The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-23
PRIZE DETECTIVE STORIES, No. ga.

"Curses on herlp cried the king.
"Come, my lord, quick ending to IT.
One throw, and / am freetnan, or you
are master of my castle.
lone throw let ii be, sire, for II
grows late, assented Nikolas with
careless air, and they both raised the
boxes and ratified the dice inside OF them:
The King threw his throw was six ana
a five, and sudden CLEAN OF hope III up
his eyes; he leant forward in his chair,
gripping the elbows of IL with his hands,
and his cheek flushed and his breath came
quickly. With a bow Count Nlkolas
raised his hand and threw. The dice fell
and rolled on the table. The king sank
back; and the count said with smile OF
apology and shrug Of his shoulders
"Indeed, / am ahamed For cannot be
denied tonight" For Count Nikolas OF
Festenburg had thrown skies, and there
by won from the king the castle and
de IN esne of Zenda. And he rose from his
chair, and having buckled on his sword
that had lain on the table by him had
taken his cap in his hand, stood looking
down on the king with malicious smile
on his race And he said with a look
that had more mockery than respect in
1t: a.,
draw? For ere day dawn. L have matters
TO transact in Strelsau, and i would be
at my castle of Zenda tonight"
The King Rudolph took sheet OF
paper and wrote an order that he castle
and all that was in IL and all the demesne
should be surrendered TO Count Nikolas
of Festen burg on his demand, and be gave
the paper to Nikolas. Then he rose up and
held out bis had. which Nikolas kissed,
smiling coverly, and the king said with
, grace and dignity:
"Cousin, my castle has found more
worthy master. God give you JOY OF 1t. "
And he motioned with his hand TO be left
alone.
Then when the count had gone he sat
down in his chair again and remained
until II was full day, neither moving nor
vet sleeping. And there he was found by
his gentlemen when they came to dress
him, but none asked him what had
passed.
Count Nikolas, now lord OF Zenda, did
not waste time, and the matters that
he had spoken OF did not keep him long
in Strelsau; but in the early morning
he rode out, the paper which the king
had written in his belt. First he rode
with all speed TO his own house of Fes-
tenburg, and then be gathered together
all his followers, servants, foresters, and
armed retainers, and he told them that
they were to ride with him TO Zenda, for
that Zenda was now his and not the
kings. At this they were greatly aston
ished, but they ate the fine dinner and
drank the wine which he provided, and
| In the evening they rode down the hill
very merry, and trotted, nearly hundred
/ strong, through the town, making a
great noise; so that they disturbed the
| Bishop OF Modenstein, who was lying
| that night at the inn, in the course Of a
| journey from his see to the capital; but
| nobody could tell the bishop why they
| rode to Zenda, and presently the bishop,
! wearied with travelling, went to his bed.
CHAPTER IL
Now King Rudolph, In his great chag-
| rim and dismay, had himself forgotten.
| or at least neglected to warn the count OF
Festenburg that his sister, Princess Orsa,
was residing at the castle OF Zenda; for IT
was her favorite resort, and she often re-
tired from the court and spent many days
there alone. There she was now with
two of her ladies, a small retinue of SER
wants, and no more than half dozen
guards; and when Count Nikolas came to
the gate, II being then after nine, she
had gone to her chamber and sat before
the mirror, dressed in loose white gown
and with her ruddy hair unbound and
floating over her shoulders; and she was
reading an old story-book, containing
tales OF Helen of Troy, OF Cleopatra, OF
Berenice, and other lovely ladies, very
elegantly related and embellished with
fine pictures. And the princess, being
very much absorbed in the stories, did
not hear or notice the arrival OF the
counts company, but continued TO read
while Nikolas reused the Watchmen, ana
the bridge was let down and the steward
summoned. Then Nikolas took the
steward aside and showed him the
kings order. bearing the kings seal; and
the steward, although both greatly aston
ished and greatly grieved, could not deny
the letter for the seal, but declared him
self ready to obey and to surrender the
castle; and the sergeant in command OF
the guard said the same; but, they add
ed, since the princess was in the castle,
they must inform her OF the matter and
take her commands.
"Aye, do" said Nikoias. sitting down