Evening star., 1896-11-28
began. waysttns, "But : Gee no evidence

4 ::wSal R:n p grove It." ga
iass sish s fsna ~ h'ssss face TO
To the kings Satisfaeti6nr'
ITO the kings satisfaction"
sad %s With be !s ss ,sas the p5incs 5sss
edge Of what you Rsxe aireadys ire aye accom- snaM,
plished. I would sooner cut OF my right
h hand than do what i'h,ave undertaken to
"a ~
It had barely struck the quarter after O
o'clock when the prince regent accom-
panied m aea.b by Sir Richard ~ Anson. and followed
household, a scion Of ,pne Of the Oldest
Balkanian families, and two other mobiles
of high military rankas drove up to the
On alighting the party were Joined by
Sir John Templeton and proceeded unG,Ies,
toned through the lines of obseuuious
lackeys to the kings private audience
chamber on the ground floor.
They were met as they entered the ante
room by the officer on duty, who infarmed
the prince with military salute that his
majesty was engaged on important affairs
of state, and had given orders that he was
not to be disturbed.
The kings orders, my friend" the
prince said haughtily, were obviously not
intended to apply to his own brother. You
Will therefore be good enough 10 inform
his majesty that am here, and renuest an
immediate hearing on a matter of the ut
most urgency
He took a step toward the door leading
TO the audience chamber. But the officer o
sturdy soldier, who had now recovered
from his surprise and CONSERVATION. inter
posed himself determinedly between the
prince and the door.
Your highness," he said biuntfy. draw
Ing his sword, II am here to do NV dntv
The kings commands shall be obeyed'
even have to USE
but befoSe he could complete the SEN
tence his sword was wrested from his
siderable violence by one Of the off1ceIs
OF the princes suite. The next moment
the prince himself had flung open the door
and entered the audience chamber. The
others followed in silent procession.
Their entry had an extraordinary effect.
Ihe room was occupied by three persons.
one one OF a,Sin whom was reclining in spacious
easy chatr drawn up at the side of the
writing table, and the other two were
standing engaged In an animated discuss
SION on the opposite side Of the table One
VI these Two: somewhat gaunt figure,
with jet black eyes and hair, and sin
ister, ever-chansing expression of coIn-
tenance, was Count Sastrowitch. the Bal
kanian prime minister, and the other was
Prince Soratofr.
The prime minister's face, when the
prince regent and his companions appeared
upon the threshold. assumed an express
'AoAA
equally blended. 1t was evident that the
suddenness of this intrusion had taken
nlm completely aback. and for the momen:
deprived him of utterance. The Russian
pienipotentiary, Prince Soratoff, appeared
scarcely to realize what was passing and
glanced alternately at the minister and at
Ine group OF newcomers, with an air of
utter bewilderment. AS for his majesty
or Balkania, the pale and somewhat bent
fgure reclining In the armchair it would
De dlf1cult to say what the emotions We're
that depicted themselves In his counte-
nance. Predominant, however, among
others was an air of total heIplessness
expressed most speaking!y in an appealing
glance which he cast upon Count Sastro.
witch, as II to invoke the aid of his strong
will.
All these particulars the prince regent
took in at a glance, as he advanced reso-
iuteiy into the middle ef the room.
my brother. he began. in a Arm but
respectful voice. IF 1 have been compelled
to intrude thus unceremoEiously upon your
privacy, the fault is not mine and. more
over, the circumstances which bring me
mere VIII, l feel assured. exonerate me
from any blame in your maiesty's eyes
To be brief" he went OFT In a sterner tone
and pointing to Count sastrowitch. al
stand here as the accuser OF yonder insoIent
Scnemer This man. in whom your majesty
has so blindly conaded. has bartered his
country's interests and his sovereign's for
a sum of gold. 1 have 1t on unimpeach-
aade, able evidence These papers, which 1 be-
SSSSA youE IidJeSty--
But he got no further. With a ouick
movement Count Sastrowitch stepnipa for
ward, Wrenched the bundle OF naners tba
prince prince held cut toward the king from his
dictive look, exclaimed
DO you think his majesty has time to
amuse himself by examining these imnn.
dent 1orgeries? This device to foil me and
tnWart the work of sober statesmanship
is well conceived indeed. but its cunninp
Is too palpabie. Moreover" he Continued
ana Eere note of malicious triumph
sounded IN his voice, "the artifce comes
treaty is already signed Behold the conn
terpart In the hands Of his excellency the
ambassador Of Russia"
me prince and those with him fell back
IN olsmay, while Prince Soratoff, the Rus
sian pienfpotentiary. held up the fateful
document for his hishness' inspection with
bow and sardonic smile
We are too late. them" the prince mur-
lainy has succeeded"
Unless your highness," Sastrowitch said
JeerlnSly, to crown the audacity of vour
t hewy assumed role, chooses to lay violent
haiios upon the sacred person Of Russia's
envoy, and remedy by force what your wit
has failed to prevent VII
Enough" the king murnaured. rising
ieeeiy y IN MS chair. and casting another
naii-appealing glance at the minister as
II he sought Inspiration and encourap pe
ment from him. Il have heard too mnsh
your nlgnness shall answer for this inso-
lent contempt OF my royal authority. Am
to be the mere plaything of those who
oppose me? Begone, sir; leave nv pres
ence! Count Sastrowttch, you know INV
Will Rid me of these intruders."
de sank back again into his chair na,a
and trembling. more like a man in dire ex.
tremity, who has braced himself for a mo.
ment to utter words of defiance insn;red
by another's mind. than a monarch fssuinp
his own commands
Sir John Templeten had never taken his
eyes Off him since he entered. and his
steady, unremitting gaze had a peculiar ef
fect upon Its object The king did NOT
return 1t, nor even apparently show anv
consciousness that it was directed upon
him. But even and anon a shiysr az Of
some inner apprehension, would pass over
MIN, and he would move uneasily in hts
chair and glance in his helpless, dependent
way across at Count Sastrowftch.
Inc latter Interpreting the movement in
his own fashion, strode with a gleam Of
nerce determination in his eyes toward the
door leading to the ante-room by which
the prince and his attendants had entered
III the kings orders fall upon Needless
ears, he *aid as he passed the prince
there are those here who will see them
executed. After all, If the die fails sooner
than Intended, 1t is your highness' fault. not
mine." -''
A malicious smile hung upon his Inns as
ne uttered these words. But his inten-
t1ons whatever they We're were not destin-
ed to be fulfilled. Before he reached the
door ne was Intercepted by one Of the off,
GERS OF the princes S,xIfo uybo ,.,1+I, II.