Evening star., 1895-08-03
THE WAGER OF THE MARQUIS
De MEROSA|LLES,
BY ANTHONY HOPE,
Author Of ''The Prisoner Of Zenda.'' 'The Dolly
Dialogues" etc.
Copyright, 1895, by A. h. Hawkins.

hlgh rank and great possessions and en-
dowed with many accomplishments. He
came to visit Prince Rudolf, whose ac-
quaintance he mad made while the prince
was at Paris in the course of his travels.
King Henry received M. de Marosailles-for
such was his name-most graciously. and
sent guard of honor to conduct him to
the castle of Zenda, where the prince was
then staying In company with his sister
Osra. There the marquis on his arrival
was greeted with much joy by Prince
Rudolf. who found his sojourn in the coun-
try somewhat irksome. and was glad of the
society of friend with whom he could
talk and sport and play at cards. All these
things he did with NJ. de Merosailles. ana
great friendship arose between the young
men. so that they spoke very freely to one
another at all times, and most of all when
they had drunk their wine and sat to-
gether In the evening in Prince Rudolf's
chamber that looked across the moat to-
ward the gardens; for the new chateau that
new stands on the site of these gardens
was not then built. And one night NJ. de
Merosailles made bold to ask the prince
how 1t fell out that his sister, the princess,
a lady Of such great beauty. seemed sad
and showed no pleasure i'll the society of
any gentlemen, but treated all alike with
coidress and disdafn- Prince Rudolf, laugh
Ing, answered that girls were strange crea-
lures. end that he had ceased to trouble
his head about them-of his heart he said
rothing-and he finished by exclaining:
On my honor. doubt If she so much as
knows you are here. for she has not looked
at you once since your ARRIVAL! And he
smiled mahciously, for he knew that the
MARQUIS was not accustomed to be neglect
ed by ladies, and would take it ill that
even a princess should be unconscious of
MS presence. In this he calculated rightly,
for NJ. de Merosailles was greatly yexed.
and, twisting his glass in his fingers, he
said: e
III she were not a princess and YOUR
SISTER, sir, ! would engage to make her
look at me-"
Il am not hurt by her looking at you,"
thing" eAe"'
And the marquis. being also very merry
ana knowing that Rudolf had less regard
for his dignity than prince should have.
threw out carelessly:
"A kiss Is more, SIR"
1t is great deal more" laughed the
prince tusging his mustache
Are you ready for a wager sir?" asked
M. de Merosailles, leaning across the table
toward him.
I'm lay You a thousand crowns to a hun
dred that you do not gain a kiss. using
what means you will save force"
I'll take the wager. SIR" cried the mar
quis. ''but 1T shall be three, not one.'
Have care" said the prince. Don't
go too near the fame my lordi There
candle"
Indeed the light is very bright" assent
cd the marquis courteously. THAT risk
must run, though, if I am to win my
wager. 1t is to be three then, and by
what means will save force?''
Even So. said Rudolf. and he laughed
again. For he thought the wager harm
less, since by no means could NJ de Nero
saiiles win SO much as one kiss from the
Princess Osra, and the wager stood at
three. But he did not think how he
Wronsed his sister by using her name
lightly, being in all such matters a man
of careless mind.
But the marquis having made his wager,
set himself steadily to win 1t, for he
his wardrobe, and ornaments. and per-
fumes. and he laid fine presents at the
princess feet and he waylaid her wherever
she went. and was profuse of glances,
fine gentlemen used in those days, and
lyrics AMI pastorals, wherein she figured
ur der charming names. These he bribed
the princess waiting women to leave in
their mistress chamber. Moreover he
!o oked now sorrowful, now passionate and
he ate nothing at dinner, but drank his
wine in wild gulps as though he sought
t to t1ota Danish sadness: So that. in word.
that the Marquis de Merosailles did not
practice in the endeavor to win a look
from the Princess osra. But no look
cold civility. Yet She had looked at at him nn
when he looked not-for princesses are
much like other maidens-and thought him
a very pretty gentleman. and was highly
amused by his extravaganza. Yet she
did not believe it to witness any true de-
votion to her, but thought it mere gal
lantry.
Then one day NJ. de Merosailles, having
tried all else that he could think of. took
to his bed. He sent for a physician and
paid him high fee to find the seeds of a
rapid and fatal disease in him; and he
made his body servant whiten his face and
darken the room; and he groaned very
pitifully. saying that he was sick and that
he was glad Of 1t: for death would be bet
ter far than the continued disdain of the
Princess Osra. And all this, being told by
the marquis servants to the princess wait
ing women. reached Osra's ears and caused
her much perturbation. For she now per-
cetyed that the passion Of the marquis was
real and deep, and she became very sorry
for him; and the longer the face of the
rascally physician grew, the more sad the
princess became; and she walked UP and
down, bewailing the terrible effects Of her
beauty, wishing that she were not SO fair
and mourning very tenderly for the sad
plight of the unhappy marquis. Through all
Prince Rudolf looked on, but was bound
by his wager not to undeceive her; more
over, he found much entertainment In the
matter, and swore that it was worth three
times thousand crowns.
At last the marquis sent, by the mouth |
of the physician, very humble and pitiful
to the princess in which he spoke
of himself as near to DEATH limited at the |
cruel cause of his condition. and prayed
her of her compassion to visit him in his
chamber and speak word of comfort, or
at least let him look on her face; for the
brightness of her eyes, he said, might cure |
even what it had caused.
Deceived by this appeal, Princess Osra
agreed to go; moved by some strange i'm
pulse. she put on her lovelest gown, dress |
ed her hair most splendidly, and came
into his chamber looking like goddess |
There lay the marquis, white as a ghost
and languid, on his pillows. and they were
left as they thought, alone. Then Osra sat |
down and began to talk very gently and |
kindly to him, glancing only at the madness
which brought him to his sad state, and |
imploring him to summon his resolution |
and conquer his sickness for his friends |
sake at home in France, and for the sake
Of her brother, who loved him.
There is nobody who loves me-" said
the marquis. retulantly, and when osra |
cried out at this, he went on, For the |
love- of those whom I do not love is moth |
Ing to me, and the only soul alive I love"
There he stopped, but his eyes, fixed on
Osra's face, ended the sentence for him. |
And she blushed and looked away. Then, |
thinking the moment had come, he burst |
into flood of protestations and |
cursing himself for a fool
and a presumptuous man. pitifully craving |