New-York tribune., 1906-06-24
Synopsis of Preceding Chapters

dom Of hravonia, and the capital city of Slavna
Il gwen over to festivities III HIS MaJesty's honor
pie, except to Marie ZerkovItch and the latter's
husband, proprietor Of the leading newspaper in
fortune but on this festal day Sophy has only few
shIlngs and the fee from couple of French pupils
between her and dire want.
Sophy is watching the military parade and
listening To the court gossip of Captain Markart
The latter hints of some grave scandals in imperial
affairs notably the evident existence of fact
some plotting for the elevation OF the Kings son
by a morganatlc wife III place of the egitim
Prince.
The Prince is considered martinez by the
Savna military, of whom he is garrison Comman.
dant and there Is small objecting when an
order Is issued that all soldiers must remain at
barracks during tins merry ,venIng. Captain
MIStuch tncknamed Captain d" Hercules 30 J. the
leader III mutinous talk, induces Lieutenants
Rastatz and Sterkoff to Join him in defvng the
order, and the three start out to find the Prince
loudly boastng OF what will happen when they
meet him.
and Sterkoff conceals himself behind a pillar eav-
ing Misttch TO make good his threats The latter
dehas the Commandant. In the ensuing duel the
Prince sewers the tendons Of Mistitch's wrist. and
Is about to march him off to the guard-house when
Sterkoff springs out OF the darkness to stab the
Prince in the back
At that instant Sophy, who has been watching
the encounter from window overhead, lets fall a
heavy bronze statue, which crushes the would be
assassin to the ground.
Sophy receives her reward, the Kin, appointing
her Keeper of the Tapestries al four IN ndred
pounds year; but there Is no end of trouble over
MlSttch's proposed execution. The rnce Is firm
IN ms intention, despite the protests of General
StenoVics and Herculess admirers; but finally
consents to reprieve his assaant when the General
approves order for lot of cannon. which will
give me frlhce tower command OF the cIty.
The King confers patent of nobility Sophy.
making her Baroness OF Dobrava, as further recog-
milton of her services.
Sophy goes to Praslok, the Princes country
estate, and is there appointed lieutenant of the
Nolseni artillery at the request of the rank and file
The King, IN fear OF an early death, orders the
Drfp al tn f11H N TgTaGT NO k,a
Prince in love with Sophy, temporzes. The two
plight their troth with the arrival of the news
of the big guns for Savna.
The clique at the Palace conspire to keep from
the Prince all knowledge of his fathers precarious
condition; but the valet Lepage and the Journalist
Zerkovitch inform the Prince that the King 5
life hangs by hair; and your crown by thread. "
The cabal IN the Palace persuade the King to
sign order requiring the immediate return from
Praslok OF Sophy, convincing hlm that she has
designs on the Prince.
Stenovics, knowing that Lepage is giving in
formation to the Prince, informs the King
The valet, given a hearing, tells the King of the
conspiracy to place the Countess son on the
throne, and His Majesty, suffering from his weak
heart, falls back dead Stafnitz, realizing the need
of time, when informed by the physician of the
Kings death, eXcialms: No! His Majesty dies
to-morrowl'
The twenty-four hours this would give the con
spirators would toe enough to effect ually head off
the Princes attempt assume ms inheritance. and
to place the Countess son the throne Also
they decide to send Captain Misttch with one hun
dred soldiers to Praslok TO execute the Kings
order III reference to Sophy, with the tentative
hope that the Prince would object, and be shot
However, lepage manages to escape from the
Palace and inform Zerkovtch of the Kings death
hour before Mistitch leaves on his mission.
MiSnch reaches Praslok subsequent 10 Zerko-
witch arrival, who has Nolseni to find the
Prince and at once places SOphy under arrest
The Prince rushes back with a small force. He and
Mistitch fire AT each other simultaneously and
both are hit, the latter fat ally, and the Prince
Countess Ellensburgs son Alexis is placed Oh
Tk.att f,trT ka.as rrTpa foot