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The King's Passport (World Cultural Heritage Library)
The King's Passport - World Cultural Heritage Library Author:H. Bedford-jones an excerpt from:CHAPTER I Starlight and evening cold, thin snow crisp on the street- stones; Paris in 1640. Houses etched with snow-white roofs and gables, November wind sharp, howling up the Seine valley; the dark streets empty, desolate, unkindly. Destiny, leading three men to her crossroads -- three men, noble, prin... more »ce, commoner. To the bridge of Notre Dame came the first man. He paused in shelter of the parapet and gazed across at St. Germain in shivering indecision, He failed to see another figure come hurrying toward the bridge; the other failed to see him there in shadow. The two men collided sharply. The man in haste snarled an oath of surprise, of fright, of anger. He whipped out a dagger and lunged furiously at the first man. The two grappled, reeled, slipped in the snow and came down together. Pierced through the heart by his own weapon, the assailant lay outsprawled and dead. Beside him two objects were fallen in the snow -- a heavy purse, and a rolled document on thick vellum. The first man knelt, found his assailant dead, picked up the two objects, and rose. Abruptly, the desolation gave tongue. The bridge held voices, bobbing yellow lanterns, archers of the "guet," the night-watch. No passing toward St. Germain now! Turn back to the Cite -- turn, turn swiftly! Hat pulled low, face muffled, the first man strode away rapidly and yet aimlessly, as one not knowing whither he went. Presently he came into a narrow and tortuous street, the Rue de Ia Juiverie. Light glimmered ahead, from the thick-glassed windows of a tavern, whose sign of a pinecone overhung the street. Trampled snow here, heavily marked from the tavern doorway, sign of company lately departed. Peering in at the window, the first man saw the place all empty, still faintly blue with tobacco smoke. The door swung to his hand. He crossed to the darkest corner, flung the purse upon the table, and upon the host's appearance ordered supper at once, a sumptuous supper. Then he unrolled the vellum document and perused it. Destiny had accomplished its task, had brought the first man to the place appointed.« less