The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1896-11-14
.sOh, we are the best of friends with
England, said he.
But am an American, said I.

SleT.
you Taught But who laughs last
laughs best, and l promise you the
Grand Duchy of X shall be made to
pay for this pleasantly with ven
geance.
"This is not the first time that you
have been arrested while in these do
minions, he said sternly. And I must
remind you that lese majestic is hang
ing matter.
"Lese majeste!" I repeated, half in
scorn, half in terror.
ia wohl, mein Herr" he answered.
But after all, am but obeying orders, +"
he added, with an infection almost apol
ogetic.
Where had heard that curious, soft
voice before? A voice so soft that his
German sounded almost like Italian.
Meanwhile we had driven straight
across the town, past the walls, and
into the open country. The night air,
putting in through the open carriage
window, was sweet with the doors Of
dew-laden grass and vibrant with the
humming of million insects.
You are perhaps conducting me to
the frontier" suggested, deriving some
relief from the fancy.
"Oh. hardly so far as that, let US
hope" he rejoined, with what struck me
as suppressed chuckle.
Far! cried. Can you use the word
in speaking of q pocket handkerchief?"
1T is small, but it is picturesque; it is
paintable, said he; "and. what is more,
by every syllable you utter against it,
you weave strand into your halter and
drive nail into your coffin.
The night was intensely dark, and l
could see no further into it than the few
yards of roadway Illuminated by cur
carriage lamps. We drove on in silence,
for perhaps half hour longer. Then
at last the horses hoofs resouDded upon
stone, and we drew up. My officer de-
scended from the carriage; followed
him. We were standing under massive
arciiway, q sort of porte-cochere, light
ed by hanging lantern. Before small
door pierced in the stone wall fronting
us sentinel was posted, with his mus
ket presented in salute.
The three mounted gendarmes sprang
from their saddles.
Farewell, Herr Weinricht," said my
officer. Il have enjoyed our drive to-
gether more than | can tell you. II we
/! should never meet again in this world,
let US hope we shall do so in another
and better" Then. turning to his
sutordinates: Conduct this gentle
man to the tower chamber" he COM
manded.
The sentry stood aside.' One OF the
gendarmes preceding me, the other two
coming behind, I was conveyed up a
narrow winding stone staircase, into a
big octagon- shaped room.
The room was lighted by innumerable
candles set in sconce5 round the walls.
1t was comfortably, even richly, fur
nished, and decorated with consider
able degree OF taste. A vast worm
hued Persian carpet covered the stone
floor; books, pictures, biblots, were
scattered discriminatory about; and in
one corner there stood grand piano,
open, with violin and bow lying on it,.
The gendarmes bowed themselves out,
shutting the door behind them with an
! ominous clangor.
If this is to be my dungeon cell. l
thought, L shall not be SO uncomforta-
BILE after ALL But how preposterous of
them to force me 10 wear my dress
suit"
I threw myself into an easy chair,
buried my face in my hands and tried
to reflect upon my situation.
Suddenly / was disturbed by the
sound of light little cough behind me,
discreet little ahem.
looked quickly up.
A lady had entered the apartment,
and was standing in the middle OF it,
smiling in contemplation Of my despair
ing attitude.
Good heavens" I gasped, but not
audibly, as her face grew clear to my
startled sight, "the Grand Duchess
herself"
Il am glad to see you, Mr.. VAIN
right" her highness began in English,
but slightly continental. * is a
dull little place-oh, believe me, the
dullest of its size in Christendom-and
they tell me you are an amusing man."
Now, of course the reader has FORE
seen it from the outset; otherwise why
should I be OBTAINING him with this
anecdote? But upon me it came as a
thunderbolt, and in my emotion l for
| got myself and exclaimed aloud: Sc
| bastian Roch!" The face of the Grand
Duchess had haunted me with sense
of familiarity; the voice of my red
headed officer in the carriage had seemed
| not strange to me; but now that l saw
| the face, and heard the voice, tingcd by
that slight foreign quality Of English,
at one and the same time, all was clear.
Sebastian Rochl"
you said?" the gracious lady queried,
arching her eyes.
Nothing, madame. / was about to
thank your highncss for your kind
ness, but"
But your mind wandered, and you
made some irrelevant military observa-
ton about bastion rock. 1t is perhaps
aphasia.'
Eyes, very probably, assented I.
But you are man OF honor, are you
not?"
Il hope So"
The English generally are. You can
| keep a state secret. especially when
you happen to have learned it by sort
of accident, can you not?"
Il am a very tomb for such things,
| madame.
THAT is well. And, besides, you
must consider that not all homicide is
| murder. Sometimes one is driven to
kill in self-defense.
Il have not doubt of that.
Il am only sorry it should all have
happened before you saw his squint. 1t
would have pleased your sense OF humor.
u is the dullest little principality,
she went on, "oh, but dull, dull, dull!
I am sometimes forced in despair to
perpetrate little jokes. Yet you have
actually stopped here five weeks. II