Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-03

Alexis a Prince then? Will even they who
taught him to think himself Prince! Oh,
yes; they wanted him to go! And he wouldn't
go if he knew Your Majesty was i'll. He loves
Your Majesty. Yes! But if he hated you,
still would he go?" With a sudden turn he
was round on Stenovics again, and threw out
his arms as though to embrace picture.
Look! The Prince is away; the guns are
come; the King dies! Who commands in the
Palace? Who governs Slavna?" He was
back to the King with another swift turn.
MAY | answer sir? MAY l tell you? The
mother of Prince Alexis commands in the
Palace; Slavna is ruled by the friends of Cap
tain Mistitchl" His voice fell to ironical
murnur. " And the Prince IS far otf-seeking
great Princess! Sir, do you see the picture!
Stafnitz suddenly lowered his eyes from the
ceiling and looked at the gesticulating little
man with smile. Such Imagination IN the
servants halli' he murmured halt under MS
breath.
The King neither rebuked his levity nor
Endorsed the insinuated satire He took no
notice at all. His eyes were fixed on his still
trembling hands
Stenovics spoke in calm, smooth voice.
Absolutely, sir, l believe the mans honest
he said, with an infection of good -humored
surprise "One sees how he got the idea. | am
sure he is genuinely devoted to Your Majesty
and to the Prince, we all are. He sees
something going on which he doesn't under
stand; he knows something more is going on
that he is ignorant of He knows the unfor-
tunate condition of Your Majesty's health.
He is like nurse-forgive me-ln charge OF a
sick child; he thinks everybody but himself
has designs on his charge. 1t is really nat
ural, however absurd, but it surely makes the
precaution | suggested even more necessary.
If he went abroad spreading tale like
this!
The line was clever-cleverer far than the
Countess's rage, cleverer than Stafnitz's airily
bitter sneer But of it too the King took no
notice Lepage took no more than lay in
scornful smile He leaned down toward the
motionless dull-faced King and said in his
ear
They wanted him to go, sir Did they
want him to come back again, SIR He bent
a little lower and almost whispered How
long would his journey have taken, sir! How
long would it have taken him to get back, IL
in case OF need?' One more question ne dld
not ask in words but it was PLAIN enough
without them: How long can Your Majesty
count on living"
At last the King raised his head and looked
round on them His eyes were heavy and
CLASSY. This man has been my trusted ser
want for many, many years. You General
Stenovics have been my right hand, my other
self Colonel Stafnitz is high IN my conf
dence. And Lepage is only my servant.
a. l seek to stand no higher than any other OF
Your Majesty's servants, except IN 50 Tar as
the nature of my services gives me claim,
said Stenovics.
" But there is one here who stands far nearer
| to me than anyone, VINO STANDS nearer TO me
than any living being She must know Of this
thing if it is true; if it is being done her hand
must be foremost among the hands that are
doing it" His eyes fixed themselves on the
Countess's face Is it true?" he asked.
Sir how can you ask? How can you lis
ten2 True? It's a malignant invention He is
| angry because | reproved him.
Yes I'm angry said 50. But it's true
| for all that"
"Silence, Lepage Am I to take your word
against the Countess's?"
! Markart a silent listener to all this scene,
thought that Lepages game was up. Who
could doubt what the Countess word would
be? Probably Lepage too thought that he
was beaten, that he was a ruined man; for
| he played desperate card-the last throw Of
a bankrupt player. Yet it was guided by
shrewdness and by the intimate knowledge
which his years of residence in the Palace had
given him. He knew the King we'll and he
knew Countess Elenburg hardly less thor
oughly
II speak truth. sir as | believe it. But
can't expect you to take my word against the
| Countess. ] have too much respect for
| Madam la Corntesse to ask that.
| Again he bent down toward the King. The
| King looked up at him. Stenovics' smile came
back into the mind In a low soothing tone
| Lepage made his throw-his last suggestion.
Madam la Comtesse is of great piety. If
| Madam la Comtesse will take solemn oath,
well, then I'm content. I'll say was mistaken