Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-04

| do rot know who was more ast1nishod
at that, cassel or /. True. the girl was
gone: for Il moment before. the dukes
back being half turned. she had slipped
into :; doorway a couple Of PAGES away,
and there ] could hear her breathing even
now. But that my lord had failed to de-
tect the movements ] could no more be
lieve than that he hai failed to see the
girl two minutes before, when as clearly
as 1 ever saw anything in my life, l had
seen him examine her features,
Nevertheless. Il see no girl" he repeat
ed, coolly. But l see you. AIR. Cassel, and
as the alarm may be given at any mo-
ment, and l do not choose to be found
with you, j must neg of you to descend at
once. DO you; sir he continued, address
ing me sharply. go with him. and when
you have taken him back TO the hail bring
me the key of the door
well. | am DID, said Cassel.
For the first time the duke betrayed
signs of anger "Go. sir" ne said. And
do you-this to me-"bring me the key OF
that dor
Cassel turned as if to go: then. with
off his hat. My lord, ne said, you
well called the King Of Hearts For a
WING you are id good fellow
Chapter XXXE.
What was preparing, what my lord
intended by conduct so extraordinary / had
no time to consider. For though | got Cas-
sci into the hall again undetected-wlic
of itself was a marvel-when it came 10
taking the key from the lock- my hands
shook SO violently with fear and excite
ment, that the first attempt failed Be
fore l rad succeeded, the steward hustled
up through the crowd and seeing what !
was about. babe me desist with some
rcugnneSS.
DO You warI to escape that way?' said
he, bursting with Importance. Leave it
TO me. Here. hands off. man" And he
drew me Into The hall and locked the door
So there | was. fixed It were i'll the
girls empty place, with Casscl griuning at
me on one side and the steward grulnbl:na
en- the otner. and the crowd so thick about
us tht it was Impossible for me to bulge
an inch 1t amazed me that the girls alb
sehct mad not yet been noticed; but | knew
that in no short time it must be- and my
misery was in proportion. Presently,
Halo, cried the steward. peepng first
on one side OF NE and then on the other
Where is that slut that was here?'
In with your master" said Cassel coolly
But CharnCck is with him.
We'll l suppose he can have two at a
time ii he pleases. Mr.. Puddinghead, Thou
sand devilsI Are we gong to be kept in
this crowd ali night?''
The steward shifted his indignation. but
ne answer satisfied him for the time; and,
the messengers and tipstayes being on
gagged at the farther end of the hall in
shepherding their prisoners on the side OF
the mousse door, and being crowded upon
pesideS by gentlemen whom they feared to
oFend, had no notion of what had ham
pened or that their tale was not cornDlete
Some one had lowered and lighted a round
lanthorn that hung in the middle of the
ran: out, TIE light hanging low, and be-
ing intercepted by the heads of those be-
fore us, barely reached the corner in which
stood. Still l knew that thi. was but \
respite. and my relief and joy We're great
when a cry of Price! Pricer' was raIsed
ami Price! Who is he? His grace wants
Price,. passing from lip to lip, the steward
thrust me forward, and called to the near
est to make IA Way for ME: and this being
done L was speedily passed through the
crowd 10 door at the farther side of the
hail, where two servants who stood on
guard there having satisfied themselves
that l was the man, I admitted.
l Knew that l was not yet out of the
wood Moreover. l had cause to doubt
how l now stood In the dukes favor or
what might be his intentions toward me-
But at least l lad escaped from the hall
ana rem the stew ard, whom / had be-
gun TO regard with a mixture Of fear and
hatred; and | prepared to face the ordeal
before me. with a courage that now seems
astonishing. However. for the moment my
courage was not to be proved The room
in which l found myself was large and
lofty, lined for the most part with books
and adorned with marble busts that CLEAN
cd shostly in the obscure corners or stood
out bright and white where the radiance
OF the candles fell on them. In the middle
OF Inc rich dark carpet that covered the
floor stood table furnished with paners
pens and books; and this, with three in
quisltorial chairs, set along the farther
side of 1t, had a formidable air But the
three persons for whose accommodation
the chairs had been placed were now on
their feet. standing in a group before the
hearth, and so deeply engrossed in the
subject under discussion that If they were
aware OF my entrance, they took no notice
of it.
The Earl of Marlborough, the more hand
M hn
whom l had seen pass through the hall
q man even then of a great and splendid
presence and address, though not what he
alterward became, was speaking WI en find
Ing myself UNDECIDED, / gathered INV wits
TO listen. Il have no right to give ad-
wee, your grace" he was saying in suave
and eourtly accents. But 1 think you will
be i!l-advised II you pay much attention to
what these rogues allege; or make 1t pub
lie"
mo man will be safer urged his COM
panion. with, 1T seemed to me- a note of
anxiety in his voice.
Better hang them out of hand" re-
sumed the earl blandly. And he took spuff
and dellcately busted his upper lip.
Hfet do not know" answered the duke
VINO stood between the two with his ewes
on the fire, and his back toward me- ..If
We go TOO fast, people may say, my lord
that We fear what they might disclose"
The earl laughed blandly. "You had lit
ne gain by Preston. said he. And you
Kept him long enough"
MY Lord Devonshire is anxious to 20
into the matter thoroughly"
Doubtless he has his reasons" Lord
Marlborough answered, Struggling his
shoulders. The question is whether your
grace has the same"
I know none why We should not 30