Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-10-05
CHAPTER XII.


GHAl'TER ali.
ROllO Uses a Little Persuasion.
Five, six, seven, eight of the ten slow
minutes passed away. and beyond glance
at the clock and a more absorbing interest
In the furze on his chin, Senior Munoz had
not moved. The seconds hand upon the
clock on the mantel shelf was crawling
round its miniature dial for the ninth time
with vast apparent elaboration when a
noise was heard from the direction Of the
queens apartments.
There was a rapid gable of tongues. a
scurry Of footsteps, the kissing rustic Of
stiff silken skirts along narrow passages
and voice which exclaimed more and
more shrilly: The murderersi The cow
ards! Surely they will never dare! Have
they forgotten that 1 am a queen"
And with these words Maria Christina
of Naples burst like a whirlwind into the
room Her long black hair streamed down
her back. Her little daughter followed. a
comb still in the hand with which she had
been struggling to take the place of Dona
susanna, who, as before related, had gone
to visit her relations.
After these two -Concha followed, In ap-
pearance calm and placid as the MINDLESS
Mediterranean on day of winter.
Upon his mistress entrance the duke
threw himself upon one knee. The rest Of
the company bowed with grace or awk-
wardness, according to their several abili-
ties, but the queen regent did not heed
them She flew instantly to her husband
and raised him in her arms.
'Fernando!' she cried. what Is this
hear? Did they threaten to kill you if
do not grant them an interview? Well,
here l am. Let them siay instead
What have you to say to me. gentlemen
aud towards? What 1 have to say to you
is that 1 hope you may not live to repent
having used such compulsion with a wo-
man and a queen!'
Rollo bowed again very low. and was
oh l. f,.to
''As for this hussy," she cried, turning
upon C0neha, IF had my way she should
be indicted for witchcraft and burnt alive
at the stake, as In the good times of the
holy office! Yet you. Fernando, for whom
| daily risk my life, you defended her-=yes.
defended her to my very facet
Beloved and most honored." said the
duke. soothingly, Il did but suggest that
it would be better to convert the girl-to
make a good Christian of her
"Yes-yes. cried the queen, stamping her
foot. but did you not add that in that
case You would like to be her father con-
fesSor?'
Certainly did, most gracious one," an
swered her husband. soothingly. You
mistook my meaning. All that l said was
no more than that many might be anxious
to obtain the Office of father confessor
being, as it were, eager to take the credit
for the restoration of so notable peni-
tent
But RoIlo had small patience with the
chickering's of royal lovers at such a time
Il must crave your majesty's strict and
instant attention." he said, suddenly Drop
ping all ceremony. Il will only detain you
for moment, IL, as l anticipate / receive
your consent to what / have the honor of
proposing to you"
At once the jealous woman froze Into a.
queen and fronted the young man with
naughty stare
Your majesty" he began. 81 do not
dwell upon our services of the past night
Ihey are known to you. Had 1t not been
for my friends 1t Is probable that no one Of
your party would at this moment have
been left alive. Now the day Is passing
and you are no safer than you were last
night. 1t Is necessary, therefore that YOU
put yourselves unreservedly under the es-
cort ana protection of myself and friends
We must leave La Granja at once"
Never: cried Maria Christina, fiercely.
Am |, the Queen Regent of Spain, to be
thus badgered and commander? l. have
never suffered 1t since I left my fathers
house at Naples A boy and a foreigner
shall not be the first. My royal guards will
assuredly be here In an hour at the latest.
Inc roads VIII be cleared. and for you
You shall all be safe In prison cells, where,
for your insolence, you ought to be lying
at this moment
Then" said Rollo. gravely, 81 deeply re-
gret that 1 am obliged to use the only
means that are open me to fulfill my orders
and to induce your highness to place her
self in safety.
And, pray" cried Maria Christina, in
orders to place Queen of Spain in re-
straint?"
In a moment RoIIo realized that 1t was
impossible for him to reveal his position
as an officer Of the Carlist armies, but
fortunate remembrance of some words drop
ped by the Abbot of Montblanch instantly
gave him his cue.
Il act" he said. calmly. under the Iu-
mediate direction of the holy father him
self-at whose feet. In the Vatican of Rome
You shall one day kneel to ask pardon for
your sinsr
This unexpected reply seemed to agitate
the queen regent, who. though forced to
create herself party out of the men Of
liberal opinions in her realm, was at heart
IKE all the Bourbons convinced and even
bigoted religionary. But Munoz who had
hitherto been silent, stopped and whispered
something in her ear.
How am 1 to be convinced of that?" she
cried, turning on him fierceiy. II will not
believe 1t, even from your
Il regret" said Rollo, that your f.igh-
ness must be compelled to believe It, Pray
do me the honor of following my argument
The holy father judges it necessary for the
peace of this realm and your own souls
profit, that you should be placed In situa-
ton where you may be able to act more in
accordance with what he knows to be your
secret desires for the welfare OF the church
Of which ne is Gods vice regent on earth"
Roio was glad to reflect that In uttering
these words he was only repeating the So
norous phrases Of Don Baitaza varela.
when the abbot delivered him his comr.,is-
sion in his own chamber at Montblanch.
But the lady chiefly concerned continued
obdurate. She would not bulge an inch.
She professed an absolute certainty that her
guard would appear In a few hours, and
with them her fathers confessor who would
INFORM her how TO reply to any genuine
message from his holiness. Gregory the Six
teenth. Further than that she could not be
moved.
"In that case" said the young man. II
win not conceal 1t from your highness that
considerable discretion has been granted to
me. Your company and that of your daugt-
ter we must have upon our Journey. It Is
place of safety 7s
ITO steal us-to kidnap US. you riean..''
cried the queen, with the utmost indigna-s
ton.
Your majesty" continued Roilo II am
not disputing about words. Our ac-
lions of last night win best exp1aia cur in
tentions OF this morning But with respect