Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-31
BY ANTHONY HOPE.
CHAPTER xxi.
Present, Past-and FutureP
English Gentleman

CHAPTER xxi.
Present, Past-and FutureP
The details Of my return home can have
but little interest. I went straight to the
Tyrol and spent q quiet fortnight-mostly
on my back, for severe chill developed
itself; and was also the victim Of nerv-
Gus reaction, which made me weak as
baby. As soon as had reached my quar-
tiers I sent an apparently careless postcard
to my brother, announcing my good health
and prospective return. That would serve
to satisfy the inquiries as to my where
abouts, which were probably still vexfng
the project of the police of Strelsau. let
my mustache and imperial grow again;
and as hair comes quickly on my face,
they were respectable, though not luxurf
ant by the time that I landed myself In
Paris and called on my friend George
Featherly. My interview with him was
chiefly remarkable for the number OF I'M
willing but necessary falsehoods that l
told and I rallied him numerically when
he told me that he had made up his mind
that had gone In the track Of Mme de
Mauban to Strelsau.. The lady, 1t appear
ed, was back in Paris, but was living IN
great seclusion-a fact for which gossip
found no difficulty in accounting. Did not
all the world know OF the treachery ana
death of Duke Michael? Nevertheless
George bade Bertram Bertrand be of good
cheer, for" said he flppantly, "a live
poet is better than a dead duke" Then
he turned on me and asked:
what have you been doing to your mus
tache?"
''To tell the TRUTH" I answered, assum-
Ing a sly air, "a man now and then has
reasons for wishing to alter his appear
ance. But it's coming on very well
again" ..,. ,o o,,., =. MT
the fair Antoinette, there was a charmer."
There Is always eharmer," said 1 SEN
tentiously.
But George would not be satisfied till he
had wormed out of me Che took much
pride in his ingenuity. an absolutely i'm
aginary love affair, attended with the
proper soupcon of scandal, which had kept
me all this time in the peaceful regions of
the Tyrol. In return for this narrative
George RECALLED me with a great deal Of
what he called inside information"
known only to diplomatists) as to the
true course of events in Ruritania, the
told me, with a significant nod, there was
more to be said for Black Michael than
the public supposed; and he limited at
well-founded suspicion that the mysterious
good many paragraphs had appeared, was
not man at all. but (here had some ado
not to smile) a woman disguised as a man:
and that strife between the king and his
was at the bottom of their quarrel
Perhaps 1t was Nine. de Mauban her
SELF / suggested.
mo-" said George decisively. AN
toinette de Mauban was jealous of her,
and betrayed the duke to the king for that
reason. And, to confirm what l say. It's
well known that. the Princess F'lavia is
is now extremely cold to the king. after
having been most affectionate."
At this point l changed the subject, and
escaped from Georges inspired" delu-
sions. But If diplomatists never know
anything more than they had succeeded
In finding out in this instance, they appear
to me to be somewhat expensive luxuries.
While in Paris I wrote to Antoinette
though did not venture to call upon her.
received in return very affecting let
ter, in which she assured me that the
kings generosity and kindness, no less
science to absolute secrecy. She expressed
the intention of settling in. the country,
and withdrawing herself entirely from So
ciety. Whether she carried out her de-
signs T have never heard; but as I have
not met her, or heard news of her up to
this time, it is probable thatshe did. There
is no doubt that she was deeply attached
to the Duke of Strelsau; and her conduct
at the time of hisdeath proved that no
knowledge Of the mans real character
was enough to root her regard for him
out of her heart.
I had one more battle left to fght-a
was bound to end in my complete
defeat. Was I not back from the
Tyrol, without having made any study
of It's Inhabitants, institutions, scenery,
not simply wasted my time in my usual
frivolous, good-for-nothing way. That
was the aspect Of the matter which, I was
obliged to admit, would present itself to
my sister-in.law; and against a verdict
based on such evidence 1 had really no de-
Tense to offer. 1t may be supposed. then,
that presented myself in Park Lane in a
shamefaced. sheepish fashion. On the
whole, my reception was not SO alarming
as 1 had feared. 1t turned out that I had
done, not what Rose wished. but-the next
best thing-what she prophesied. She had
declared that 1 should make no notes, re-
cord no observations, gather no materials.
My brother, on the other hand had been
serious resolve had at length animated me.
When I returned empty-handed Rose
was so occupied In triumphing over
Burlesdon that she let me down quite
of her reproaches to my failure to adver-
tise my friends Of my whereabouts.
We've wasted lot of time trying to
find you,' she said.
have led weary lives on my
account. George Featherly told me so.
But why should you have been anxious?
can take care of myself"
"Oh, it wasn't that" she cried scornfully;
but l wanted to tell you about Sir Jacob
Borrodaile. You know he's got an embassy
at least, he will have in a month-and he
wrote to say he hoped you would go with
him."
where's he going top
Hes going to succeed Lord Topham at
Strelsau," said she. You couldn't have
nicer place, short OF Paris"
"Strelsau! H'm!" said I, gfancing at my
brother.
"Oh, that doesn't matter!" exclaimed
Rose impatiently. Now you will go, won't
your"
II don't know that care about it!'
"Oh, you're too exasperating!'
And I don't think I can go to Strelsau
My dear Rose, would 1t be suitable?"
"Oh. nobody remembers that horrid old
story now"
Upon this took out of my pocket a por-
trait of the King of Ruritania. 1t had been
taken a month or two before he assembled
the throne, and he wore full beard
Nevertheless she could not miss my point
when 1 said, putting 1t into her hands: =
I'm case you've not seen or not noticed
a picture Of Rudolph V, there he Is. Don't
you think they might recall the story II
appeared at the court Of Ruritania?"
My sister-in-law locked at the portrait
and then at me.
Good gracious!' she said, and flung the
hi M nrn1 49,