The Washington herald., 1906-11-09
CAPTER XXI.

OhE len AA4l,
Game of Dice and It's Consequences.
The 1st of August, contrary to Miss
Elliotfs expectations. passed in absolute
tranquility. She saw neither the count
nor Jibaloff, nor yet madame. Desire
came to her in the evening, and they
dined together in solitary state. The
girl had done hard days work and was
weary, but before the meal was over she
was sent for by her grandfather, and
Francine saw nothing of her until noon
Of the next day.
Then Desire was able to inform her of
the reason Of the strange inactivity that
prevailed at the chateau The count and
Jibalof were waiting with the gravest
anxiety for the arrival OF madame's hus-
band, the prince. 1t seemed that a tele-
gram had arrived saying that he had
been suddenly taken i'll, and although the
count had dispatched a score of inquisi-
tive cables. no satisfactory reply had been
yet received in answer 10 his eager ques-
tionings.
Desire said that she had never known
her grandfather to be so disquieted. He
phe aud had just taken the extreme step
Of ordering his own yacht 10 be immedi-
ately dispatched to the island Meanwhile
he passed the time in his library with
madame and JibaloT, gambling for high
stakes with the Turk at cards and dice
He had been losing very heavily and
was very bad tempered and upset. Two
men were kept constantly on the look
out searching for the appearance OF the
counts yacht. and every hour messages
passed. TO and fro between the castle and
the mountain top, messages which in
creased the old mans ill humor
The Turk also was uneasy and dis
trait. His yacht was kept under steam
and was prepared at an instant's notice
TO depart, his men being all on board at
their posts, with the exception of a single
boats crew that waited on the beach,
ready TO convey their master on board
the moment that he wished.
FTancine was very curious as TO the
cause Of all this anxiety, but Desire was
not able TO further eniighten her. al
though both guessed that the count and
JibalOff were afraid that the prince might
have turned traitor and were preparing
themselves to meet such a contingency.
Late in the afternoon. however a
change came Ger the spirit Of the scene.
Servants who had been before buslly en-
gagged IN taking Up carpets and hurriedly
packing up the more valuable furniture OF
the chateau suddenly disappeared. TO re-
appear after an interval and just as hur-
riedly undo their previous work. Like a
swarm OF bees they buZZed about putting
everything again in order, and al the ex-
piration Of an hour the castle E-9re its
old appearance Of calm magnihcence.
to Francine commanding her 10 array
herself in her richest costume and dine
with the count In the old mans library
that evening. She guessed by that that
the count fears had been by some means
allayed. She prepared to obey the sum
mons. but her heart told her that the
fatal moment Of her life had almost ar
rived, and during her toilet she often
fingered the knife which she had stolen,
with feeling OF despairing consoIat ton,
recognizing IL as a last friend whose as
sistance she must presently rely upon Il
she wished to save herself from indignity
and outrage. worse TO her mind a thou
sand times than death
She had ceased to fear death itself. but
she was a woman, and her soul stood ap-
palled before the threshold of the tomb.
The brutal means Of death at her COM
mand terrified her instincts and made her
woman's heart recoil in shuddersone
dread. She wished ardently that she had
been provided with some searching. pain
less poison. Such she would have readily
taken without waiting for the compuI-
sion Of insult and ignominy, but the cold
oladed knife seemed too hideous. the pain
II would bring before the end came too
sure and certain Finally she hid II IN
her bosom. her mind resOlute 10 use Il
when the need arose. but shiverine AT
the thought of the dreadful act itself
and anxious TO postpone that at as long
as possible.
She donned an empire gown Of pale blue
silk that draped her graceful figure with
the charm % a caress. and az length.
when the time came. she glided from the
room. feeling hardly Of earth. and as
though the dark portal had been already
passed, FOR her steps were light as air
and IN her fancy she seemed to foa+
above the boards without sense of effo-t
or motion, like disembodied spirit.
Dinner was already served when she
entered the library. The host and guests
were already seated. the count at the
head Of the table, his two dumb attend
ants as usual one on each side his chair
the chain that Joined them stretched at
full extent behind the old mans back.
Madame sat on his left hand gorgeously
Jibalof beside her, while Desire
was placed directly opposite her father.
thus leaving a vacant chair on the counts
right hand. The old man was positively
oeaming, his eyes sparkled. his whole
manner was extremely animated, and he
was engaged in chatting the Turk most
genially-
Francine caught a fragment of his
words When luck turns it turns. Yes
terday and this morning all was against
me; but with the princes message the
goodness smiled upon me. This morning