Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-28
CHAPTER XII.
Grigosie.


welcomed them like old friends. They
were of the poorer sort. and the want of
comfort In the place did not disturb them;
perhaps the quality of the liquor made
amends.
It presented a narrow front to the court.
the great walls on either side appeared to
have squeezed it. The two little windows
above, the signboard fat against the wall.
and the single door rather suggested a
face; and the door, out of the perpendicu-
lar. looked strangely like q mouth awry
uttering a cry Of pain. The building was
Deep however, and there was a long, mar
row. low-pitched room at the rear, Of
which all the frequenters of the place were
not aware. This room, even in broad day
light, was dim. and it grew dark there
early It was still light in the wider streets
of the city, but in this room candle was
burning the corner of table beside
which a man sat. He had pushed back the
remains of a meal. and his fingers played
ref1ectively with the tankard which the
landlord had replenished few moments
before.
The landlord had asked no questions. had
attempted no conversation. When Des-
mond Ellerey had entered and called for
as he had been instructed. and which was
perfectly understood Two men were
drinking in the doorway at the time, and
when they had gone the landlord led Ell
lerey 10 the long TOOm
There will be inquiries for me. landlord.
Whoever gives the sign bring him in at
once. but no one else, mind"
The landlord nodded.
Let me have food and drink. l care
not what so there Is plenty OF 1t. have
not broken fast since yesterday.
Throwing aside one cloak which he car
ried over his arm. and loosening the one he
wore. Ellerey disclosed the fact that he
was we'll armed. and booted and spurred
for journey. Earlier in the day Stefan
had met him at a tavern In the city, bring
Ing these clothes with him as directed in
the note which the boy had delivered. The
remains of the court uniform which he had
worn last night had been hidden away. and
there was nothing now in Ellerey's dress
to mark him as kings officer.
He had already waited three hours, or
more and began to grow impatient The
men who had been chosen for this desper-
tie service were already on their way to
the place of rendezvous. and men OF this
description were wont to fret at delay ana
inactivity. He wanted to be away him
self and until he had the queens token
safely in his possession he could not put
aside his fears that it would not come, that
something had happened to prevent her
sending it. The kings sudden interruption
last night might have forced her to change
her plans. might possibly have caused her
to sacrifice him to save herself At the
best delay must be dangerous. and he
chafed at his enforced idleness. which
made the minutes drag.
At last the door opened and man en-
tered. 1t was the same man who had come
to summon him to the audience last night.
"You are welcome" Ellerey said. Il be-
gan to think some circumstance had Inter-
vened."
I'VE have only just escaped such ca
lamity, was the answer. by some means
Lord Cloverton had received information Of
our plans. In the presence of the king, i'm
mediately after your departure, he accused
her majesty Of trafficking with the brigands
in the hills and challenged her to show
the bracelet. 1t was fortunate that the
queen could do so, and Indignantly demand
apology. The first move is much in our
favor for the accusation made the king
extremely angry, and the British ambassa-
dor is in Ill favor today His hands are
tied for little while. at any rate"
That 1 would believe if I saw the knot
ted cords about his wrists. but not other
wise" Ellerey answered. MY worthy
countryman Is not so easily beaten
ut is true her majesty bid me warn you.
but without the king what can he do?''
He is capable of anything. and has the
English vice. or virtue-it depends on the
point of view-of never knowing when he
has got the worst of it,
Her majesty is fortunate in also having
an Englishman for her messenger"
'Thank you. monsieur. l think there Is
something of the same spirit in me-"
There is the token. Capt. Ellerey, and
the man handed him small sealed box.
THE streets are yet full. so it would be
wise to delay your departure for while.
Her majesty also bid me give you this. an
earnest of what shall fall to the share of
her successful messenger
In Ellerey's palm lay ring. the jewel in
1t catching light even from the feeble ray
of the candle. For one moment Elerey
was disposed to refuse the gift until he
had earned 1t, the independence of the
Engishman rising in him; but brief hest
tation gave the spirit of the adventurer OPP
portunity to rise uppermost. He might
70 and fnr Ia ha
Sturatzberg. 1t would be some consola-
ton not to go altogether empty-handed.
Il thank her majesty" he said. II shall
keep 1t as key to win her further favor
should deserve It."
Then I will leave you, Capt Elerey.
Fortune smile on you and on the cause"
AS the door closed upon his visitor Ell
lerey secured the sealed box and the ring
about his person in such fashion that the
treasure lay close to the skin. While life
was In him no one should rob him Of 1t.
Then he sat down to possess his soul In pa
thence until the streets should grow dark
enough and empty enough for his depar-
ture.
1t was market day, and he had elected to
go by the Southern Gate at the hour when
many would be leaving the city their
homeward journey. He mad no desire to
be recognized, and he hoped to pass I'M
noticed in the crowd. Stefan had arranged
to have his horse waiting for him at for
ester's cottage off the Breslen road, a mile
from the city. BY making the meeting
place In the forest toward Breslen, precau-
ton was taken that should riders be seen
going in this direction their real destina-
ton would never be suspected. The bri-
gands lay in the mountains near the Drek-
ner pass, in exactly the opposite direction
to Breslen, and a wide detour round Stu
ratzberg would have to be accomplished
when the united band set out In earnest
upon its expedition. The token was at last
in his possession, his comrades awaited
him, and Ellerey was anxious to be gone.
But he was not the man to fail by being
too precipitate. None knew better the
value of deliberate caution, and with Lord
Cloverton fully alive to the danger there
might be many obstacles to face which
had not entered into his calculations. So
Elierey sat there waiting, while the candle
burnt lower, casting. the room darkened.
sharper outline of his figure upon the
wall.
Time. surely, now!" he exclaimed at
last, starting to his feet. Landlord"
The door opened so suddenly that the
handle must have been turned even as Ell
lerey shouted. But 1t was not the landlord
who entered. Two figures came in swiftly
and closed the door.
Pardon, Capt. Ellerey."
well. sire. what would you with me? I
have little time to waste. have already
called the landlord to pay my reckoning"
and as he spoke Ellerey raised the candle
oh To- mad 10 hat