The Washington herald., 1906-10-20
CHAPTER K.
10 CnnncII nf INings


restaurants. but apparently dissatisfied
with the appearance of their occupants,
finally requisitioned a private room at the
Hotel dc TEuroDe AT the end OF the To-
ledo He ordered "a very plain repast, and
while they partook of il leisurely ex-
planned himself. The captains body, he
said viii be removed ashore during the
evening. The health officer has already
certified that ne died Of apoDlexy. there
fore we shall be troubled with no official
inquiry There win, however, be made
privately a pOst-mOrtem examination of
the contents of his stomach in order 10
determine the proper cause of death The
doctor suspects aconite or apomorphia,
and I am inclined to agree with him"
What Of the cOlOneI?' asked the young
man anxiously.
Perigord shook his head. Impossible to
say, my lord The doctor thinks he can
not recover, ne says the old man must
have mad the morphine habit, or he could
not have survived so long He will be
taken ashore, however. and everything
that medical skill can do viii be done 10
help him. His is a very sad case. for
even should he recover he viii probably
be either paralyzed or permanently in
sane"
How horrible, And madameg-' in
quired Cressingham lis she to escape
scot-free2"
Il think not her fate WILL however. be
determined this evening BY the way. my
lord, I have 10 thank YOU for the man
ner in which you have recently acquitted
yourself of the duties allotted YOU You
have hitherto obeyed me without ques-
tion, trusting almost bIlndIy to my word
II is time that I TeQuited your confidence
10 some extent
Tonight snail endeavor to secure your
admission 10 the council of my coad-
tutors amongst whom. are numbered
some Of the great ones of the earth. I
think, moreover, if all goes well. that
I can promise YOU a complete rehabilita-
ton in the career which you had chosen
for yourself, and which was so unfor-
tunately Interrupted That however,
must largely depend upon your own
energy and perseverance. If you con-
tinue to show yourself worthy you viii
ind many powerful men willing 20 assist
you and anxious to become your friends
You are very good, sir. said Ores
singham gratefully. but I fear that
what you suggest is beyond the bounds
of possibility. I'm afraid I have damned
myself too completely. The British gov
eminent would never give me another
chance
Perigord surveyed the young man with
strange smile, his powerful face ami
mated with an expression of quaint kind
Illness and unwOnted warmth we shall
see; we shall see. Wait a little. my
lord Time is fun Of balmy attributes,
little time and who knows what may
hap But tell me. is il true that Prime
Carlos fell and bruised his face?
thought his explanation was peculiar
Cressingham colored. He insulted me
most grossly. sir. I knocked him down
That is bad, my boy. very bad The
man is of royal blood. He is slightly
crazed, think. warned YOU did
not, 10 bear with him."
You did, sir, but 1 lost my temper
he wished to prevent us drawing
madame's teeth professed TO believe hel
a maligned angel and called me by az
unforEivdbie name
4 see; and yet she appears TO Ioathe
him; win not allow him 10 go near her
j believe. so Noerloef informed me. I.
that right?"
Il do not know. that. sir, but I dc
know that he cOnversed with her imme
"Ah-and he wished Voerloen to stoT
at Spartivento. It Is really quite a lucky
thing that YOU are bad sailor. my
lord
Il don't quite understand you sir
The prince refused to taste madame
sugar plums. is not that so?'
That is true"
He wished to stop at spartlvento
and violently defended madame"
An true. sir"
You infer nothing from these facts?'
II dare not, sir-why what"
Ny lord. said Perigord graveIy. III
an enterprise such as ours the lightesi
happenings require Investigation. and
that investigation should be founded on
the maxim that your stanchest seeming
friend may be at heart an enemy. But
you have finished your dinner, your friend
Oeltjen viii be waiting for us on the
Piazza Reale. Let US 60.
Cressingham got up. and mastering his
courage while the other paid the bill. in
quired: Recent events will not delay
us In proceeding TO the rescue of Miss
Elliott. sir ] hope?
II hope not" answered PeriEord. In
a short while we shall definitely know
Five minutes walk took them to Mara
schfs corner. where they found the Count
with Cressingham The three gentlemen
then entered haeFe and drove north
ward Perigord giving the driver an adj
dress that completely astonished Cres-
singham At 10 O'Clock they drew ar
before the gateway Of the Palace oil
King Humbert Of Italy, and PerigorC
having given "a password to the sentries
on guard, they were all permitted I
pass into the royal grounds.
Perigord led the way to a side entrance
defended by a porch. within which stool
a dozen soldiers. an officer, and about
twenty black-clad gentlemen. To'the Off
Ger he simply announced his name, and
Instantly they were ushered with thC
greatest cOUrteousneSs through a spacious
hall into an ante-chamber where Peri
cord babe his companions wait. he him.
self proceeding with the officer TO al
inner room
An hour passed. which Cressingham
devoted TO informing OeItjen Of his ad-
ventures on the Sea Hawk. At the
end of that time an old and courtly
gentleman came. who asked them to fol
low him They proceeded from the ante
chamber to a wide corridor, throngeo
with officers magnifcenuy dressed. who
al stood TO attention ike so many pri-
vafe soldiers.
Passing between their ranks. they en-
tered second ante-room. where were
seated three grave-looking gentlemen in
evening dress, who politely arose and
bowed 20 the strangers Their guide led
them 10 the farther door, on which ne