Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-26
THE PRISONER OF ZENDA
Being the History Of Three Months In the Life Of an
English Gentleman.
BY ANTHONY HOPE.
Copyright. 1894 1895 By Henry Holt = Co,

ing spared the temptation. I merely added
| this new score to his account.
Though, faith said Rupert, IT'S little
| he cares. He's mad about the princess, you
know. He talks of nothing but cutting the
| play-actor's throat"
Didn't he. indeed?
And II I do 1t for him what do you
think he's promised me?''
The unhappy woman raised her hands
above her head. in prayer or in despair.
But 1 detest waiting" said Rupert; and
| / saw that he was about to lay his hand
on her again when there was a noise of a
door In the room opening. and a harsh
voice cried:
| What are you doing here. sir?'
Rupert turned his back to the window, .
bowed low, and said in his loud. merry
tones:
| ..'Apologizing for your absence, sir. Could
| I leave the lady alone?"
The newcomer must be Black Michael.
| 1 saw him directly, as he advanced toward
the window. He caught young Rupert by
| the arm
1.-THE moat would hold more than the
/ kfng! said he. with a significant gesture.
Does your highness threaten me?" asked
| Rupert.
| "A threat is more warning than most men
get from me-
Yet" observed Rupert. Rudolf Rassen-
dyll has been much threatened, and yet
| lives"
Am in fault because my servants bum
| gle?" asked Michael scornfully.
| Your highness has run no risk of bum
gling!" sneered Rupert. :
1t was telling the duke that he shirked
man told. Black Michael had self-control.
| / dare say he scowled-it was a great
greet to me that could not see their faces
better-but his voice was even and calm
| as he answered:
Enough, enough, We mustn't quarrel.
| Rupert. Are Detchard and Bersonin at
| their posts?"
They are, SIR"
Il need you no more"
! Nay, I'm not oppressed with fatigue"
/ said Rupert.
| impatiently. I'm ten minutes the draw
| bridge will be drawn back, and presume
! you have no wish to swim to your bed"
| Rupert's figure disappeared. I heard the
door open and shut again. Michael and
| Antoinette de Mauban were left together.
| To my chagrin. the duke laid his hand on
| the window and closed it. He stood talk
| ing to Antoinette for a moment two.
| She shook her head. and he turned impa-
tiently away. She left the window. The
door sounded again, and Black Michael
closed the shutters.
from the drawbridge. Unless you want
bath before your bed, come alongw
1t was Rupert's voice. coming from the
| end of the drawbridge. A moment later
he and De Gautet stepped out on the
bridge. Rupert's arm was through De
| Gautets. and in the middle of the bridge
| he detained his companion and leaned
| oyer. dropped beside the shelter of
Jacobs ladder"
| Then Master Rupert had little sport
| He took from De Gautet a bottle which
he carried. and put 1t to his lips.
Hardly a dropr' he cried discontented-
| ly. and flung 1t in the moat.
1t fell, as I judged from the sound and
the circles on the water, within a yard OF
| the pipe. And Rupert taking out his
volver. began to shoot at It. The first
| pipe. The third shattered the bottle.
| hoped that the young ruffian would be
content; but he emptied the other barrels
pipe. whistled through my hair as
| crouched on the other side.
| Ware bridget" a voice cried. to my re-
| lief. zoo
| Rupert and De Gautet cried, "A mo-
| ment!' and ran across The bridge was
| drawn back. and all became still. The
clock struck a quarter past /. / rose and
| stretched myself and yawned.
think some ten minutes had passed
when heard slight noise to my right.
| I peered over the pipe, and saw dark
| figure standing in the gateway that led to
| the bridge. 1t was a man. By the care
less, graceful poise 1 guessed it to be Ru-
pert again. He held sword in his hand.
| and he stood motionless for a minute or
| two. Wild thoughts ran through me. On
| what mischief was the young fiend bent
| now? Then he laughed low to himself;
| then he turned his face to the wall, took
| step In my direction, and to my surprise
began to climb down the wall. In an in
slant saw that there must be steps in
| the wall; IL was plain. They were cut Into
| or affixed to the wall at intervals of about
| eighteen inches. Rupert set his foot on
| the lower one. Then he placed his sword
| between his teeth, turned round, and
noiselessly let himself down into the wa
| ter Had 1t been a matter OF my life only
| l would have swan to meet him. Dearly
| would I have loved to fight It out with
him then and Herewith STEEL on a fine
night and none to come between US. But
there was the king, I restrained myself,
but could not bride my swift breathing,
| and I watched him with the intensest
| eagerness.
! He swan leisurely and quietly across.
| There were more footsteps up the other
side, and he climbed them. When he set
| foot in the gateway standing tho
| drawback bridge, he felt in his pocket
| and took something out 1 heard him I'M
| lock the door. / could hear no noise of
| its closing behind him. He vanished from
| my sight.
| Abandoning my ladder-I saw I did not
| need 1t now-I swan to the side Of tho
| bridge, and climbed halfway up the steps.
| There hung, with my sword in my hand,
| listening eagerly. The dukes room was
| shattered and dark. There was a light in
| the window on the opposite side of tho
| bridge Not sound broke the silence till
| half-past 1 chimed from the great clock
| in the tower of the chateau.
| There were other plots than mine afoot
| in the castle that night.
| Go be continued tomorrow)
|