Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-26


for some minutes to his masters self-grat-
ula<ions on the newly ratified British con-
tract. rose as IL to take his departure.
Wait, Selpdorfr' the duke said.
My lord has asked for private inter-
view, your highness," Selpdorf reminded
him.
YES but have no private affairs to dis
cuss with my cousin. Anything that need
be said between us Is better said before
Witness" replied the duke. How do you
suppose he will take the news of our agree
n!ent with England?''
Selpdorfs answer was slow in coming.
and before he spoke Count Sagan strobe
into the room. He carried a sheaf of pa
pers; his imperious temper was wont to
rush every business through to which he
put his hand.
Il begged for a few moments in private
with your highness,' he said, with glance
at the minister.
considered third answered the duke
blandly. He knows our secrets without
being told them. Pray proceed, my lord
Is there anything can co for your
Yes, sire; wish to lay before you the
matter I was forced to postpone at the
castle. I also made use Of the opportunity
to bring one or two papers relating to the
guard for signature
The duke took the papers He was seated
at writing table, and he glanced care
lessly over them as Sagan went on.
Under your approval, these papers in
clude Lieut.. unziar's appointment as cap
Deceased" put in the duke, with a sharp
significance.
Sagan frowned. Gustave had a curious
alertness about him tonight.
Eyes, poor fellow! We can i'll spare him.,
he said. ALSO, we have agreed to propose
Abenfeldt as Junior subaltern.'
II have no objection" the duke said.
LAS for the other subject upon which
have for some time wished to speak to you.
sire. / am authorized to lay before your
hfghness certain proposals."
stop. my lord again interrupted the
duke. '1f those proposals have any refer
ence to Won Elmur and his projects for the
good of the state. I absolutely decline to
hear them What's this?" He had laid
aside the upper papers after signature. and
was scanning the one below with an eX-
preston of countenance which showed that
he liked what he read very little.
Sagan watched him with a deepening
frown. the more subtle Selpdorf with curl
osity. At other times it had been the
dukes custom to add his signature to pa
pers without a glance at their contents.
The destiny of one man is thus often de-
cided by the passing mood of another.
whats this about RallywoOd?"
"a bad business. but your highness' sig
nature makes many a wrong right said
Sagan, with a clumsy attempt at pleas
pen and ink, sire
But, by heaven. not the will!'' cried the
duke II will not sign it! And If will
M. Selpdorf will assure you that it is
necessary in the cause of discipline urged
Sagan with a lowering look.
and l will assure NJ. Selpdorf that am
accustomed to make up my own mind! You
know it already, Selpdorf."
II have always known it, SIRE" said
the supple chancellor
you will hear my reasonS?" asked Sa-
gan, angrily.
The duke nodded.
Capt. Hollywood was guilty of gross dis
obedience of orders. His case has been
laid before court-martial of his brother
officers, and he has been condemned to be
shot. The trial has been conducted with
What were Capt. Rallywood's orders,
them
"He was ordered to carry certain dis
patches to the chancellor, but he carried
them elsewhere for his own purposes
The duke nodded slowly, and half closed
his eyes. He remembered a certain damp
morning by the river, when Rallywood had
ridden to take orders from Selpdorf.
so you are in this also Selpdorf?' he
said. What dispatches were these? Pray
tell me frankly. 1 believe l know some
thing already"
dispatches sent to me from the frontier
sire
Which he failed to bring to you. Where.
then, did he take them?''
The delay and the persistent unexpected
questioning of the duke irritated Sagan al
most beyond endurance. He struck in:
Sire. does it matter what he did with
them, as We have proofs that he disobeyed
orders? That is the point-what need to
ask further? Then, as the duke still shook
his head. he burst out, We'll, then he car
ried them to the British legation-to his
own countrymen, mind you: He was false
to his oath as a soldier! He must be shot"
Gustave of Nassau a man who lied
much and often, as those of poor moral
caliber will. He lied now with zest
So? Although Capt. Hollywood acted
under my personal instructions. Simon?'
he said, quietly.
Sagan sprang to his feet.
role. Yes. he acted under my orders for
the dispatches We're connected with the
agreement l have within the last hour
signed with England, and about which the
first proposals We're laid before me al mid
night by the British envoy during my visit
to your castle,'
What shouted Sagan, as his house of
cards fell about him. You lie, Gustava!
And Germany? selpdorf we hold your
promises 1t is impossible to think this
to be true
ut is true" said the chancellor. 81 beg
you will recollect that his highness is pres
ent my lord. This excitement-'
Sagan stood gaspng and staring. His
passion seemed to choke him as he stood
but the duke, still exalted by the sense of
triumph and power, mistook the silence for
speeches. humiliation. His temper rose
as the others seemed to sink.
You can deceive me more, my Lord
sagan!' he cried, in a high excited voice.
You took Colendorp from me, you would
now take Hollywood, one by one all my
faithful guard But 1 am sovereign still
You shall not tamper any longer with my
loyal state; you shall never bring your
traitorous German schemes to an issue"
But there were things impossible for
Count Simon of Sagan to endure. Never
before had he been twitted with impotence
and failure. He could not survive so utter
defeat. man to bear these things must
be less thorough than the count. He was
too fierce, too imperious, to bear so great
a reverse. If he must be put to shame
before the world, if even a paltry captain
of the guard were to be permitted to mega
tive his will, why, then, life had best be
over.
He seemed to struggle for speech. At
last. without warning. his passion leaped
into flame. Like a wild beast, he spranG
across the table at the duke-the poor, sniv-
cling coward, who had dared to fay him
with his tongue! The old hate fired the
new fury as he clutched Gustave.
The duke gave a shrill, feeble cry, not
such a cry as one would have expected
from a man of his age, and then Selpdorf
was between them, shouting for the guard.
You false hound!" Sagan CRASHED his
teeth In Selpdorfs face as the chancellor
threw himself upon him.
Shouts and shots and the wild turmoil of
deadly struggle. Then the guard had Sc
cured Sagan. The duke stood trembling
and incoherent leaning upon the table. and
bafuaan than faoa dounxya nd m tho floor