Show A ROMANTIC STORY how gamekeeper WM created count P anch yo ar nobe count a prominent spanish nobleman has just died an fn madrid the story ot his title is told in the nouvella No revue internationals ale charles V was a great hunter one day while partridge shooting ho was accompanied compa nied by a gamekeeper who joined in the sport tho servants of his majesty were loaded with game when a partridge rose under the feet of abo two sportsmen two shots went off simultaneously the partridge dropped who killed that bird said the king to the gamekeeper 1 I did was the reply you lie you scoundrel said the kingin a rage thereupon the guard unceremoniously clogged slogged his majesty tho farst awe of charles was to try to kill him hut fortunately hisgun was unloaded then his second and more successful effort was to save the man from the fury of his attendants and to send him off to prison with the recommendation to prepare for death remarking also that his was all the more atrocious because he could not say that he really did not lie inasmuch as it was doubtful who shot the bird 1 I have no doubt about it sire replied the prisoner permit me to ex amino tho bird tho king ordered the partridge to be brought to him and after having examined it the guard affirmed that it was ho who shot it because it was hit by a bullet and ho had used bullets all day long while the king used shot A further examination of the dead par arido by the king and his attendants proved that the gamekeeper was cor tho king was sorry but ho nevertheless sent tho prisoner to madrid where he WAS in the cell of offenders condemned to death at tho last mo the king promised him pardon if ho bould repent but the guard refused charles ordered the gamekeeper to bo brought into his presence and again asked him if he repented sire replied the guard it I 1 had a thousand lives and your majesty should toll mo a thousand times without reason that I 1 lied a thousand times I 1 would punch your majesty in the nose and a thousand times I 1 would go quietly to execution and you would thus bo a loss to my reign exclaimed the king would that I 1 was surrounded by men like you I 1 not only pardon you but I 1 attach you to my person and make you count of fist in the faco in 1523 the title was formally bestowed upon the new count and until his death he was one of the most faithful vassals of charles V |