The Vision Of Evil. A Story Of Old Paris.

The Vision of Evil . A Story of Old Paris .

BY T . C . WALLS ,

Author . 0 / "The lied Room Mystery , " " A Night ' of Peril , " "The Old Manor Home , " Saved by a Sign , " " Light and Shade , " " The Secret Tribunal , " " Fatal Divination" " The Hermit of Duniitanlorough" fyc , $ c ,

CHAPTER I .

F | £ S *^ £ i | l T was a beautiful evening that ushered in the event s ijKgl gel J that we are about briefly to chronicle . The locale was [• Pit IP ^ I * ne C 1 * ° ^ ^ aris > * ancient Lutetia , and the period t- ' ^ SjJ I W % , I * closin g days of the month of August in the fcISS ^§ i § ) , l memorable year 1572 . The sun was just setting and

its glorious departing rays gilded the numerous pinnacles , turrets and battlements of the various religious , nfhnicipal and military edifices that graced the populous capital of La Belle France . Even those frowning , massive , yet stately , Gothic piles , the cathedral of Notre-Dame and the Bastille were rendered less forbidding by the effulgent sunlight that prevailed .

About eight o ' clock on the evening in question , a young man closely muffled in the folds of a cloak , and with his velvet cap well drawn over his brows , quickly pursued one of the roads leading to the river Seine , ft was evident by his manner that he desired to conceal his identity . After wending his way through the purlieus lying adjacent to the dark flowing waters of that famous stream ,

he crossed the Pont Notre-Dame and paused at a small door of a riverside house , which presented , with its high pointed roof , twisted chimneys , and overhanging gables , an object strikingly picturesque . Glancing anxiously at the windows several times as if in the expectation of seeing some one , he for a few moments hesitated , but at last

with a shrng of evident disappointment , he approached the portal and knocked gently thrice . Almost immediately afterwards a casement opened and a lady handsomely attired appeared thereat . Speaking in low tones she enquired , " Is that you , . Francis ? "

" Yes , Louise , " was the reply , ' ¦ and I pray thee be not tardy m admitting me . I believe , " he added , " that spies are abroad—1 have been followed . " Thus admonished , the damsel , with a bright smile , nodded archly , vanished from the window and shortly re-appeared at the door .

Having with some blushing and resistance submitted to a caress , she conducted her visitor into a large room branching from the passage which was imperfectly lighted by a bronze lamp suspended from the ceiling by silver chains . The apartment , with its dark oak panels , sombre hangings and the black velvet coverings of the elaborately carved furniture , presented a gloomy appeaiance .

After divesting himself of his outer garment , the young gallant in a tired mnnner took possession of a chair and uttering a tender remark , he motioned to his fair companion to follow his somewhat unceremonious example . We may here mention that the lady ' s age was eighteen . In height she was . rather above the medium stature of her sex , with a face and form of stately beauty . Her hair was of

an indescribable golden hue and flowed luxuriantly to her waist . Her countenance was oval in contour and graced by a complexion of roseate bloom ; she had clear bine eyes of great vivacity deeply shaded with long lashes , and her profile was finely formed ; her bright red lips were prettily arched , disclosing when she smiled a beautiful mouth revelling in teeth of dazzling whiteness . Her

apparel consisted of a titrht fitting violet velvet robe , made high in the neck and surrounded hy a finely-worked ruff ; the sleeves of the garment were large at the shoulders and small at the wrists . Her head wfisgraccd by a curious triangular Italian-shaped coif , which style of feminine gear was much in vogue at tho splendid Court of Fiance in consequence of its having been introduced by Queen Catherine de Media ' s , the mother and ruler of King diaries the IX . Her fair

neck was encircled by a string of pearls to which was attached a pendant cross of diamonds , and her fingers were adorned by several rings of valne and brilliancy . Such was the patrician appearance of the charming Louise , the only child of the Baron de Chantville , of the Chateau Chantville in Normandy : a fierce old soldier professing the greatest possible veneration for the tenets of the Romish Church .

Francois D'Arcy , her lover , was a fine-looking fellow of some four and twenty summers . His dark brown hair hung in deep clusters around his prominent brows , his eyes of hazel hue were full and expressive , his nose was aquiline in shape , his lips were firmly moulded and denoted great determination , they were overshadowed by a full moustache , the complexion of the face was pale , yet clear

enough to denote good health ; lastly , his limbs and body were of perfect symmetry , presenting a happy combination of elegance and well-developed strength . He was attired in a doublet of blue silk deeply slashed with white satin , embroidered with silver . thread and ornamented at the neck and wrists with full white ruffles ; his hose were of white silk , enlarged at the hips by laced trunks of uniform

The Vision Of Evil. A Story Of Old Paris.

colour , his velvet padded shoes were pointed and profusely enriched by golden embroidery ; across his shoulders was a Veronese cape fastened loosely by tassels of gold . He was armed with a trusty cut and thrust sword and a jewelled dagger . D'Arcy was an orphan , his parents having died of the plague that

had ravaged their native place with great severity some eighteen months preceding the date of our narrative . At their demise they had left their handsome son in the possession of an ample estate , and with scholastic knowledge of no mean order . He was a Huguenot both by education and conviction . Thus favoured by nature and

fortune , it . goes without saying that his society was eagerly courted by the gay , the witty and the wealthy of both sexes ] But to his credit be it recorded that he wisely kept aloof from the very many temptations which were designingly spread before him by the parasite dames and gallants of one of the most frivolous , profligate , and worthless Courts that ever disgraced Christendom .

The history of the intimacy of the lovers was as follows . One day the maiden when returning from a walk , accompanied by her aunt , had chanced to be insulted by four young roisterers of the King ' s body guard . Whilst she in tearful accents was entreating them to desist from their unmanly behaviour , to which appeal ,

however , the half-drunken revellers appeai'ed by no means willing to entertain , a change was given to the state of affairs by the timely arrival of three gentlemen , D'Arcy being one , whose threats , backed by their weapons , soon caused the libertines to seek safety in

ignominous flight , leaving her protectors masters of the field . An acquaintance thus romantically begun , ripened into friendship and finally ended in love . Matters were at this interesting juncture when our story opens . * " Well , Louise , " Francis was saying , "has . your aunt , the good . Madame Estelle , returned from visiting your father ? "

" No , she has not , much to my annoyance , " was the reply ; " I can assure you that I find the house since her absence quite unbearable . I have no person to converse with except old Jeanne , who is , as you

are aware , so very deaf that it is a labour to make her clearly understand what one is saying . Therefore , " she added , with a pretty toss of the head , " if some delightful excitement does not soon arise I shall die—you may smile—positively die of ennui . "

" Why then did you not summon your humble slave to attend you ? " demanded her lover . He then went on in mock-heroic tones , " Had you but have breathed such a wish so easy of accomplishment when last we met , I M-ould have flown on the wings of Mercury to your side , and with what poor talent I possess would have endeavoured to amuse you with my singing or by playing on the lute . "

" Indeed , young sir , your presumption is amazing , " smilingly cried Louise ; " I am not in a humour to be charmed or lulled , thou vain votary , at the shrine of the musical goddess by dolef nl melodies overflowing with love and romance . I have no doubt that you would like to pose as a troubador beneath my chamber window , with your henchman Henri disguised as your jongleur ? " .

" Ah ! by my faith you little rogue , by your looks I can perceive that you would have been only too pleased , " exclaimed her lover , shaking his head humorously . " But by the way , " he added , " let us talk seriously and quickly as my stay to-night " must be brief , as T

have to meet an old friend of mine near the Louvre almost directly . " "By my mother ' s memory ! " exclaimed his fair hearer , "is my presence then so terribly odious that you perforce must flee so soon , as if forsooth tho house was the immediate seat of a pestilence ? "

"No , dearest , no ; prithee do not misunderstand me , " hastily , replied the young man . " My reasons for quitting you to-night are of an urgent nature , inasmuch as I have to obtain a sum of money from my agent necessary for the due carrying out of our approaching nuptials . " As these words of her lover fell on her ear , the maiden

suddenly chaaged colour , wept and trembled violently . These painfill symptoms occasioned the youth great concern . . Ho at . once rose from his seat , sought her Hide , and taking , her soft tremulous

hand within his own , said , " Dear Louise , what in the name of Heaven is the cause of this agitation ? Have I unintentionall y wounded your feelings ? If so , let me hasten to calm | he sorrow which is distressing you . "

Gently disengaging herself from her lover ' s ardent embrace and bending upon him a glance of ineffable tenderness she thns spoke , " Permit me . my dear Francis , to assure you that you have not in " the least degree given me occasion to be angry or sorrowful .. I will ,

however , confide to you the cause of the . distress that still agitates me . Last Tnesday after you left me , my mind became racked with conflicting emotions respecting the step you had so earnestly urged me to take , and which proposal , although perhaps , the avowal is unmaidenly—I at the time fully concurred in . My father "

"You cannot be so cruel , Louise , as to destroy my hopes almost before they have had birth ? " passionately interrupted the gallant . The maiden with her eyes cast down thoughtfully , her whole bearing gravely changed from the innocent gaiety that had pervaded it but a few moments before , answered not . " For the love of Dieu ! " wildly

continued the now nearly mad D'Arcy , " speak , and in pity tell me why you have so strangely altered in your sentiments towards me . Is not my suggestion the only justifiable one to adopt to enable you to escape the attentions of the man who seeks your hand , and whose suit is fostered by your father ? "

" I have listened attentively , " she said , " to all you have uttered , and , believe me , your unjust surmise has given me much pain as I have not in the least degree changed in my affection towards you ,