The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-03-29
HE .s ...
CHAPTER x.

f@1%s@Y every afternoon a report to
Gs@z@y me on the condition of the
capital and the feeling of the people.
The document included also an &C.
count of the movements of any persons
whom the police had received instruc-
lions to watch. Since / had been in
Strelsau Sapt had been in the habit of
reading the report and telling me any
items of interest which it might con-
tain. On the day after my adventure
in the summer house he came in as |
was playing a hand of ecarte with
Fritz Won Tarlenheim.
"The report is rather full of interest
this afternoon" he observed, sitting
down.
do you find," | asked, amy men.
ton of certain fracas?"
He shook his head with q smile.
Il find this first" re said: His
highness the Duke OF Strelsau left the
city $50 FAR a. ii appears. suddenly,
accompanied by several of his house.
hold. lis Geltiast,9n is believed to be
the castle Of Ac2Ga, but the party
travelled by road and not by train
NM. De Gautet, BerSonin and Detch.
ard followed an hour later, the last
named carrying his arm in a sling,
The cause of his wound is not known
but it is suspected thar he has fought
duel, probably incidental to love
affair.""
THAT is remotely true" ! observed
very we'll pleased to find that / had
left my mark ON the fellow.
"Then we come to this" pursued
Sapt: Mime de Mauban, whose move
ments have been watched according
to instructions, left by train at mid,
day. She took ticket for DRESDEN
Its an old habit Of hers" said /.
"'The Dresden trains stop at Zen.
da.' An acute fellow, this. And final
~ listen to this: The state of feeling
in the city is not satisfactory. The
king is much criticised gou know
he's told to be quite frank for taking
no steps about his marriage. From in.
quiries among the encourage Of the
Princess FlavIa her royal highness Is
believed to be deeply offended by the
remissness Of his majesty. The com.
mon people are coupling her name
with that Of the Duke OF Strelsau,
and the duke gains much popularity
from the suggestion. / have caused
the announcement that the king gives
a ball tonight In honor Of the princess
TO be widely diffused, and the effect
Is good"
THAT II news to me-" said /.
ooh. the preparations are all nader
laughed Fritz. "Tve seen to that"
Sapt turned to me and said in q
sharp. decisive voice:
You must make love to her tonight
you know"
II think II very likely I shall IL I see
her alone" said I. "Hang II. Sapt, you
don't suppose I find it difficulty"
Fritz whistled bar or two; then he
said: you'll find Il only too easy
Look here. I hate telling you this. but !
must. The Countess Helga told me
that the princess had become most at
tached to the king. Since the corona,
lion her feelings have undergone q
marked development. It's quite true
that she Is deeply wounded by the
kings apparent neglect"
"Here's a kettle Of fish.' grOaned.
"Tut. TUT said sapt. II suppose
you've made pretty speeches 10 a girl
before now. That's all she wants"
Fritz, himself lover, understood bet
ter my distress. He laid his hand on
my shoulder, but said nothing.
II think, though" pursued that cold
biooded old sapt. shat you'd better
make your offer tonight"
''Good heavens"'
"Or. al any rate, 90 near 20 II, and !
shall send a semiofiicial TO the papers,
'I'll do nothing Of the sOrt-nO more
will you said I. II utterly refuse "a
take part In making a fool Of the prln.
cess"
| Cdpt IVDheu ut uie WIN HIS SIudil
keen eyes. A slow, cunning smile pass
ed over his face.
"All right, lad; all right" said he
I'VE mustn't press you too hard
Soothe her down BIT, n you can. you
know. Now for Michaelg'
"Oh. hang MIchaeir' said I. Hell
do tomorrow. Here, Fritz. come for q
stroll In the garden"
sapt at once yielded. His rough
manner covered a wonderful tact and,
as came to recognize more and more,
a remarkable knowledge Of human ma.
ture. Why did he urge me 30 little
about the princessT Because be knew
that Der beauty and my ardor would
carry me further than all his argu.
ments and that the less I thought
about the thing the more likely was
10 do II. lie must have seen the un.
happiness he might bring on the prin.
cess, but that went for nothing with
/ him fsVfr 4 auV c0ufidpfifiy that Ia