The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-29

newcomers with an air ofntter bewllderment.
and somewhat bent figure, reclining in the
armchair. 1t would he difficult to say what the
COZ" tcnance. ~Prcdominnnt, however. among
others was an AFR Of total helplessness; ex-
which hS % cast s npon Count ss.t SrpWHfftHihf" rs si Il to
invoke tho aid OF his strong. viii.
All these particulars the Prince Regent took
In Mt u glance. us he advanced rcsolutely into
My, brother" he began. in a firm but, re-
intrude thus unceremoniously upon your pri-
c%ircumsianccs which bring me here will, j feel
assured exonerate me from any blame In your
sterner tone, aud pointing TO Count Snstrowitch.
" | stand here as the accuser OF yonder insolent
fsSse sS biiind fS's so %HI; N has sf S%F,e TSHF bis ss SSSn,
try interests and his soyerelgn,s for gold.
papers which / GssssSh your MajesISe-"
But he got no further. with II quick move
@Sn n E%p tho SSa andfs of papers sfsP 3Rs Frl 1SrSSS eId
out toward the King from his hands, and, facing
him @p %i yHn a t 'hifnf'ih his G.qMf s lc 1xS I S%s t fnS,q 40 a%u.e
himself by examining these impudcnt forReries2
aoScr G siSsssl aH f%iI Ipe i. sH Veil iih cG"doi shs T i%Gse9 Of
but Us cunning Is too p%alpable. Moreover" he
G &c hIn ys,a, and aih here nrt : n9's eo or sri ,an pa,s sounded PTInca
Greeor Alexander. The treaty is already
sirnsd; nehold the counterpart in the hands
The Primes and those Will, him fell back in
fPl ,snin o %h,le P ha,S y = s9 ora 4" 9;., the Rnssia C
49, V -
for his Highness's inspection with a bow and n
We nre too late. then" the Prince muir
INJURED at last; IN a panied voice. THE villainy
"Unless your Highness. !" Sa%strowitch said ;eer-
incly. to crown the audacity OF your newly
assumed role, chooses to lay violent hands upon
the sacred person of Russia's envoy. and remedy
by force what your wit has failed To prevent.
Enough" the King murmured, rising feebly
glance at the Minister, as IL he sought ~inspira-
ton and ENCOURAGEMENT from him. ~ have
for this insolent contempt Of my royal author
ity. Am ! to be the mere playthlng OF those
ence! Count Sastrowitch:. you know my will.
KID me OF these intruders."
trembling, more like q man in dire extremity.
who has braced himself for a moment to utter
than a monarch issuing his own commands.
sir John Templeton had never taken, his eyes
hitting. gaze had n peculiar effect upon it's OBJ
Ject. The King did not return 1t nor even APP
directed upon him. But ever and anon a SILVER.
as OF some inner apprehension. would pass over
and glance in his helpless. dependent way
across at Count S~astrowitch.
own lnf fa .shier, i strode witS a shs sj m0Te oq fsrc 1a ms ms
termination In his eyes toward the door leading
III the Kings orders fail upon needless ears
, he ssI here as w he w pniss see the them pTi eHssu tthers f ses
all. II the die falls sooner than Intended, it is
your HiErcsS'S fault, not mine"
A malicious smile hung upon his lips rs he
uttered these words. But his intentions. what
ever they "ere. we're not destined to he fulfilled.
Before he reached the door he was Intercepted
by one of the officers of the Princes suite. who.
with his hand upon his sword hilt, ready TO
draw. opposed his further progress,
NO one leaves this room unless his Highness
permits it, he said. determinedly.
Count Sastrowitch fell. back amazed.
What" he exclaimed. Has II come to this1
Violence to the Kings majesty ? This Is treason
stay" the Prince interposed, addressing his
He bowed low to the King. and turned to those
who accompanied HIM.
Follow me, gentlemen" he said: You have
obey them. Nay.I have said 1t, Sir John" he
added. with a little flush OF impatience. seeing
moving from the spot You see that further
p prr,'s, dsSi is useless sh e Your assurance has for
power TO undo what is done"
While he spoke a look Of intensely anxious
ssstrowitch. and lbein e vpsIb pne almost in, i hun nouns
upon Sir Johns
1t came slowly and deliberately.
"Sour Highnpss will remember the condition |
under which | came here" Sir John said. with
out altering his ,s,n 9si,lon or removing his eyes
long been riyeted. II pledged my word that |
would w ord.l .o from The he K &In presence a,, a, h, The
own lips, m mo to retire and l will go;
"~.Presumptuous man. the Prime Minister
exclaimed. hoorsely. The Kings commands
have been conveyed through my mouth. What
His sentence was suddenly cut short. With a
startling nbrnptness sir John Templeton. now
speaker and flashed upon him a gaze SO keen
and penetrating that the Count broke off his
had been struck by a blow.
The effect was extraordinary and thrilled
coming event.
For the space Of several seconds the two men
s once more i@Ge t ,asinS h S spot from WEE whieh 'hhe e had
just removed his eyes. Sir John raised his right
You lie. Count Sas,rowitch, he said. speak.
ing in the same quiet. deliberate manner as be-
is not the King Of BsaiikanisaH" "AD
To convey all adequate conception OF the ire
is a tns, beyond The capacity Of my humble
pen. Their effect: indeed. was indescribable;
bloed rrlne eh M.Rl'ter fay w,th eyes bsc di''e n n and
eonvul;ively at the arms OF the chair that stood
beside him, while his lips opened and closed
speech and could bring forth no sound.
A moment of total silence followed. The two
now at Sir John. and now at Count Sastrowitch.
while the Others stood rooted to the spot-struck
rlatton the full meaning OF which their minds
were quite unprepared to grasp. The Prince
waI ahs iTss to ha hfe nf h sns slle Rsfi Of 9' SeMII1s an
ment, he took a step forward. then stopped
again, and remained in an attitude Of eager ex-
pectation. looking toward Sir John Templeton
as II for some further solution OF the extraordi-
nary mystery his words had unveiled.
Amid this strange scene the miserable object
of IL all, still redundant in the royal armchair,
but completely collapsed now and huddled to-
gether In an almost shapeless mass, stared with
dull eyes vacantly into the space before him,
qriverinp and quaking like a creature stricken
with IA sudden palsy.
Slowly Sir John let his extended right arm
sink to his side. Then, turning once more to
the Prince Regent, he bowed low. and said In
his simple..c ourtly tones;
~ an at your Majesty's commando
The words released the spell that rested upon
the assembly. Uttering u yell OF mingled fury
and despair. Count Sastrowitch now sprang
forward with n sudden bound. But whether his
purpose was TO fall upon Sir John Temp.eton. or
10 wreak his mad passion upon the Prince. whom
lie hated, will never be known: for before he
could execute IL he was seized by the two off,
GERS OF the %latter's rctinue and held in their iron
grip. powerleSs TO act or move.
Pale and agitated. Prince Gregnr Alexander
strobe quickly To the door, turned the key in
the lock. and approaching the Prime Minister.
who stood. with white lips and staring eyes. be-
tween his two stalwart guardians. regarded him
long and intently.
Miserable man" he said at last, ~ require
no Confirmation from YOUR lIps. But. by the