Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-08
CHAPTER XVIII-Continued.

De Froilette left the palace unnoticed as
Altstrasse. Francois FASTENED to attend
him.
There is nothing to report, monsieur"
he said, in answer to his masters look Of
inquiry. 1.-The city is quieting down. Is
monsieur in any danger?"
Perhaps, Francois, but it does not trou-
BILE me. 1 have been In danger before.
Many channels Of information are open to
a timber merchant, and those in authority
find me useful
1--WE can wait, monsieur, but those who
are expecting us to speak the word. will
they waltz
IT think so. Francois; still YOU may have
everything ready for hasty departure
And If by any chance circumstances should
necessitate our leaving separately, you
must look for me in London at the old adj
Dress
Such instructions caused the servant no
surprise His master had usually managed
waters he encountered, but on many coca
sions such preparations for rapid flight had
been made.
did you call to inquire after Baron Pc
Yes. monsieur; his wound is giving him
increased trouble.
II rejoice to hear it.. We can well dis
pense with his Growing in Sturatzberg Just
now. A walk through the city in an hour
or so. Francois, might be good for your
health"
The servant smiled. falling in with his
masters humor, and went out. The streets
were quiet when he traversed them an
hour or two later. A few soldiers were In
the Konigplatz and at the top Of the Ber-
genstrasse, but, except where some enter
tainment was going forward and carriages
<S.H NTH
city was unusually lfeless. Perhaps the
presence of the soldiers drove law-abiding
citizens home early lest they might come
under suspicion. and the lawless were evil
IDENTIFY not inclined to run risks. Francois
stood for few moments outside the Count
ess Mavrodin's watching the arrivals,
among whom he recognized many notabll-
ties including the British ambassador; and
then he Went for some distance down the
Bergenstrasse before returning home. Had
he traversed this street farther he would
probably have been convinced that the ex-
citing news of the day was already forgot
ten for he would hardly have heard the
laughter and songs which came from the
Toson d'Or unless he had actually gone up
the narrow court in which 1t stood.
The door was shut, but the light shone
duly through the red blinds which were
drawn across the windows. They were like
two huge eyes bleared with strong drink.
and as late conner pushed open the door
at intervals and disappeared within,
watcher might nave naQ lIe SeuSdllOH VI
seeing an ogre swallowing his victim. An
other thing might have struck him. There
were many late arrivals, and they all came
sngly, entering swiftly and letting the door
swing quickly to behind them. The tavern
was, surely, fast becoming overcroWded,
for no one came out.
But there was much room in the Toison
d Or, and the chamber in which Ellerey had
waited for the token was thrown open To-
night. 1t was crowded with men eager to
listen to the horsemen who had ridden into
Sturatzberg that day. They were the CEN
ter of attraction, and had long ago become
laxative and more than ordinarily boastful.
They shouted answers to every question:
and were RECALLED with tankard after tank
ard of liquor. They drank deep healths to
the king, and sware to their answering
loyalty with many strange oath. Ihey
sang snatches of ribald songs at the bid
ding Of any man who had the wherewithal
to pay for wine-snatches only, which be-
came less coherent as the evening ad-
vanced. They cursed the traitor Ellerey
and made jests upon Martha. who was
called princess by some fools and vaga-
bonds
Down with her. and all who have a
word for her. cried one OF then trying to
rise to give vehemence to his words, but
falling back helpless into his seat.
Curse her again, comrade," said thin,
morose looking man in his ear. Don't go
to sleep yet. Curse her again. We like to
know the true ring of your minds
1t was beyond the soldiers power to re-
ply, but the other soldiers did 1t for him.
vying with one another in their language
That's right said the thin man. You
are all agreed. She is a pest in the land,
this princess, an evil to be trodden down.
one to be killed If opportunity occurs, and
the fact of her being a woman shall win
her no mercy. You are all agreed on that
mo mercy! shouted one soldier.
LESS because she's a woman, groWled
another.
"Down with her. said third in
drunken whisper.
Zone more drink round, landlord said
the morose man. We'll drink it standing.
Those who cannot stand let their COM
rades hold them up. This Is loyal and
sacred toast for the last. Not man shall
sit down to it. Tankards round. landlord!
The soldiers struggled to their feet ODE
diently but each of them had to be held up
on either side. and they laughed at their
drunken inability. Selling tankard, the
thin man sprang upon chair
See that none fail to honor my toast!'
he cried. Let it tell it's tale to Sturatz-
berg before the dawn. Here's to our SOW
ereign lady, Princess Martial
Too drunk to understand the purport OF
the words. the soldiers raised their tank
ards to drink, and then let them ia i to the
ground with a clatter the untasted liquor
splashing upon the floor. Each man jerked
forward where he stood, and. when those
who held him let him go. fell down with
thud A groan or two, convusive move
ment, and then they lay still, while some
thing mixed with the split liquor and dyed
it to a darker hue. he six men who had
stood Immediately behind them wiped their
keen long knives and sheathed them again
in silence.
Go quicky!' shouted the man. still
standing on the chair. See that the Ber-
penstrasse is clear They shall rest there
tonight and Sturatzberg may find them
there presently and read the lesson as it
will"
In the early hours of the morning, when
the guests were leaving the Countess Nav
robins a man rushed past them into the
hall.
us Lord Cloverton still here?"
The ambassador came forward at once.
What is it,"
1.-The men who returned today-the SOL
diers.''
What of them?
.crhey have Just been found lying side by
side in the Bergenstrasse, dead-murdered"
CHAPTER XIX.
In Desperate Straits