New-York tribune., 1906-06-17
Synopsis of Preceding Chapters

IT Is name-day of the King of the ancient King
dom OF hravonIa and the capital city Of SlavIa
Is gwen over to festivities III His Majesty honor.
Suphy de Gruche Is to SaVua and IL peo-
pie, except 10 Marie ZerkovItch and the lat
hraNonla; She has come to Slavna TO ind her
fortune; but on this festal day has only few
shlllIags and the fee from couple Of French pupils
between her and dire want
Sophy Is watching the military parade and
listening to the court gossip OF Captain Markart.
The latter hints OF some grave scandals in imper4l
affairs, notably the evident existence OF fact ions
some plotting for the elevation Of the Kings son
by morganatlc wife III place Of the legIt inlate e
Prince.
The Prince Is considered a martinez bv the
SlaVna military, OF whom he Is garrison Commau-
dant and there Is no small obJectIug when an
order Is issued that all soldiers must remain al
barracks during this merry evening. CAPTAIN
Mistitch (nIcknamed Captain " Hercules "j the
leader III mutInous talk, induces Lieutenants
RaStatz and Sterkoff to JOIN hn III defying the
order, and the three start find the Prince
loudly boasting OF what will happen when they
meet him.
They do meet him soon. Rastatz fees in terror.
and Sterkoff cOnceals himself behind a pillar leav-
ing MIStltch TO make good hls threats The latter
defes the Commandant- In the ensuing duel the
Prince sewers the teudons of MlStchS wrist and
Is about TO march hm of 10 the guard house when
Sterkoff springs out OF the darkness to stab the
Prince IN the back.
At that instant Sophy who has been watching
the encounter from a window overhead, lets fall a
heavy bronze statue, which crushes the would be
assassin to the ground.
Sophy receives her reward, the King appointing
her Keeper of the Tapestries, al four hundred
pounds a year; but there i end of trouble over
Mistitch's proposed execution. The Prince Is firm
in ms intention, despite the protests OF General
Stenovics and Hercuess admirers: but finally
consents to reprieve ms assaant when the General
approves an order for lot OF cannon, which will
give the Princes tower command of the city.
The King cOnfers patent Of nobility on SOphy
making her Baroness OF DubraVa "a further recog-
nition of her services.
Sophv goes To Praslok, the Princes country
estate. and Is there appointed lieutenant Of the
Nolseni artillery Al the request OF the rank and file.
The klaE, fear of an early death, orders the
Prince TO go abroad TO find i fitting wife The
Prince in love with Sophy, tempOrizeS. The two
plight their troth with the arrival OF the news
Of the big guns for Savna.
The clique the Palace conspire to keep from
the Prince all knowledge # his fathers pre- ariols
condition: but the valet Lepage and the journalist
ZerkoNItch inform the Prince that the King =
life hangs by a hair; aud your crown by 4 thread.
The cabal in the Palace persuade the King TO
sign an order requiring the immediate return from
Praspk Of Sophy, convincing hIm that she has
designs on the Prince.
Stenovics, knowing that Lepage Is giving in
formati ION TO the Prince, informs the King.
The valet given a hearing. tells the King of the
throne. and His Majesty suffering from his weak
heart falls back dead. StafnItz, realizing the need
of time. when informed by the physician Of the
Kings death, eXclaIms: mol HIS Majesty dies
Tomorrow
The twenty-four hours this would give the con-
spirators would be enough efectually head Of
the Princes attempt TO assume ms inheritance, and
To place the Countess son on the throne Also
dred soldiers to PrasOk to execute the kIng :
order reference to Sophy, with the tentative
hope that the Prince would object, and be shot
However, Iepage manages to ESCAPE from the
Palace and inform ZerkOvnch Of the klnG : death,
and ZerkoVItch departs To inform the Prince, an
hon lief ,rp MtGf fh sIthl = IN