The Washington herald., 1906-11-03
CHAPTER XvTII-Continued.

q manner LlaL ndQ ne becl 2 HeiCuleS ne
would still have been powerless. They
hurried him then with scant courtesy
from the ante-room and up several flights
OF stairs to the top floor of the palace.
where they brought him TO a small room
whose one barred window looked out upon
the Campanian Hills This apartment had
evidently been al some time used as an
asylum for a lanatic, Tor walls, hoor. and
door were all thickiy padded: furniture
there was none, with the exception OF a
mattress and bedding spread in a far
corner on the floor. above which a small
steel ring-bolt with chain attached swung
tom a narrow eInbrasure in the wall
The officer at once closed the door and
proceeded with nervous caution 10 search
the prisoner. perhaps expecting to dis
cover 4 collection Of dangerous bombs
His surprise on finding the jewels was
almost ludicrous. he uttered a cry Of
something like fear, and dropped the gilt
ueriag treasures as though they had burn
ed his fingers. while the men gathered
round. staring with wide eyes al the price
less baubles.
One stopped to recover them, but the
officer reproved him sharply. DO you
want TO lose your life. fool.' he cried:
they are no doubt poisonous to touch.
since there are no bombs or other weap-
+ ons 10 be found"
The man started back as though an
adder had stung him, exclaiming inco-
/ herently.
( Cressingham. who had been growing
more and more angry by this, had nearly
& lost his temper. 'Ycu will pay for these
( lndignities," he cried hotly. L am an
English nObleman. fools that you are. one
and all / demand that you send imnae-
dIately for the English consul or the
Minister, ! don't care which, they are
( beth friends OF mine"
The officer bowed and smiled. Certain
ly- my lord; but in the meantime my
orders are 10 take all precautions Your
.o-oship viii doubtless excuse me. for /
must obey my orders" He bowed again
and turned 70 his men. 'Chleu, Malsamo.
be SO Kind as 70 fastsn my Lord Crossing
ans wrists 10 the chain yoader and be-
hIno his back. out be careful not 20 IN
lure or hurt my lord IN any way" Cres-
singham struggled vic!enIy, but vain.y.
II moment ne was handcuffed and
chained, and could only stand glowering
angrily al his CaUtors
The officer made a sign and his men
departed saluting him one by one AZ
thvy passed TO the dor. He then stroIed
over 10 the jewels and kicked them about
with his feet until the door was sirewn
and shining Ike the coat Of q Persian
king They are very beautiful. milord.'
he observed critically, but deadly, are
they uot?"
Give them 70 me, said Cresslngham
with savage snarL and III eat few
20 show you"
The officer smiled and shrugged his
sh- uiders- 1T is possible that my lord
would prefer suicide 70 the De" he sug-
gested calmly.
Have them tested by whom you please.
only for Gods sake be quick about it
You viii md them harmless enough. You
think me a nihilist. but yOu are horribly
mistaken / came here 20 save Won
Kings life, not TO try and murder him.
Al IS that so ~. The man spread MS
kerchief on the floor, and pushing re
Jewels on it with his boot glngerly gath
cred up the ends and knotted them. then.
utGng the bundle with the end OF his
scabbard. held il from him at arms
length.
If my lord will excuse me, I shall take
my departure he said poll ely.
Cresslngham with a great effort re-
strained his rage and answered. "Signor.
/ beg you 70 give my compliments to the
king"
His majesty is not al home" inter
rupted the officer.
When vii be returu?"
I an not so far in his majesty's conf
dence"
when he returns viii you give him
message for me?"
With pleasure"
I thank you. Be 50 kind as to say 70
him these words. Lord Cressfasharn
Graves an. audience in order to tell your
majesty OF a plot which has been ar
ranged BY the nihilists for your majestv's
assassination. Your majesty's life in
immediate danger. and Lord Cressingnam
has undergone d tn5Esand perils 10 carry
you this warning"
shall remember" said the officer.
Nay. more-I shah cause your message
70 be Immediately transmitted to his mai
esty. Is there more that I may do for
your"
IF you could ten me Of the movements
or q certain Mr.. Perigord. a friend OF the
King. ! should be obliged"
Why, yes. Dir. Perigord returned to
Naples this morning In his yacht from
voyage ID which ! myself was one OF his
companions. He has gone TO NiIano."
Then / pray you send him telegram
informing him OF my position. am sure
ne VIII Immediately accomplish my re-
lease
The officer bowed. Certainly, my lord.
It shall be done. Is that ALP
well have eaten nothing since early
this morning"
i shall send you some lunch immedi-
ately and a servant who will feed YOU.
Ny orders forbid me releasing your lord
ships hands"
Cressingham sighed resignediy, and the
OHcer, with a final sweeping reverence
tock his leave, having created the impress
sicn Of a remOrseless but at the same
time the most courteous gaoler in the
wcrld.
The remainder of that day passed quite
uneventfully. On the following morning
a little before noon, the ofTicer presented [
himself at the door and informed his pris-
oner that the King CT Iraly had received /
his message. but has not favorably re- /
piled 10 it. lie did not stay minute, and /
In spite of Cressingham's excited aues- /
tions bowed himself away
Another tWenty-four hours passed bv /
hours OF utter loneliness and misery. /
which the wretche5 man spent in alter 4
nately pacing the apartment wi'h furious /
tmpatenee or reclining on his pallet, vain /
ty trying TO sleep. Servants came with
MS meals, but the men wse soldiers who 4
had evidently received their orders for
they refused TO talk or be drawn into any /
converse. In answer TO all his eager 4
QueS' ions and demands trey merely shO1j, /
their heads or nodded Ike automatons /
and he was at last constrained TO keen l
silence and wait with what patience he 1
could for the end
In the afternoon of JuIv q tba ofFicer