The National tribune., 1906-10-18

Zenda. where, by the way. Rupert
Hentsau had him soundly hogged foI
daring to smirch the morals Of Zenda
by staying out all night in the pursuits
OF love. This, from Rupert. Johann
deeply resented, and the Dukes ap-
proval of it did more to bind the keep
er to my side than all my promises.
ON Flavia's arrival l cannot dwell
Her joy at finding me up and well. in
stead of on my back and fighting with
death, makes a picture that even NV
dances before my eyes till they grow
too dim to see it; and her reproaches
that l had not trusted even her mus,
excuse the means / took to quiet them
In truth, to have her with me once
more was like taste Of Heaven to a
damned soul, the sweeter for the in
eVitable doom that was ID follow; and
/ rejoiced in being able to waste two
whole days with her. And when / had
wasted two days the Duke of Strelsau
arranged hunting party.
The stroke was near now. For Sapt
and /, after anxious consultations, had
resolved that we must risk a blow, our
resolution being clinched by Johann's
news that the King grew peaked, pale
and i'll, and that his health was break
ing down under his rigorous confine-
ment. Now, a man-be he King or no
King-may as well die swiftly, and, as
becomes a gentleman, from bullet 1.r
thrust, as rot his life out in a cellar,
That thought made prompt action ad-
Visable in the interests of the King;
from my OWN point of view it grew
more and more necessary. For Stra-
kencz urged on me the need of a
speedy marriage, and my own inclina-
tions seconded him with such terrible
insistence that ] feared for my resolu-
ton. / do not believe that / should
have done the deed / dreamt of: but
I might have come to flight. and my
flight would have ruined the cause
And-yes, l am no saint (ask my little
n-law)-and worse still might
have happened.
1t is perhaps as strange a thing as
has ever been in the history of a courI-
try that the Kings brother and the
Kings persOnator. in time of pro-
found outward peace, near placid, I'M
disturbed cOuntrH town, under sem
blance of amity, should wage desper-
ate war for the person and life of the
King. Yet such was the struggle that
began now between Zenda and Tarlen-
helm. When / look back on the time
seem to myself to have been hal,
mad. Sapt has told me that ] suffered
no interference and listened to no re.
monstrances; and if ever King OF
Ruritania ruled like a despot ] was. in
those days, the man. Look where
would / saw nothing that made life
sweet to me, and ! took my life in my
hand and carried il carelessly as a man
bangles an old glove. At first they
strove 20 guard me- to keep me safe
to persuade me not to expose myself;
but when they saw how / was set there
grew up among them-whethcr they
knew the truth or not-a feeling that
Fate ruled the issue. and that | must
be left TO play my game with Michae
my own way.
where Flavia had sat by me, and con.
Quoted her to the door of her apart,
ments. There J. kissed her hand, and
bade her sleep sound and wake to hap.
py days. Then / changed my clothe.
and went out. Sapt and Fritz wer,
waiting for me with three men ant
the horses. over his saddle Sapt car
ried a long coil Of rope, and both wer,
heavily armed. I had with me shor
stout cudgel and long knife. Making
a circuit, we avoided the town. and II
an hour found ourselves slowly mount
ing the hill that led to the castle o
Zenda. The night was dark and yer,
stormy; gusts of wind and spits of rain
c1cSht US as we breasted the incline
and the great trees moaned and sighe /.
When we came to thick clump abou
quarter OF mile from the castle w,
bade our three friends hide there witt
the horses. Sapt had a whistle anc
they could rejoin us in few moments
n danger came; but up till now W,
had met no one. hoped that Miohae
was still off his guard, believing me t.
be safe in bed. However that nigh
be, we gained the top of the hill with
out accident, and found ourselves OF
the edge of the moat where it sweeps
cnder the road. separating the old cas-
tie from it. A tree stood on the edg.
of the bank and Sapt silently and dill
gently set to make fast the rope
stripped off my boots. took a pull at