his desire to be ignored by the Chevalier's friends. So, led by De Saumaise, who was by now in a most genial state of mind, the roisterers trailed across the room toward the dining-hall, laughing and grumbling over their gains and losses at the Corne d'Abondance. The Chevalier, who straggled in last, alone caught the impressive tableau at the other end of the salon; the t

Chevalier. "Devil take him and his eye

n, his chin on his hands, his hands resting on his cane. From time to time he heard loud l

he mused, with a s