The National tribune., 1906-11-08
NAI.
II Love Were All.

1t was night. and I was in the cell
wherein the King had lain in the cas-
tie of Zenda. The great pipe that Ru-
pert of HentZau had nicknamed "Ja-
cob's ladder" was gone, and the lights
in the room across the moat twinkIed
in the darkness All was still; the din
and clash of strife were gone. l had
spent the day hidden in the forest
from the time when Fritz had led me
off, leaving Sapt with the Princess.
Under cover of dusk, muffied up, 1 had
been brought to the castle and lodged
where I now lay. Though three men
had died there-two of them by my
hand-I was not troubled by ghosts.
1 had thrown myself on a pallet by the
window. and was looking out on the
black water; Johann, the keeper, still
pale from his wound, but not much
hurt besides, had brought me supper.
He told me that the King was doing
well. that he had seen the Princess;
that she and he, Sapt and Fritz had
been long together. Marshal Strakencz
was gone to Strelsau; Black Michael
lay in his coffin, and Antoinette de Maui
ban watched by him. Had I not heard
from the chapel priests singing mass
for him?
Outside there were strange rumors
ahoat. Some said that the prisoner of
Zenda was dead; some that he had
vanished yet alive; some that he was a
friend who had served the King well
In some adventure in England; others
that he had discovered the Dukes
plots. and had therefore been kidnapped
by him. One OF two shrewd fellows
shook their heads and said only that
they would say nothing, but they had
suspicious that more was to be known
than was known IL Col. Sapt would tell
all he knew.
Thus Johann chartered till 7 sent
him away and lay there alone think
ing, not of the future. but--as man
is wont to do when stirring things have
happened to him-rehearsing the
events of the past weeks, and wonder
ing how strangely they had fallen out.
And above me in the stiffness of the
night I heard the standards Tapping
against their poles. for Black MichaeIs
banner hung there half-mast high. and
| above 1t the royal flag of Rurftania
| floating for one night more over my
head. Habit grows so quick that only
by an effort did recollect that it float
ed no longer for me.
Presently Fritz Won Tarlenheim came
| into the room. / was standing then by
the window: the glass was opened, and
! was idly lingering the cement which
clung to the masonry where Jacobs
| ladder had been. He told me briefly
that the King wanted me, and together
We crossed the drawbridge and entered
the room that had been Black Mi.
| chaers.
The King was lying there in bed
| our doctor from Tarlenheim was In at.
| tendance on him. and whispered to me
that my visit must be brief. The Kine
held out his hand and shook mine
Fritz and the doctor withdrew to the
1 window.
j I took the Kings ring from my finger
and placed It on his.
/ II have tried not to dishonor 1t, sire .
said I.
II can't talk much to you." he saii
In a weak voice. II have had a great
fight with Sapt and the Marshal-fo]
We have told the Marshal everything
i wanted to take you to Strelsau ant
keep you with me, and tell everyon,
Of what you had done: and you woult
have been my best and nearest friend
Cousin Rudolf. But they tell me
must not. and that the secret must hl
kept-f kent u can be-"