Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-21
CHAPTER XII.
I Receive a Visitor and Bait a Hook

pOStte side from tnat on WHICH INC CdStiO
was situated. there lies a large tract OF
wood 1t Is rising ground and In the GEN.
ter of the demesne on the top of the hill.
stands fine modern chateau. the property
of a distant kinsman of Fritzs. the Count
Stanlslaus Won Tarlenheim. Count Stanislas
himself was a student and a recluse. He
seldom visited the house. and had. on
Fritz's request very readily and courteous
Iy offered me It's hospitality for myself and
my party This, then was our destination;
chosen ostensibly for the sake OF the boar
hunting for the wood was carefully pre-
served and boars, once common all over
Ruritania, were still to be found there IN IN
considerable numbers, really because It
brought us within striking distance OF the
Duke of Strelsau's more magnificent dwell
ing on the other side of the town. large
party of servants with horses and luggage
started early in the morning; we followed
at midday. travelling by train for thirty
miles. and then mounting our horses to ride
the remaining distance to the chateau.
We were a gallant party. Besides Sapt
and Fritz, 1 was accompanied by ten gen.
tlemen. Every one of them had been care,
fully chosen. and no less carefully sounded
by my two friends. and all were devotediy
attached to the person Of the king. They
were told a part of the truth. The attempt
on my life in the summer house was re-
vealed to them as spur to their loyalty
and an Indictment against Michael. They
were also informed that friend OF the
kings was suspected to be forc1bly con-
fined within the castle Of Zenda HIS res
cue was one Of the objects of the expedi-
ton: but. 1t was added. the kings main
desire was to carry into effect certain steps
against his treacherous brother. as to the
precise nature of which they could not at
present be further enlightened. Enough
that the king commanded their services and
would rely on their devotion when occasion
arose to call for 1t. Young. well-bred.
brave. and loyal. they asked no more. They
were ready to prove their dutiful obedience.
and prayed for fight as the best and
most exhilarating mode of showing It,
Thus the scene was shifted from Strelsau
to the chateau of Tarlenheim and castle OF
Zenda, which frowned at us across the
valley I tried to shift my thoughts also,
to forget my love- and to bend all my en-
ergies to the task before me- 1t was to
get the king out of the castle alive. Force
was useless; In some trick lay the chance;
and | had already an inkling of what we
must do. But / was terribly hampered by
the publicity which attended my move
ments. Michael must know by now of my
expedition: and / knew Michael too well to
suppose that his eyes would be blinded by
the feint of the boar hunt. He would I'M
derstand very well what the real quarry
was. That however. must be risked-that
and all 1t might mean: for Sapt. no less
state of things had become uncomfortable.
And there was thing that / dared to
calculate on-not. as l now know, without
warrant. 1t was this-that Black Michael
would not believe that l meant well by the
king He could not appreciated will not
say an honest man. for the thoughts OF
my own heart have been revealed-but
man acting honestly. He saw my oppor-
tunity as I had seen 1t, as Sapt had seen
1t! He knew the princess-nay (and de-
clare that sneaking sort of pity for him
Invaded me) In his way he loved her: he
would think that Sapt and Fritz could be
bribed so the bride were large enough.
Thinking: thus would he kill the king, my
rival and my danger? Aye. verify. that he
ratfa hn
would kill rat. But he would kill Rudolf
Rassendyu first, II he could; and nothing
but the certainty of being utterly damned
by. the release of the king alive and his
restoration to the throne would drive him
to throw away the trump card which he
held In reserve to balk the supposed game
Of the impudent imposter Rassendyll.
Musing on all this as l rode along. took
courage.
Michael knew of my coming sure enough.
I had not been In the house an hour when
an imposing embassy arrived from him:
He did not quite reach the impudence OF
sending my would-be assassins. but he sent
the other three of his famous Six-the three
Ruritanian gentlemen-Lauengram. Kraft
ping trio they were. splendidly horsed and
admirably equipped. Young Rupert, who
looked a daredevil. and could not have
been more than twenty-five or twenty-three,
took the lead. and made us the neatest
speech. wherein my devoted subject and
loving brother. Michael of Strelsau. prayed
me to pardon him for not paying his adj
dresses In person. and. further. for not
putting his castle at my disposal. the rea-
son for both Of these apparent derelictions
being that he and several of his servants
lay sick of scarlet fever. and were in a
very sad. and also a very infectious state.
So declared young Rupert with an insolent
smile on his curling upper lip and toss of
his thick hair-he was a handsome villain.
and the gossip ran that many lady had
troubled her heart for him already.
IF my brother has scarlet fever" said I,
'he Is nearer my complexion than he Is
wont to be. my lord. I trust he does not
suffer-
He is able to attend to his affairs. sire"
Il hope all beneath your roof are not
sick What of my good friends De Gautet,
Bersonin and Detchard? / heard the last
had suffered a hurt"
Lauengram and Krafstein looked glum
and uneasy, but young Ruperts smile grew
broader.
.He hopes soon to find medicine for 1t,
sire" he answered.
And I burst out laughing, for I knew
what medicine Detchard longed fort is
"You will dine with us. gentlemenr'
asked.
Young Rupert was profuse in apologies.
They had urgent duties at the castle.
Then" said i. with wave of my hand.
ITO our next meeting. gentlemen. May it
make US better -acquantedf
1--WE will pray your majesty for an early
opportunity. quoth Rupert airfly: and he
strobe past Sapt with such jeering scorn
on his face that the old fellow clench
his fist and scowl black night.
For my part. IL man must needs be a
knave l would have him debonair knave
and liked Rupert Hentzau better than his
long faced. close-eyed companions. 1t
makes your sin no worse as conceive, to
do II a In mode and stylishly.
Now IL was a curious thing that on this
first night. instead of eating the excellent
dinner my cooks had prepared for me,
must needs leave my gentlemen to eat 1t
alone. under Sapts presiding care. and ride
myself with Fritz to the town of Zenda and
q certain little inn that 1 knew Of There
was little danger IN the excursion: the
evenings were long and light and the road
this side of Zenda well frequented. So OF
we rode. with groom behind us. I muf-
fed myself up in big cloak.
Fritz" said | we entered the town,
there's an uncommonly pretty girl at this
fnn."
How do you known" he asked.
because I've been there" said I.
'Since-" he began.
mo Before" said I.
But they'll recognize your"
well, of course they will. Now don't
argue. my good fellow, but listen to me.
We're two gentlemen OF the kings house,