Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-05
BY PERCY BREBNER.
Copyright. 1905. T. J. Mcbride 4 SOM

bargained for and an answer did not come
| readily to his lips.
'Is it not so, my lord?' the countess re-
peated.
81 admit. countess. that. fancying there
was some tender understanding between
you and my countryman. 1 was willing, II
possible. to render you service. 1 seem
to have heard that love has been account
able for strange and even foolish actions.
This is the beginning and the end of my
offense."
Are you sure Of that?" she said. For
give me IL am mistaken, but the search
| ing Of my house was strangely timed with
our drive in the Bois.''
ooh, countess the ambassador ex-
| claimed. Surely you forget that only
| awaited myself of your courteous invita-
| ton"
(Which could do no less than give since
you explained that you had foregone your
| afternoon sleep to meet me there she re-
| piled quickly, and smiled the smile of a
| very charming woman Of the world, as
| most people considered her; but Lord Clo-
| verton seemed to catch some meaning be-
! hind the-smile. and the king felt that he
| ought to come to his rescue.
1--WE have both fallen under the count
| ess' displeasure: how can we prove how
unjustly? 1 will reprimand my too Jealous
officers. and they shall make you an
apology,
"Your majesty is good" she answered.
For myself 1t is no great consequence.
but had you witnessed the CONSERVATION Of
my servants, you would have understood
| how serious a matter It was in their eyes"
Subjects and servants alike, countess
are our masters" said the king.
Frina Mavrodin departed full of thanks
and wreathed In gracious smiles. When
she had gone, the king and the ambassador
looked inquiringiy at each other.
81 think your suspicious were unfounded
my lord" the king said.
IT missed the center of the target. your
majesty, but believe 1 aimed at the right
| mark She is a clever woman; l admire
| her more every day"
Lord Cloverton spoke the truth; he did
| admire her. Like all great men, he was
| quick to recognize the sterling worth OF his
| adversaries, and 1t was borne in upon him
more and more that in this crisis he had a
| clever and beautiful woman to deal with.
and what antagonist could be more power
| full? He began to rearrange his thoughts
| upon this basis, passed in review all the
seemingly trivial incidents with which Frina
| Mavrodin had been connected, and found
many new meanings in them. The posi-
| bility that her influence might be para
! mount in Sturatzberg dawned upon him.
! Such subtle power at work would explain
| many things and the ambassador deter
| mined to watch her more closely than ever.
All that day search was made for Capt.
Elerey throughout the city. Many places,
| known to be haunts of the dissatisfied,
were entered. but were innocent of even
| the appearance of evil. There were too
| many ready to bear warning for such
places to be taken unaWareS. bul no OtileT
| houses of such Importance as the Countess
| Mavrodin's were disturbed. There was no
result No one had seen Capt. Ellerey; in
deed, few people appeared to know him. or
! to have heard of him. This Lord Cloverton
did not believe. He thought he recognized
! Frina Mavrodin's influence at work in such
| ignorance.
1t was on the following day that Mon
sieur De Froilette called at the embassy,
| and was shown into Lord Cloverton's room.
with this new train of thought in his mind,
the Frenchman's Importance in the politics
of Wallaria appeared to sink into insig-
nificance.
You are welcome, monsieur. Is this a
friendly visit Or
Friendly certainly, but something more"
De Frolette answered. He had not come
to the embassy without due deliberation
He had had an audience with the queen
that morning, and there was something in
her tone which decided him to make his
| own interests doubly secure by giving help
| to the British ambassador-such help that
might count for much when the time for
| settling accounts came, but which should
! not materially hasten that time.
ct had begun to think you had forgotten
your promise" said Lord Cloverton. News
of Capt. Ellerey would be very useful to-
| to the government OF this country You
There was something resembling the
queens tone in the ambassador's-a want
Of appreciation of his position and impor-
1 lance.
"That is So" replied De Froilette quietly.
81 understand you-that is, the government
have done your utmost to find this Eng
| ishman, and have failed"
| "At present. monsieur. at present"
| (Which is hardly wonderful continued
| De Froiette. IL have SO constantly OBJ
served that you-the government, 1 should
| say-concentrates its energies in the wrong
| direction; is 1t not so. my lord"
IAN opinion which may-observe. / do
not say which does. but which may-arise
| from an entirely wrong conception of the
governments aims"
| ana fol, that is sor' laughed the French
| man. conscious that the ambassador was
annoyed. "of course. In my ignorance Il l
have supposed that the government. In
! searching for this Capt. Elierey. really
wanted to fnd him. Foolish of me! 1t
was q mere bind. q strategy. to mislead.
The government is really looking for some
one else Pardon me. my lord. for taking
| up your time" And De Froilette rose
to go.
you are too hasty. monsieur: pray be
seated again. 1t is Capt. Ellerey we want"
"Ah! Then am not deceived" said De
Froiletts, sitting down again. Tell me.