Transcriber's Notes:
Blank pages have been eliminated.
Variations in spelling and hyphenation have been left as in theoriginal.
A few typographical errors have been corrected.
The cover page was created by the transcriber and can be considered public domain.
BY BARONESS ORCZY
"Unto Caesar"
El Dorado
The Heart of a Woman
Meadowsweet
The Noble Rogue
Petticoat Rule
GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY
NEW YORK
THE POCKET BOOKS
By BARONESS ORCZY
Author of "The Scarlet Pimpernel,"
"The Noble Rogue," "Petticoat Rule"
GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY
NEW YORK
Copyright, 1912,
By George H. Doran Company
THE NOBLE ROGUE
M. Legros, tailor-in-chief to His Majesty Louis XIVand to the Court of Paris and Versailles, bowed himself outof the room; with back bent nearly double, and kneestrembling in the effort, he receded towards the door evenwhilst Monseigneur the Archbishop spoke a final and encouragingbenediction.
"Have no fear, my good Monsieur Legros," pronouncedMonseigneur with urbane kindness; "your affairs shallcome under the special notice of the Holy Father. Be ofgood cheer, right and justice are on your side. Solemnvows cannot be flouted even in these days of godlessness.Go in peace, my son; you are dismissed."
"And if the Holy Father—hem—I mean if Monseigneurwould take cognizance of the fact—hem—thatI will place—" stammered M. Legros with some confusion."I mean, Monseigneur—that is—I am a man ofsubstance—and if the sum of fifty thousand francs—or—ora hundred thousand—"
"Nay, my son, what would you suggest?" quoth Monseigneurwith a slight lifting of elegantly-arched brows."The thought of money doth not enter into the decrees ofthe Holy Father."
[2]"I know—I know, Monseigneur," said M. Legros withever-growing confusion. "I only thought—"
"An you thought, my son, of pleasing God by the bestowalof alms in these days of licentiousness and of evilluxury, then by all means do so in accordance with yoursubstance—I will see to the proper distribution of thosealms, good Master Legros—the two hundred thousandfrancs you speak of shall be worthily bestowed, our promisethereon."
M. Legros did not think of protesting. The sum mentionedby Monseigneur was a heavy one in these days,when the working and trading classes had but little leftfor their own pleasures once the tax collector had passedtheir way. But the worthy tailor had made no idle boastwhen he said that he was a man of substance; he was wellable to pay a goodly sum for the gratification of his mostcherished desire.
He received his final congé almost on his knees, thenhe disappeared through the doorway. Lacqueys to theright of him, lacqueys to the left of him, lacqueys all theway along the carpeted stairs down to the massive frontdoor, formed a living avenue through which M. Legrosnow passed with his back not yet fully straightened outafter its many humble curvatures.
Soon he reached the narrow, ill-ventilated street on whichgave the g