Omaha daily bee., 1899-08-06

where our man has got to. His absence is
doubtless due to some trifing cause"
As Rallywood retired Sagau cast a COM
prehensive glance around the tables and
noted Counsellor's absence with a sinister
satisfaction.
All the morning he had been specializing
upon the course Counsellor would pursue
after the rencontre Of the previous night.
Most likely disappear from the castle. He
would not dare to brazen II out. Sagan
argued that the British envoy could not be
very sure of his position yet. What had
he proposed to the duke? And how had
the duke answered him? What was to be
the result of the visit, or would there he
any? sclpdorf held the dukes confidence.
He must checkmate England and openly
throw his influence into the German scale.
No half courses could any longer avail in
NASSAU.
Here his reflections were interrupted, for
Counsellor's big burly figure was bending
over Nine. de Sagan's chair, before he ac-
cepted the seat at her side with the assured
manner of a favored guest.
Even the Russian attache blinked. All,
these islanders! What next?
AS an immediate result Count Sagan was
forced to accept the situation thrust upon
him.
nave Nbu 6ltBN we'll IldIOl : ne lllhAltA
sardonically. "No bad dreams. oh?"
II dream seldom-and | make it a point
in the morning to forget bad dreams II |
have had any replied Counsellor, with a
good humored raising of his big eyebrows.
THAT is wise" said Sagan, FOR dreams
and schemes of the night rarely have solid
foundations
$50 they say, my lord; but I do not trouble
myself about these things. A man of my
age is forced TO consecrate his best energies
to his digestion"
The duke had decided Upon returning to
Revonde during the forenoon, but most OF
the guests were to remain for the projected
boar hunt. The hunting party had already
started when Blivinski and Counsellor drove
out of the castle courtyard on their way to
the nearest railway station. which lay
under the mountains some miles away.
The tsa had blown the snow into heavy
drifts, leaving the roads and other exposed
places bare and almost clean-swept. Near
the station they passed a squadron Of the
guard, sent by Wallenloup to escort the duke
back to the capital.
The pair in the carriage talked little, but
when the jingling Of accoutrements had
died away Blivinski said, in an emotionless
tone:
"You met with Count Sagan last night,
then-in your dreams?'
Eyes, or Duke Gustave would have been
over the border by this morning"
"Ah!'
"And history goes to prove that ~reigning
sovereigns are fragile ware-they cannot be
borrowed without LANCER"
You allude to Bulgarian Blivinski
asked promptly. with AN air of genial inter-
est.
"Why, for the sake of argument, Alex
der can stand as a case in point"
III say five borrowed him, We also
returned him."
Counsellor's reply was characteristic and
justified his companions opinion Of his race.
"Damaged-so they say"
Blivinski considered the dreary landscape.
1--WE must not believe all we hear. In
diplomatic relations, my friend, ethics cease
to exist. Diplomacy is. after all, a simple
game-even elementary magnificent beg
gar-my-neighbor, which we continue to play
into eternity"
But there are rules even in beggar-my-
~neighbor," said Counsellor.
Blivinski kicked the rug softly from his
feet as the carriage drew up.
n rule, only one" he remarked; Brit
ain loves to feign the Pharisee. We smile
we others-because we understand that
her rule and ours Is, after all, the same
self-interest."
"If that be the case, we come back to the
law of the beast" said Counsellor.
The Russian put his gloved hand upon the
opened door and looked back over his
shoulder at Counsellor.
always, my dear friend, by very many
turnings-but always"