The National tribune., 1906-10-18
i Talk with a Tempter.

Ttdritanla is not England, or the
quarrel between Duke Michael and my
self could not have gone on, with the
remarkable incidents which marked it
without m ore public notice being di-
rected to it. Duels We're frequent
among all the upper classes, and pri-
vate quarreis between great men kept
the old habit of spreading to their
friends and dependents. Nevertheless
after the affray which / have just re-
lated, such reports began to circulate
that L felt it necessary to be on my
guard. The death of the gentlemen in
volved could not be hidden frorn their
relatives. / issued a stern order, de-
claring that dueling had attained un-
precedented license (the Chancellor
drew up the document for me, and
very well he did it, and forbiddng il
save in the gravest cases. / sent a pub
lie and stately apology to Michael, and
he returned deferential and courteous
reply to me; for our one point of union
was-and it underlay all our differ
ences and induced an unwilling har-
could neither of us afford to throw our
cards on the table. He, as well as l.
was 'play-actor," and, hating one
another we combined to dupe public
opinion. Unfortunately, however, the
necessity for concealment involved the
necessity of delay; the King might die
IN his prison, or even be spirited off
somewhere else-it could not be help
ed. For little while / was compelled
to observe truce, and my only con-
ISOLATION was that Flavia most warmly
approved of my edict against dueling:
and when / expressed delight at hay-
ing won her favor, prayed me. If her
favor were any motive to me, to pro-
hibit the practice altogether.
wait fill we are rnarriedp coil
smiling
Not the least peculiar result of the
truce and of the secrecy which die
tated 1t was that the town of Zenda
became in the daytime-I would not
have trusted far to its protection by
night-a sort of neutral zone. where
both parties could safely go; and /, rid
ing down one day with Flavia and
Sapt, had an encounter with an ac-
quaintance, which presented a ludi-
crous side, but was at the same time
embarrassing. AS / rode along I met
Il misunderstanding person driving in a
two-horsed carriage. He stopped his
bowling low. i rec cognized the head of
the Strelsau police.
Your Majestys ordinance as IN
duelihg is receiving our best attention, -
lie assured me.
If the best attention involved his
presence IN Lenua determined at once
to dispense with it.
rs that what brings you to Zenda.
Prefect?" l asked
why, no, sire; / am here because ]
desired to oblige the British Embas-
sador."
Whats the British ambassador do
ing dams cette galere?" said L careless
ly.
"A young countryman of his, sire
man of some POSITIONS missing.
His friends have not heard from him
for two months, and there is reason to
believe that he was last seen in Zen
da."
Flavia was paying little attention I
dared not look at Sapt.
What reason?'
"a friend of his in Paris--a certain
NJ. Featherly-has given us information
which makes it possible that he came
here. and the officials of the railway
recollect his name on some luggage"
What was his name?"
Rassendyll, sire" he answered.; and
l saw that the name meant nothing
to him. But, glancing at Flavia, he
lowered his voice as he went on: ''It
is thought that he may have followed