Path of the King (New Portway Reprints) - Hardcover

Buchan, John

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0855949376 ISBN 13: 9780855949372

Publisher: C.Chivers, 1974

Synopsis

Excerpt: ...up the hill, its rider sitting stiff as a doll in his bonds. The Jacobin cried out and the soldiers made as if to follow, but Gaspard's voice checked them. "Let be. The beast will not go far. I have matters of importance to discuss with this reverend father." The priest's face sharpened with a sudden suspicion. "Your manners are somewhat peremptory, sir Spaniard. But speak and let us get on." "I have only the one word. I told you we had come north to see the fruition of the good work, and you approved. We do not mean the same. By good work I mean that about sunrise I slew with this sword the man Petrucci, who slew the Admiral. By its fruition I mean that I have come to settle with you." "You.?" the other stammered. "I am Gaspard de Laval, a kinsman and humble follower of Goligny." The Jacobin was no coward. "Treason!" he cried. "A Huguenot! Cut them down, my men," and he drew a knife from beneath his robe. But Gaspard's eye and voice checked the troopers. He held in his hand the gold trinket. "I have no quarrel with you. This is the passport of your leader, the Duke. I show it to you, and if you are questioned about this day's work you can reply that you took your orders from him who carried Guise's jewel. Go your ways back to Paris if you would avoid trouble." Two of the men seemed to waver, but the maddened cry of the priest detained them. "They seek to murder me," he screamed. "Would you desert God's Church and burn in torment for ever?" He hurled himself on Gaspard, who caught his wrist so that the knife tinkled on the high road while the man overbalanced himself and fell. The next second the mellay had begun. It did not last long. The troopers were heavy fellows, cumbrously armed, who, even with numbers on their side, stood little chance against two swift swordsmen, who had been trained to fight together against odds. One Gaspard pulled from the saddle so that he lay senseless on the ground. One Champernoun felled with a sword cut of which no...

About this title

About the Author

John Buchan, 1st Baron Tweedsmuir PC GCMG GCVO CH (26 August 1875 – 11 February 1940) was a Scottish novelist, historian and Unionist politician who served as Governor General of Canada, the 15th since Canadian Confederation.

Edition details

• Publisher: C.Chivers
• Publication date: 1974
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0855949376
• ISBN 13: 9780855949372
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 320