Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-30
THE PRISONER OF ZENDA
Being the History Of Three Months in the Life Of an
English Gentleman.
BY ANTHONY HOPE.
CHAPTER XXI.

If Love Were ALI.

CHAPTER XXI.
IF Love Were ALI.
It was night, and I was in the cell
wherein the king had lain in the castle OF
Zenda. The great pipe that Rupert OF
Hentzau had nicknamed Jacobs ladder
was gone, and the lights in the room
across the moat twinkled in the darkness.
All was still; the din and clash OF strife
were gone had spent the day hidden IN
the forest from the time when Fritz nao
led me of, leaving Sapt With the princess.
Under cover of dusk. muffled up, l 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 I had thrown
myself on a pallet by the window. and
was looking out on the black water; Jo-
hann, the keeper, still pale from his
wound, but not much hurt besides, mad
brought me supper. He told me that the
king was doing well. that ne mao seen !1, sHe
had been long together. Marshal Stra.
kencz was gone to Strelsau; Black Mich
ael lay in his coffin, and Antoinette de
Mauban watched by him. Had not heard
from the chapel priests singing mass for
him?
outside there were strange rumors
afloat Some said that the prisoner OF
Zenda was dead; some that he had van
ished yet, alive; some that he was friend
who had served the king well In some ad-
venture in England; others. that ne 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 notnlns,
but they had suspicious that more was to
be known than was known II COL Sapt.
would tell all he knew.
Thus Johan chartered till I sent him
away and lay there alone, thinking. not OF
the future, but-as man Is wont TO 90
when stirring things have happened to
hifn-rehearsing the events OF the past
weeks and wondering how strangely they
had fallen out. And above me In the still
ness Of the night I heard the standards
Tapping against their poles, Tor BLACK
Michaels banner hung there half-mast
high, and above 1t the royal flag of Ruri-
tania floating for one night more over my
head. Habit grows so quick that only by
an effort did I recollect that 1t foated no
Presently Fritz Won Tarlenheim came
into the room. I was standing then by
the window; the glass was opened, and
was idly lingering the cement Which eiung
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 Mchaers.
The king was lying there In bed: our
doctor from Tarlenheim was in attendance
on him. and whispered to me that my visit
must be brief. The king held out his hand
and shook mine. Fritz and the doctor
withdrew to the window.
took the kings ring from my finger
and placed 1t on his.
Il have tried not to dishonor it, SIRE"
said I.
II can't talk much to you" he said in
weak voice. 81 have had a great fight
with Sapt and the marshal-for we have
told the marshal everything. l wanted to
rryff1S
me, and tell every one of what you had
done; and you would have been my best
and nearest friend Cousin Rudolph. But
they tell me I must not. and that the
secret must be kept-f kept 1t can be-"
'They are right. sire. Let me go. My
work here is DONE"
Yes, It Is done. as no man but you
could have done it. When they see me
again I shall have my beard on; I shall
yes. faith, I shall be wasted with sickness.
They will not wonder that the king looks
changed in face. Cousin. shall try to let
them find him changed in nothing else
king"
'Sire." said I, 1T can take no praise from
you. 1t is by the narrowest grace of God
that I was not worse traitor than your
brother
He turned inquiring eyes on me: but a
sick man shrinks from puzzles and he had
no strength to question me. His glance
fell on Flavia's ring, which / wore. I
thought he would question me about it,;
but after lingering it idly he let his head
fall on his pillow.
II don't know when I shall see you
again." he said family, almost listlessly.
eff can ever serve you again, SIRE 1 an
swered
His eyelids closed. Fritz came with the
doctor 1 kissed the kings hand. and let
Fritz lead me away. l have never seen
the king since.
Outside Fritz turned. not to the right
back toward the drawbridge but to the
left and. without speaking. led me up
stairs, through a handsome corridor in the
chateau.
Where are we goIng?" 1 asked.
Looking away from me, Fritz answered:
"She has sent for you. When 1t Is over
come back to the bridge I'll walt for you
there"
What does she want?" said I. breath
ing quickly.
He shook his head.
Does she know everything?"
Eyes. everything
He opened a door. and gently pushing
me in. closed it behind me. I found my
self In a drawing room, small and richly
furnished. At first 1 thought that I was
alone. for the light that came from a pair
of shaded candles on the mantelpiece was
very dim. But presently I discerned a
woman's figure standing by the window
knew 1t was the princess. and walked
up to her. fell on one knee. and carried the
hand that hung by her. side to my lips.
She neither moved nor spoke. 1 rose to
my feet, and. piercing the gloom with my
eager eyes. saw her pale face and the
CLEAN of her hair. and before I knew I
spoke softly:
"Flaviar'
She trembled a little. and looked round
Then she darted to me. taking hold Of me.