Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-17
CHAPTER VIII.

but pretended kings Is, warrant, much
harder. On the next day Sapt instructed
me in my duties-what 1 ought to do and
what 1 ought to know-for three hours;
then 1 snatched breakfast, with sapt still
opposite me, telling me that the king al
ways took white wine in the morning and
was known to detest ,all highly seasoned
dishes. Then came the chancellor for an
other three hours; and to him had to
explain that the hurt to my finger eve
turned that bullet to happy accounD pre-
vented me from writing-whence arose
great TODD. hunting of presidents and so
forth, ending in my making my mark"
and the chancellor attesting it with a SUI
perfiuity of solemn oaths. Then the French
ambassador was introduced to present his
credentials; here my ignorance was of no
Importance. as the king would have been
equally raw to the business 1--WE worked
through the whole corps diplomatiQue in
the next few days, a demise of the crown
necessitating all this bother).
Then, at last l was left alone. I called
my new servant 1--WE had chosen, to sue
never known the king), had a brandy and
soda brought to me. and observed to Sapt
that 1 trusted that I might now have a
rest.
Fritz Won Tarlenheim was standing BY
by Heaven! he cried. I'VE waste time.
Aren't we going to throw Black Michael
by the heels?"
Gently my son. gently" said sapt, knit
but it might cost us dear. Would Michael
fan and leave the king a1ive?"
And" I suggested. while the king is
here in Strelsau, on his throne. what griev
ance has he against his dear brother
Michael?'
Are we to do nothing, thenr'
We're to do nothing stupid" growled
sapt
I'm fact, Fritz" said 1, II am reminded
of situation in one of our English plays
The Critic'-have you heard Of 1t? Or, II
other with revolver. For I can't expose
Michael without exposing myself"
And. hang me. # Michael won't expose
himself If he tries to expose me!'
IT'S very pretty" said old sapt.
IF I'm found out" 1 pursued, II will
make clean breast of it and fight it out
wit with the duke, but at present I'm waiting
He'll kill the king" said Fritz.
Not he.'' said Sapt.
Half Of the Six are in Strelsau." said
Fritz.
only half7 You're surer" asked sapt
*Yes-only half"
Then the kings alive. for the other three
are guarding him. cried Sapt.
''Yes-you're rightr' exclaimed Fritz, his
face Frightening. III the king were dead
and buried they'd all be here with Michael.
You know Michael's back colonel?'
II know, curse him.! -
Gentlemen. gentlemen" said I, who
are the Six?" .-'''''
II think you'll make their acquaintance
soon," said Sapt. They are six gentlemen
whom Michael maintains in his household;
they belong to him body and soul. There
are three Ruritanians; then there's a
'Frenchman, Belgian and one Of your
countrymen."
They'd all cut a throat II Michael told
them" said Fritz.
Perhaps they'll cut NINE" suggested
Nothing more likely" agreed sapt.
who are here Fritz?'
/. DE Gautet. Bersonin and Detchard."
THE foreigners! It's as plain as a pike
staff. He's brought them and left the
Ruritanians with the king; that's because
deep as he can"
They. were none of them among our
friends at the lodge, them" I asked.
IT wish they had been" said Sapt visit
fully. They had been not Six, but Four,
by now"
had already developed one attribute of
royalty-a feeling that I need not reveal
my intimate friends. I had fully resolved
on my course Of action. meant to make
myself as popular as I could and at the
same time to show no dIsfavor to Michael.
By these means 1 hoped to allay the hos
tility Of his adherents and make 1t appear,
II an open conflict came about, that he
was ungrateful and not oppressed.
Yet an open conflict was not what I
hoped for. ..
The kings interest demanded secrecy, and
while secrecy lasted I had fine game to
play in Strelsau. Michael should not grow
1 ordered my horse, and, attended by
Fritz Won Tarlenheim, rode in the grand
avenue of the royal park. returning all the
salutes which 1 received with punctilious
of the streets. stopped and bought flowers
Of pretty girl. paying her with a piece
OF gold; and then having attracted the de-
sired amount of attention (for had trail
OF half thousand people after mel, rode
to the residence Of the Princess F1avia and
asked II she would receive me. This step
created much interest and was met with
shouts OF approval. The princess was very
popular. and the chancellor himself had
not scrupled to hint to me that the more I
pressed my suit, and the more rapidly I
brought It to prosperous conclusion, the
stronger should be in the affection Of my
subjects. The chancellor, Of course. did
not understand the difficulties which lay in
the way Of following his loyal and excel
lent advice. However. thought could do
no harm by calling; and in this view Fritz
supported me with cordiality that sur
prised me, until he confessed that he also
had his motive for liking to visit the prin-
cess house. which motive was no other
than great desire to see the princess
lady in waiting and bosom friend, the
Countess Helga Won Strofzin.
Etiquette seconded Fritz's hopes. While
1 was uSneTeO lutO tHe princess room ne
remained with the countess in the ante
chamber; In spite of the people and serv-
ants who were hanging about I doubt not
that they managed tete-a-tete; but I had
no leisure to think of Them for was play
ing the most delicate move in all my diff
cult game. 1 had to keep the princess de-
voted to me-and yet Indifferent to me;
had to show affection for her-and not feel
it. / had to make love for another, and
that to girl who-princess or no prin-
cess-was the most beautiful I had ever
seen. Well. l. braced myself to the task,
made no easier by the charming embar-
rassment with which was received How
l succeeded in carrying out my program
will appear hereafter.
You are gaining golden laurels" she
said. You are like the prince In Shake
speare who was transformed by becoming
king But I'm forgetting you are king,
sire
II ask you to speak nothing but what
your heart tells you-and to call me moth
ing but my name"
She looked at me for a moment
Then I'm glad and proud. Rudolf" said
she. why. as told you. your very face
is changed
1 acknowledged the compliment. but
disliked the topic, so said:
MY brother is back, I hear. He made
an excursion, didn't hep
Yes. he Is here" she said, frowning a
little.
.IIe can't stay long from Strelsau il