The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-25

hdllVWOou nau MS DUCK W oouhseHor ~ tho
so / have heard. hut do not Join until to-
morrow" he replied In an eXpressionless voice.
hand ihS your quarters In the paIaee' HOW
II shall also have the rooms tomorrow"
his 't compnniSn. "HulioI 1 didn't notice YOU
before. Is that your notion Of the gentle art
OF masquerade Wnqt are you meant TO be
Il believed myself to be disguised as an ON
Ger and gentleman. returned counsellor
sturdy figure. clad in the uncompron!isinR
scarlet SO dear To his cnGntrvs heart rus
worn in or about the year OF grace 100
Your old reRimenty
Counsellor nodded. And my grand
inthsg's'" adding What's the matter with the
Nothing" said Rallvwood. laughing. Per.
haps Imagined on an occasion CT his KIND
mi seading than this blatantly British get; up.
What we're you cNpectinG.a uopnadourt
Only a proportion OF the people wear masks at
this ball; it's an annual affair. besides, lie
ways be on the alert and have the purpose in
lew. like The actor In sx-penny theatre. who
plays up to the gallery aud Keeps his eye omen
for the rotten egg OF his enemy. The egg may
not be thrown but he must he ready to dodge
i all the, same. And have never excelled in
'Ah-just what the Chan ,elor thinks. lie
says he has an immense admiration FOR you
as he most honest diplomatist in I,urore.'
ing that fact to you. did hey Then shall take
the precaution OF insuring my hIe. Any.
thing might happen 10 man OF whom he has
SO yillainuus an opinion
Rallywool was arranging his CATERS.
why; You don't suppose Selpdorf Is GO
ing to throw the egg? lie spoke of you with
:. Ny good John. he has, already thrown It!
SON." said Counsellor. You have spoit my
evening out. Before | had no purpose now
you have thrust one uno9n me. You should
m n lpI n
Rallywood was getting himself into his vel
yeteen coat with IL good deal OF unnecessary
rerou s?H he Sf sS% s are Hs is com
sssr Spt th. MNSr bourhtuv
yet the moment TO watch him is the moment
when he acts that he Is acting. with us 9TH
bitual and Il pleasure. However. he has given
you your company: the rank is substantial.
as far as it goes. aud at least the accompany
ing pay is not altogether visionary"
Yes. he's done all that hollywood was
f!nging some of his belongings back Into his
The next thing will be to find you mis-
SION" :, r,,,
IN expressive face. L am TO reform the
guard!
Counsellor burst into great laugh. but as
They viii take it kindly! Their welcome
to, you is likely TO pe-lnteresting
mess las: week and was introduced BY old
Wall euour. They we're very civil"
An and since you left they have been very
silent. They are OVERRIDING it-too civil and
too silent. Looks bad. you know"
oh, that's all right; Selpdorf told me not to
be drawn into any shallow uuarrelS." Rally
WOOD answered with "A smile.
u But the Major did not take up the smile.
The two vertical lines above his heshy nose
ut strikes me. my boy. that you've got the
devil 10y the tail tins time lie said Gruttly. as
his eyes rested Ion moment on lakewood:
how
Ready We can drive to the palace together.
l have carriaSe waiting. ,,.
cigarettes Of the waiter and started. The
wind was bowling in its usual twanGinG ca
force as they gained the otsn lighted embark
ment of the river. along which they passed for
some distance before reaching the courtyard
The great entrance hall was still fun Of arri-
walls, while up the wide central staircase
kaleidoscope OF form, and color. Eager heads
thrust this way and that. picturesque figures
grouping and greeting. ,ayalisrs or oil pc
rians. cardinals, Queens and clowns.some-
times the wlsest heads under this most foolish
caps-while here and there few favored
parer folk made dosultory notes and ketches.
The painted ceiling stretching overhead is
one Of the trqmphs OF Renaissance art The
that marvellous work has been II moot point
in art circles FOR a couple of centuries or there
abouts. and quite library on the subject eI-
lists. The Maasauns aie very proud OF their
ceiling rrouder stili OF the controversy which
has ragged and continues 10 rage around it.
NJ. Selpdorf. as repressnting his master.
stood at the head Of the staircase anu received
the guests viii good deal more ooitenesss
might have shown. 'ur thar uersonnge was
said TO have an awkward habit OF turning his
back uuon those whom he happened 70 dislike.
MAJOR Counsellor was greeted with eirusion;
Ra!!ywood with raised eyebrows and slight
reserye.
Of the Guard this evening"" Selpdort said in n
low voice AMI with significant glance AT
Il have not yet Joined. your Txcelency. To-
morrow | hope to have that honor. returned
Rally wool, and passed on INTO the gallery be.
yond. This gallery. Openng from the head
of the staircase. ran round the great saloon.
which served the purpose Of a ballroom. and
many OF the guests were amusing themselves
by looking down over the silk-hung balustrade
on the dancers below.
In the gallery. Counsellor paused to say
word here aud there to several persons, who.
like Hollywood and himself. were without
masks. but he seemed to have. curonsly little
facility in penetrating disGuises. Presently
huriy Old man in the gliltering green and
gold ofthe Guard disengaged himself from.the
curtains at the back Of the gallery. and. nod
woods salute. brought his hand down with q
rough heHrtiness on Counseller's shoulder.
! am glad to see YOU" he said with the laugh
In his small ewes marred by wrinkle Of sus:
pIcions cunn!ns. an expression which seemGd
sensual face. What good wind:has bic wn You
back among u.s.
Thanks. my lord" Counsellor turned with
ready response. Il am glad to find that some
Of my old friends. esueriallr Count Sagan.
hayo not forgotten me-" he said simply.
We believed vOu had forgotten Nassau"
"Mnnsnu will not allow herself to be forgot
ten" laughed Counsellor. she il coquctte
and demands consideration from oil the
world"
Sagan's face changed.
Yes, a comettc. who trifes with many ad-
mircrs, but who knows how 10 hold her own
against them he replied s!gni lcantlv. WHO
l. that he added. staring after Rnlywood.
Il think recognize him tS an English Lieu
tenant in the frontier cavalrv.'
He ia the sane to-day" said Counsellor.
What exclaimed Sagau. Why to-day
Has he, then, come in for one OF your colossal
fortunes
Who can say returned Counsellor. a
fortune ora culos sal misfortune. An! there
Is Nine. ASuard. Au rcyoir. Count
Counsellor passed on, perfectly well aware
Of the heavy meaning attached TO the w!liul
ignoring Of Iallywood's appointment to the
guard by its Colunel-u- Chief. There was GER
tainly danger ahead,
CHAPTER V.
GOOD LUCK A$n 4 TfREFIN.
Meanwhile Rallywool had come to an an
chor beside one Of the high cmh Isscd doors Of
gult and white which l,d from Ia" gallery into
l