Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-13
CHAPTER ".
The Court Of Sturatzberg.

sCtllcp lily AuuuCCus PCIHoPSs w Si1C
liquor the empty tankard beside him had
slant, as his master entered. Ellerey ex-
pected him to remark upon his sorry condi-
ton as he threw off his cloak but the man
did not DO so.
There has been some rough handling in
my neighborhood tonight, Stefan
That's plain enough, captain" was the
answer. They were good clothes, too"
And interest you more than the man in
side them" said Ellerey, grimly.
For the moment, yes. The man is un-
hurt. while the clothes are only fit for the
rag-shop or to be given to me-"
And, for choice, you would sooner have
a corpse to deal with, SO that the clothes
were untorn?"
Stefan shrugged his shoulders.
Il could spare most Of my acquafntances
to be made corpses OF, FOR acquaintance
was a street attack, captain L suppose?''
They are, common enough in Sturatz-
berg" Ellerey answered lightly.
THE tale will serve as well as another"
compelled to believe it, and If chance to
be lying it is no sin of mine.
why, rascal, what else should it be?''
1T might be friend turned enemy, or the
pursuit of a woman, or the touching of one
of the many antiques in Sturatzberg; but
let it be street attack. Was any man left
sobbing out his life in the corner of the
wall? 1t is well to- have the story COM
plete."
mo; it was an encounter of blows and
bruises only" =
I'm such plight as yours most men would
have had some boast to make. pointing to
their own condition to prove their state
ments. 1 have heard of half dozen men
lying dead, or dying, at a street corner,
victims to a single sword yet was there
never a corpse to be found in the morning.
"a ff1o err nyrnr DIV liz
Patch up the clothes and wear them,
Stefan. if you can persuade your bulk into
Them laughed Ellerey. Some day. per-
haps, when am certain of your affection, I
ask your help
The man took up the tankard, looked into
its emptiness. and put it down again. Then
he turned round suddenly:
Some time since was offered higher pay
to serve another master. captain"
why didn't you go?"
I'm beginning to think was fool. since
you trust me so little Stefan answered;
but l may yet prove a better comrade in
tight place than many. Goodnight"
A soldier, one of his own troops of Horse,
Stefan had drifted into Ellerey's service,
perhaps because he was lonely man like
his master. He appeared to have no ties
whatever nor wanted any, and declared
that the first man he met In the street who
was old enough might be his father, for
anything he knew to the contrary. His
mother he knew, had died bringing him into
the world; a wasted sacrifice, he called it,
since the world could have done very we'll
without him and he without it. Being in
1t, he took all the good he could find and If
he held his own life cheaply he was even
less interested in the lives Of others. Wom-
en- he hated, and his good opinion could be
purchased by man for brimming tank
ard and lasted, as a rule, SO long any
liquor remained.
1t was hardly wonderful that Ellerey
should not trust such a man with any Sc
crpt n q no rfi 0r6c
and the look on his face as he spoke made
him thoughtful.
Il shall want at least one stout companion
on whom 1 rely he unused. Il nigh,
choose a worse man than Stefan"
He spoke of his adventure to no one else.
He did not even attempt to locate the
house into which he had been decoyed To
show too much interest in the affair would
only be to attract attention to himself and
his movements, which was undesirable,
whether it were her majesty who had taken
occasion to test his courage or others who,
knowing the queens schemes, sought to de-
feat them One thing appeared certain.
Some token was to come into his posses
sion. and was to bring peril with it.
On the second evening, Ellerey accom-
panied Monsieur De Froilette to court
You are prepared to be frivolous, mon
sieur. as her majesty wishes?" said De
Froilette, as they went. You will find it
tolerably easy, but, pardon the advice, make
few friends; they are danger to one with
a secret mission.
do you speak of men. monsieur, or
women Elerey asked.
II spoke generally, but perhaps l was
thinking of women" was the answer. "Of
one man, however, beware. There is lit
tie, ferret-eyed devil at court who can spy
out secrets almost before they are con-
ceived-the English ambassador, Lord Clio
verton. He is a great man. and l hate
him.
Ellerey had no time to ask questions, for
the carriage stopped and the next moment
he fnltn uyin0 no 1nffa fha xr,i<J,
staircase which many people, men and wom-
en- We're ascending. His companion spoke
to no one as he went up nor did any one
address him. To the casual observer, he
might have passed for an unimportant per-
sonage in that gay throng, but Ellerey, who
had every reason to be interested in the
Frenchman. noticed that many people turn
ed to look after him, whispering together
when he had passed. Ellerey himself at
tracted some little attention, due, he i'm
agined, to the fact that he was in De Froil-
cites company, until he CHANGED to be left
alone for a few moments at the head of the
grand staircase. Some half-dozen PAGES
from him four men were engaged in earnest
conversation. From their position they
could scrutinize every one who assembled the
stairs or crossed the vestibule, and it seemed
to Ellerey they were there of set purpose;
more, that his arrival had been expected
and waited for. One of the four was a man
of about his own age, richly dressed, and Of
distinguished bearing. He appeared chief
among his companions who addressed him
with certain Difference, and followed his
movements, so that when he turned to look
at the newcomer Ellerey found himself the
focus of four pairs Of eyes. He met their
searching looks with equal inquiry, but ex-
perienced a certain attraction toward the
man who led the scrutiny. He might be an
enemy but he looked as though he would
prove an honest and open one incapable of
anything mean or underhand. Presently he
made some remark to his companions. who
nodded acquiescence, and then they sepa-
rated and were lost in the crowd crossing
the vestibule, just as De Froilette re-
turned.
Pardon me for leaving you, monsieur;
shall we seek her majesty
Ellerey passed with the Frenchman into
magnificent room, brilliantly lighted from
domed roof one of suite Of rooms which
were all of splendid proportions. From the
distance came soft, dreamy music, hushed
In the murmur Of voices. There were q
great many people present, and dancing
had commenced in the ball room. It was
brave assembly. men wearing brilliant uni
forms and the decorations Of every nation in
Europe, and women beautiful in themselves,
glorious in sheen of satin, rustic Of silk, and
fash of Jewels. Women's light laughter an
swered mems jests-on every side were