Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-22
CHAPTER TX.

The aspect of the night had changed
| when Ellerey and his companion left the
| palace. Fleecy clouds raced across the sky.
| yelling the face of the moon at intervals
and making her light fitful and uncertain.
| The air struck cold after the warmth with
| in. but beyond drawing his cloak little
closer round him, Desmond Ellerey seemed
Indifferent to the night and to the business
| he had in hand. He asked no questions,
and with his eyes bent on the ground fol-
| lowed his companion mechanically. The
| cause of the quarrel interested him more
| than the issue Of 1t. Why had Baron Pet
rescu drawn him into this duel? 1t had OBJ
viously been carefully planned. and the in
suit deliberately given at a moment when
Ellerey was least DESTROYS of pacing his life
in Jeopardy. He could only assume that
her majesty's schemes were, to some ex-
tent at least, known to the baron, and that
| on incapacitating him from performing the
mission he had undertaken. That the
baron had any personal quarrel with him
he did not believe.
was interested in the night. Each time the
! moonlight grew pale, or died out alto
gether for moment, he looked at the sky
and glanced quickly at Ellerey. He was
the more excited OF the two.
This is treacherous light for our
work." he said presently. 1--WE should
have been wiser to have waited until morn
ing"
II have other work for the morning. T"
Ellerey answered.
Are you skilful swordsman? The
baron Isl
"Is her? said Ellerey. indifferently. "I
doubtless I shall be a better judge Of my
skill presently. Where do we go?"
ITO tell the truth. hardly like the rem
devious" was the answer. 1T is a stretch
- \ bob ~3 OH u, ia
part Of the town. Did I not know the
baron to be an honorable man, should
have refused the meeting in such place.
Your decision to fight tonight made our
choice limited
Ellerey stopped and looked about him.
They had turned from a side street into a
narrow thoroughfare with tall, dark houses
on either side. The neighborhood looked
particularly uninviting.
Where are we?' he asked suddenly, re-
Numbering that he knew nothing of his
companion, and that by accepting the serv-
ice he had so readily offered he might be
quietly stepping into trap. Such a thing
would agree very we'll with the rest of
Baron Petrescu's behavior
Beyond knowing that we are in the pur-
lieus Of a lower part Of the town and on
the outskirts Of the city. am as puzzled
as you are"
You seem very credulous of the baron's
honesty, monsieur, to agree so such place
as this. Which way now?"
ITO the bottom of this street, where we
are to wait. The baron's friend will meet
US there"
We will keep the appointment so far"
Baron Petrescu, but am not minded to
step blindly into nest of cut-throats."
He strobe on as alert now as he had been
Indifferent before, and it was not until they
had nearly reached the end of the street
that his companion spoke.
zone moment he said. by that light
yonder we are to wait You do not trust
me, Capt. Ellerey?"
IT have not said So"
'That admits my statement" was the
answer. Until moment ago that aspect
of the case had not presented itself to me-
but on reflection 1 can hardly wonder at
your distrust. The circumstances tell
against me, but had I been in any con-