Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-24
when his health Is secured"


He is only convalescent. then?"
There remain one or two small troubles"
answered the insolent fellow In the mildese
tone in the world.
Express my earnest hope" said Flavia,
that they may soon cease to trouble him."
Your royal highness' wish is, humbly,
my own" said Rupert with a bold glance
that brought blush to Flavias cheek.
bowed; and Rupert, bowling lower back.
ed his horse and signed his party to pro.
coed. With sudden impulse 1 rode after
him. He turned swiftly. fearing that, even
In the presence Of the dead and before =
lady's eyes. 1 meant mischief
You fought as brave man the other
night said. Come. you are young, sir.
II you will deliver your prisoner alive to
me you shall come to no hurt"
He looked at me with a hooking smile;
but suddenly he rode nearer to me.
I'm unarmed." he said; "and our old
Sapt there could pick me OF in a minute
I'm not afraid" said l.
mo. curse your he answered LOOK
once"
I'm hear nothing from Black Michael"
Then hear one from me-" He lowered
his voice to a whisper ATTACK the castle
boldly. Let sapt and Tarlenheim lead"
go on" said I.
Arrange the time with me-"
Il have such confidence In you, my lordl"
Tut! I'm talking business now. Sapt
there and Fritz will fail; Black Michael will
fall
BLACK Michael will fall. like the dog he
is; the prisoner as you call him. will go by
Jacobs ladder-ah, you know that?-to HE'LL
Two men will be left-I, Rupert Hentzau
and you, the King of Ruritania."
He paused and then. in a voice that quiv-
cred with eagerness. added:
isn't that hand to playa throne and
yon princess And for me. say a compe-
tence and your majesty's gratitude"
Surely" 1 exclaimed while you're
above ground hell wants its masterr'
look you. IT would take more than a scruple
or two to keep me from yonder girl" and
his evil eyes flashed again at her loved.
Get out of my reach,' said 1; and yet in
moment l began to laugh for the very
audacity of It.
Would you turn against your master7"
asked.
He swore at Michael for being what the
offspring Of a legal. though morganatic.
union should not be called, and said to me
in almost confidential and apparently
friendly tone:
HE gets in my way, you know. He's
Jealous brute! Faith, 1 nearly stuck a
knife into him last night; he came most
cursedly NAL aproposl'
My temper was well under control now;
was learning something. '
"A lady?' I asked negligently.
AYE. and a beauty he nodded. But
you've seen her."
"Ah! was it at a tea party, when some Of
table?'
What can you expect of fools like Detch-
ard and De Gautet? I wish I'd been there"
And the duke interferes?"
Well said Rupert meditatively, that's
hardly fair way of putting it, perhaps.
l want to interfere"
And she prefers the duke?"
AYE, the silly creature! All, well! you
think about my plan;" and. with a bow.
he prcked his horse and trotted after the
body of his friend
l went back to Flavia and Sapt, bordering
on the strangeness of the man. Wicked
men I have known. in plenty. but Rupert
Hentzau remains unique in my experience.
And IL there be another anywhere let him
be caught and hanged out of hand. So
say I!'
Hes very handsome isn't he?" said Fla.
via.
WE'LL of course she didn't know him as
did; yet I was put out for l thought his
bold glances would have made her angry.
she was not put out. On the contrary, she
thought young Rupert was very handsome
as beyond question. the ruffian was.
And how sad he looked at his friends
deathr' said She
He'll have better reason to be sad at his
own" observed Sapt, with grim smile.
AS for me, grew sulky; unreasonable it
was, perhaps, for what better business had
to look at her with love than had even
Rupert's lustful eyes? And sulky / re-
manned TILL as evening fell and we rode UP
to Tarlenheim, Sapt having fallen behind in
case any one should be following US. Flavia,
riding close behind me. said softly, with q
little half-ashamed laugh:
Unless you smile, Rudolf. I cry. Why
are you angry?"
1T was something that fellow said to
me-" said 1; but 1 was smiling as We
reached the doors and dismounted.
There a servant handed me note; It was
unaddressed
us it for me?" asked
YES sire; a boy brought it,
I tore it open:
Johann carries this for me- I warned YOU
once. In the name of God. and IL you are
derers! A. de NJ.
handed 1t to Sapt; but all that the tough
old soul said In reply to this piteous an.
peal was:
Whose fault brought her therer
Nevertheless, not being faultless myself
took leave to pity Antoinette de Mauban.
ne continued tnfnnrrox