Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-25
BY ANTHONY HOPE.

| that"
Then" said 1. ''the king may live"
We'll, and If he does?"
For a fortnight?" / asked simply
And Sapt bit his mustache.
Suddenly Fritz Won Tarlenheim laid his
hand on my shoulder.
Let us go and make the attempt" said
| said l.
Aye. but do you stay here and take care
of the princessr'
A CLEAN came into old Sapt's eve
I'VE should have Michael one way or the
other them he chuckled whereas II You
! go and are killed with the king what will
become of those of US who are left?"
They will serve Queen Flavia." said
and would to God I could be one OF
them"
A pause followed. Old sapt broke 1t by
saying sadly, yet with unmeant drollery
that set Fritz and me laughing:
why didn't old Rudolf the Third marry
your-great-srandmother. was it7'
come said 1. ut is the king we are
thinking about"
1T is true said Fritz.
Moreover" / went on. 'I have been an
impostor for the profit OF another. but I
VIII not be one for my own. and II the king
is not alive and on his throne before the
day OF betrothal comes will tell the truth,
come what may"
You shall go. lad" said Sapt
Here is the plan 1 had made: A strong
party, under Sapts command. was to steal
up to the door of the chateau III discoy-
cred prematurely they were to kill any one
who found them-with their swords for 7
wanted no noise of firing II all went we'll
they would be at the door when Johann
opened 1t. They were to rush in and secure
the servants IL their mere presence and the
use OF the kings name was not enough At
the same moment-and on this Hinged the
pian-a womans cry was to ring out loud
and shrfll from Antoinette de Mauban's
A IN,
Help, help! Michael helpr' and then To
utter the name OF young Rupert Hentzau.
Then as we hoped. Michael in fury. would
rush out or his apartments opposite and
ran alive into the hands of Sapt Still the
cries would go on; my men would let down
the drawbridge; and 1t would be strange II
rupert, hearing his name thus taken I'm
vain, did not descend from where he SILENT
and seek to cross. De Gautet might ~
might not come with him; that must be
left to chance.
And when Rupert set his foot on the
drawbridge? There was nv part. for
was minded for another swim in the moat.
and lest should grow weary, 1 had re-
solved to take with me a small wooden lad
der, on which 1 could rest my arms in. the
water-and my feet when I left it / would
rear 1t against the wall just by the bridge:
and when the bridge was across / would
steaIthiIy creep on to it-and then If Rupert
or DE Gautet crossed in safety ii would be
my misfortune, not my fault. They dead
two men only would remain: and for them
we must trust to the confusion we had
created and to a sudden rush We shou1d
have the keys of the door that led 70 the
all-lmportant rooms. Perhaps they would
rush out. If they stood by their orders
then the kings life hung or the swiftness
with which we could force the outer door.
and L thanked God that not Rupert Hent
Eau watched, but Detchard For though
Detchard was a cool man. relentless and
the recklessness of Rupert Moreover. he.
II any one Of them. really loved Black
Michael. and 1t might be that he would
leave Bersonin to guard the king and rush
on the other side
So 1 planned-desperately And. that our
enemy might be the better lulled to secur-
ity' l gave orders that our residence should
De primarily lighted from top to bottom
as though we were engaged in revelry: and
should so be kept all night, with music
playing and people moving to and fro.
Strakencz would be there and he was to
conceal our departure, If he could from
Flavfa- And IL we came not again by the
morning he was to march. openly and in
Iorce. to the castle and demand the person
there. as did not think he would be- the
marshal would take Flavia with him. as
swiftly as he could. to Strelsau, and there
proclaim Black Michaers treachery and
the probable death Of the king, and raIIv
all that there were honest and true round
the banner of the princess. And, to saw
truth. this was what 1 thought most likely
to happen.
For had great doubts whether either the
king or Black Michael or 1 had more than
day to live. Well. If Black Michael died.
and If l. the play-actor slew Rupert Hent-
Eau with my own hand and then died nv
self. 1t might be that Fate would deal as
lightly with Rurftania as could be hoped.
that 1t demanded the life
OF the king-and to her dealing thus with
me was In no temper to make objection
1t was late when we rose from conference.
and l betook me to the princess apart
ments. She was pensive that evening; yet
when left her she flung her arms about
me and grew, for an instant, bashfulIy
radiant as she slipped a ring on NV finger.
l was wearing the kings ring; but I had
also on my little finger a plain band OF
gold engraved with the motto of our family.
mi Quae Feel This I took off and put
on her finger and signed her to let me 20.
And she, understanding stood away and
watched me with dimmed eyes,
Wear that ring, even though you wear
another when you are queen" I said.
w Whatever else wear this I will wear
till die, and after" said she as she kissed
the ring.
CTo be continued tomorrow)