The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-04-23
CHAPTER XXI.

~ anu spent QuleI 1OfrnlglC
mostly on my back, for a severe chill
developed itself, and was also the
victim of nervous reaction. which
made me weak as baby. AS soon as
had reached my quarters sent an
apparently careless postcard to my
brother, announcing my good health
and prospective return. That would
serve to satisfy the inquiries as to my
whereabouts, which were probably
still vexing the project of the police
Of Strelsau.
/ let my mustache and imperial grow
again, and, as hair comes quickly on
my face, they We're respectable, though
not luxuriant, by the time that land
ed myself in Paris and called on my
friend George Featherly. Ny inter
view with him was chiefly remarkable
for the number of unwilling but nee
essary falsehoods that told. and raj
lied him numerically when he told
me that he had made up his mind that
| had gone in the track of Nine. de
Mauban to Strelsau. The lady. it ap-
peared, was back in Paris, but was
living in great seclusion-a fact for
which gossip found no difficulty in ac-
counting. Did not all the world know
Of the treachery and death of Duke
Michael? Nevertheless George babe
Berram Bertrand be Of good cheer,
for" said he fippantly. "a live poet
Is better than a dead duke" Then he
turned on me and asked:
what have you been doing to your
mustaehe:"
ITO tell the truth" l answered, as
Stunning Il sly air, ~ man now aud then
has reasons fer wishing to alter his
appearance. But lis coming ON very
well again
What? Then I wasa't so far out?
IL not the fair Antoinette. there was
charmer.''
There is always a charmer." said
sententiously.
But George would not be satisfied till
he had wormed out of me (he took
much pride in his ingenuity an abso-
lutely imaginary love affair, attended
with the proper soupcon of scandal,
which had kept me all this time In
the peaceful regions of the Tyrol. In
return for this narrative George re.
ga!ed me with a great deal Of what he
called inside information" (known
only TO dlplomatists) as to the true
course Of events in Ruritania, the plots
and counterplots. In his opinion. he
told me. with a significant nod. there
was more TO be said for Black Michael
than the public supposed. aud he hint
ed at well founded suspicion that the
mysterious prisoner Of Zenda, concern
Ing whom a good many paragraphs had
appeared, was not a man at all. but
(here had some ado not to smiIel a
woman disguised as a man. and that
strife between the king and his broth.
er for this imaginary Iady's favor was
at the bottom Of their quarrel.
Perhaps II was Mime. de Mauban
herself" I suggested.
"No"' said George decislvely. IAN.
toinette de Mauban was Jealous OF
her and betrayed the. duke TO the king
for that reason. And. TO confirm what
/ say. it's well known that the Prin-
cess Flayia Is now extremely cold to
the king after having been most at.
feetionate."
At this point I changed the subject
and escaped from Georges inspired"
deIusions. But II diplomatlsts never
know anything more than they had
succeeded in finding out IN this In.
stance they appear TO me to be some.
what expensive Injuries.
While In Paris wrote 20 AntoInette.
though did not venture to call upon
her. I received In return very az.
feciing letter. In which she assured me
that the kings generosity and kind
ness. no less than her regard for me,
bound her conscience to absolute Sc.
crecy. She expressed the intention Of
settling In the country and withdraw.
Ing herself entirely from society
Whether she carried out her designs
have never heard, but as have not
met her or heard news Of her up 10
this time II Is probable that she did.
There II no doubt that she was deeply
attached Co the Duke Of StreIsau. and
her conduct at the time Of his death
proved that no knowledge Of the mans
real character was enough 90 root her
regard for him ont Of her heart.
I had one more battle left 20 fight
q battle that would. I knew. be severe
and was bound 10 end In my complete
defeat. Was I not back from the Ty.
rol without having made any study OF
its inhabitants. institutions. scenery.
fauna, fora or other featuresf Had I
not wasted my time in my usual friv.
olous. good for nothing way7 That
was the aspect " the matter which. I
was obliged to admit. would present II.
SELF 70 my Eister.in.law. and against 4
verdict based on such evidence I had
really no defense 20 offer II may be
supposed. then. that I presented my.
self IN Park lane in a shamefaced.
sheepish fashion. ON the whole. my
reception was not 50 alarming as 4
had feared. II turned out that I had
done not what Rose wished, but--the
next best thing what she had prophe.