The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1907-10-24
CHAPTER VIII
Prince Ferdinand and His Ambitions.

returned TO my hotel soberly
enough. had told my little aliegory
lightly. Now asked myself II |
should not apply II seriously to
myself Only this morning l had
mapped out for myself clear path
10 be followed And already was =
siren beckoningf Already wss ! en-.
chanted7
was intensely irritated that
should have allowed myself b. be in
terested by this Sophie de Varnier.
For the past hour I had been playing
dangerously near the Are II had not
yet burned me; but could honestly
say that Il had not warmed. lntoxi-
Gated. allured? Very well. I must be
careful not to compromise myself IN
the future.
Two women had met me at the part
ing of the ways
One OF them had set ne a task
holding herself proudly aloof. promis
ing nothing. n this task we're actu
ally accomplished. the reward was 70
be the deed ITSELF
And now anQfI4r woman had come
radiant. slittethg. a subtle pDrfums
lulling the senses. Her wild beasty.
her charm. had been frankly displayed
10 enthrall me. She had promised q
definite adventure. As to the reward
II seemed 10 me too brazeh;y obvious
clicked tho ash angrily from ny
cigarette. And was / really tempted
Hardly, resolved sayagoly. And yet
was not fool enough 10 be blind 20
the fact that the situation Wa not
without its danger.
My shoulder was tapped 7 was
seated In the veSiibule OF my hotel
looked up. startled. A well-groomed
n an in the early thirtios lowered over
me. an American saw At onco. Tho
round. jocund face was vaguely IA
miliar.
Yes" exclaimed q bury voice, IT
is really old Haddon"
I grasped the hand he held toward
me with emotion. Here was friend,
an American. and l neeSed = friend
badly just now.
had not seen Locke sinoS We we're
at college together. We had never
been intimate. but the big-hcagted
Robinson Locke had been character
among his classmates
At first | hesitated TO bis cordial
greetings: ] was afraid he had not
heard my story. But presently he
plunged into the episode that had
made mo notorious for a day. Then
knew he had come 10 stand by me.
1T is a brutal lie. of course" he
stormed Indignantly. but even II Il
were true" lie clapped my shout
der.
1T il true-at least in a measure"
ROT" ne exclaimed with cheerful
skepucism, lowering HIS person into
the yielding expanse OF an armchaif
by my side. TEL ME about II"
Unless you insist, prefer not TO-"
I said quietly. reckoning a walter. "t
was Just horrible accident FRANKLY.
10 have saved his life was impossible
But might have died with him. !
didn't. There you have my disgracs
in a nutshell"
lie looked somewhat g,um at this
cold-blooded explanation and stirred
uneasily in his chair. | watched him
not without grim amusement. lie
pulled at his cigar. searching my face
keenly.
"Rotiv he cried again, and this lin
with conviction. III you feel any dis
grace, II is your own fault, Haddon
II you were the coward they say yoi
are, you wouldn't sit there smiling al
me. You would rave and swear by al
the gods that you were innocent.
don't want TO hear your story. But J
want you 20 know that you have on,
friend from home to stick up for you
and 10 believe in you"
was too moved to speak.
That's all right, ther." he said with
grrff gentleness. 1T must be hell Il
be over here alone and everybod!
kicking you"
"Ok, that was TO be expected. O
coarse, Blu. last night had an -
perience that ! wouldnt 60 thrOagI
again II could help H..
&C az coNTAuv5A