Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-06-21

n ~ ~ =
Sss= kings is, l warrant, much
@1&8 harder. On. the next day
Sapt instructed me in my duties-what
( ought to do and what l ought to
inow-for three hours; then snatched
breakfast, with Sapt still opposite me,
telling me that the king always took
white wine in the morning and was
known to detest all highly seasoned
dishes. Then came the chancellor for
another three hours, and to him | had
| to explain that the hurt to my finger
1--WE turned that bullet to happy ac
count prevented me from writing
whence arose great to do, hunting OF
presidents and so forth, ending In my
making my mark" and the chancellor
attesting it with superfiuity of sol
emn oaths. Then the French ambas
sador was introduced to present his
credentials. Here my ignorance was
of no Importance, as the king would
have been equally raw to the business
We worked through the whole corps
diplomatique in the next few days, q
demise of the crown necesstating all
| this bother.
Then at last l was left alone.
called my new servant 1--WE had chosen
to succeed poor Josef a young man
who had meyer known the king, had q
brandy and soda brought to me and
observed to Sapt that l trusted that
might now have rest.
Fritz Won Tarlenheim was standing
by.
"By heavenw he cried. 1--WE waste
time. Aren't we going to throw Black
Michael by the heels?'
gently, my son, gently" said Sapt,
knitting his brows. ut would be a
pleasure, but it might cost us dear.
Would Michael fall and leave the king
aliveT
"And," I suggested, "while the king
Is here in Strelsau, on his throne, what
grievance has he against his dear bro
Their Michael"
"Are we to do nothing, thenT
"We're to do nothing stupid" growl-
ed Sapt.
"In fact, Fritz said I, II am re-
minded of situation in one Of our
English plays, The Critic Have you
heard of it? Or, if you like, Of two
men each covering the other with re.
volver. For can't expose Michael
xx-;+bo,,t axnoc;n0 rnvcalf,'-
"And the king" put in Sapt.
"And hang me If Michael won't ex-
pose himself if he tries to expose me!'
cts very pretty" said old Sapt.
.If I'm found out" pursued, Il
will make clean breast of it and fight
it out with the duke. But at present
I'm waiting for move from him."
Hell kill the king" said Fritz.
"Not he" said Sapt.
"Half of the Six are In Strelsau,"
said Fritz.
"Only half? You're sureY asked
Sapt eagerly.
:. eyes, only half"
"Then the kings alive, for the other
three are guarding him." cried Sapt.
eyes, you're rightw exclaimed Fritz,
his face Frightening. "If the king were
dead and buried, they'd all be here
with Michael. You know MichaePs
back, colonel?
81 know, curse himw
."Gentlemen, gentlemen" said /,
"who are the Six?"
II think you'll make their acquaint-
ance soon," said Sapt. "They are six
gentlemen whom Michael maintains
In his household They belong to him
body and soul. There are three Ruri-
tanians; then there's Frenchman, a
Belgian and one of your countrymen."
They'd all cut throat If Michael
told them," said Fritz.
| perhaps they'll cut NINE" sug-
gested.
"NOthlng more likely" agreed Sapt.
"WhO are here, Fritz"
Ode Gautet, BersOnin and Detchard."
''rhe foreigners! It's as plain as a
pikestaff. He's brought them and left
the Ruritanians with the king. That's
because he wants to commit the Ruri-
etanians as deep as he can"
"They were none of them among our
friends at the lodge, them" asked.
IL wish they had been," said Sapt
wistfully. "They had been not six, but
four, by now"
I~had already developed one attribute
of royalty-a feeling that / need not re-
veal all my mind or my secret designs
even to my intimate friends. had
fully resolved ON my course OF action.
I meant to. make myself as popular as
I could and at the same time to show
no disfavor to Michael. BY these
means hoped to allay the hostility OF
his adherents and make it appear, II
an open conflict came about, that ne
was ungrateful and not oppressed.
Yet an open conflict was not what l
hoped for.
The kings interest demanded secre-
-cy, and while secrecy lasted l mad
fine game to play in Strelsau. Michael
should not grow stronger for delay.
l ordered my horse and, attended by
Fritz Won Tarlenheim, rode IN the
grand new avenue Of the royal park,
returning all the salutes which l re-
ceived with punctilious politeness
Then rode through a few of the
streets. stopped and bought flowers of
a pretty gil. paying her with piece
of gold. and then, having attracted the
desired amount of attention flor / had
a trail of half thousand people after
mel, 1 rode to the residence Of the
Princess Fleyia and asked IL she would
,.oooivn mo This steD created much