The Yale expositor., 1907-09-20

rot told you that he trapped Madame
! de WARMER with the rest of us?"
was becoming desperate. The min
utes was flying swiftly and Locke was
J even more aggressive than when he
} had first surprised me. To reason
} with him was impossible unless | told
him all. There was no time for that.
Force alone could rescue me from my
dilemma. If IL was hopeless to disarm
his suspicious, could | rob him of the
revolver in his hip pocket? | made
no further attempt TO resist. l stood
passively, waiting my chance.
$50 Starva has turned traitor?"
Locke questioned ironically. But If
the Countess Sarahoff Is so anxious to
outwit her former confederate-if the
life OF Prince Ferdinand is actually in
peril and she would save him, why did
she not send man for that desperate
work? Why did she not let Captain
Forbes escape instead of you? Would
he be so averse to the saving OF a
kings life? Even If you believe her
silly yarn, she has tricked you. You
are clay in her hands; her kisses have
bewitched you"
made no answer to his taunts. I'm
consciously he had loosened his hold.
| stood as one crushed by his vindic-
tive. Scorn. My attitude confessed
defeat. Locke believed the acted lie
when he had CONTEMPORARY scoffed
at the truth.
Once more, your errand. and no
more lies. You wish to save FerdI-
nand; you pretend that is the futile
errand Madame de WARMER sends you
on You would penetrate the strong
hold of a desperate band unarmed-
you who only this morning saw a
young girls life threatened and raised
no hand. If it was cowardice that
made you hesitate, why should the
coward play the hero so bravely now?
Or was ii that you are the ally of the
very man whom you pretend you are
anxious to confront empty-handed?
Il have done my best to move you.
What do you want? / am in your
hands"
Il want the truth"
Il have told you the truth If lied
1
ly. For the last time | entreat you.
| have been proved a coward-twice /
But this was TO be my chance / hoped
to retrieve myself. But fate blocks
the way with a fool who cannot see
when man is desperately in earnest
Ferdinand's murder is certain If we
lift no hand to save him. Listen: in
ic 20 Ent 70 ha
just beyond you. Take 1t; let your
self into the hall; hide there and use
the evidence of your own eyes"
And let you slip from my hands? /
Not MUCH! What is that?"
He turned abruptly. The accom-.
plice OF DR.. Starva who had been keep /
ing guard before the door was running
toward the passageway leading from
the village street. l could hear dis
tinctly the carriage wheels rumble
over the cobblestones.
For the last time" | besought.
There is not an instant to lose"
Still he hesitated, looking cautiously
around the angle of the wall at the ap-
carriage. His curiosity made
him negligent
This was my chance One arm
caught him about the neck; the other
reached for his weapon. Then
pushed him violently backward and
covered him, retreating myself toward
he little door, the key in my hand.
Stand back" | whispered fiercely.
Now take you choice. Go to the viii
age; you can't go too quickly, you
idiot. Come back with gend-
lrmes; batter down the door Or else
'ome with me. You have accused me
If cowardice more than once. Show
'ou are a man. Quickly, your choicen'
| heard him chuckling softly to him.
elf in the darkness.
We'll. I'm damned" he muttered.
more than once. Lead on, Macduff." {
rs my key slipped into the lock he
vas at my side. ,
/ pushed the little door open.
The hall was empty, but brilliant ,
With the light of a hundred candles.
20 nook or Granny afforded us a safe
] leaped up the staircase with Locke /
{ my heels. We had reached the cal. {
cry as the great door swung open. I
Prince Ferdinand entered Dr. Starva
nd his ally crowding him close on I
ither side. 7
The prince stepped into the hall with
pparent confidence. But as he heard I
ne door clang behind him he turned I
lertly to DR.. Starva {
Where is Madame de Varnier?" he I
emanded in French. a
Madame de Varnier is unavoidably @
etained, your Majesty She has dele. I
ated me to receive you. Be assured. 1
our Majesty's welcome shall not be l
Icking in warmth. Will your Majesty !
ray be seated? There are urgent I
Iatters of state to be discussed" a
He pushed the prince brutally into a
hair, bending over him with a hideous .
nile that would have done credit to Il
lie devil himself
Locke and / were crouching behind
D antique rug that hung over the gal.