Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-05-25
The Prisoner
OF ZGnda.
CONTINUED FROM SECOND PAGE

-~t-As Az ~ tAH NffaaNf'IfN tN aak. tIal anu
give nothing when she arrived she
was not long In finding that She had a
rival in the Princess Flavia. Render
ed desperate. she stood at nothing
which might give or keep for Der her
power over the duke. As I say. he
took and gave not simultaneously
Antoinette found herself entan-led I'm
his audacious schemes Unwilling TO
abandon him. bound 10 him by the
chains OF shame and hope, she yet
would not be q decoy nor az his bid
ding lure me 10 death; hence the let
tiers Of warning she had written
Whether the lines she sent 20 Flavia
were inspired 10y good or bad feeling
by jealousy or by pity. I do not know.
but here also she served us we'll When
the duke went 20 Zenda she accompa-
MED him. and here for the first time
she learned the fun measure Of his
cruelty and was touched with compass
sion for the unfortunate king From
this time she was with us. yet from
what she told me I know that she stu
(as women wilu loved Michael and
trusted TO gain bis lifc 81 not bis par
don, from the king os the reward Tor
her assistance. His triumph she did
not desire. for she loathed his crime
and loathcl vet more ic-ceIy what
would be the prize of it-his marriage
with his cousin. Princess Flavia.
At Zenda new force came into play.
the daring OF young Rupert lie was
caught by her beauty. perhaps. Per
haus 81 was enough for him that she
Sel0nccd 10 another man and that she
hated him. Tor many days there had
been quarrels and 30 viii between him
and the duke. and the scene which I
had witnessed in the dukes room was
but one OF many. Rupert's proposals
90 me. OF which she had OF course been
ignorant I'm 10 way surprised her when
! related them. She had herself warn
81 Michael against Rupert even when
she was calling on me 10 deliver her
from both OF them. on this night.
then, Rupert when she had gone to her
room. having furnished himself with
key 90 10. made his entrance. Her cries
had brought the duke. aud there In the
dark room while she screamed the
men had fought. and Rupert. having
NNNtAaNAN.A tAAN AAfArt'A W AM II MOT
blow. had on the servants rushing In
escaped through the window. as have
described. The dukes blood. squirting
out. had stained his opponents shirt:
but Rupert. not knowing that he had
dealt Michael his death. was eager 10
finish the encounter. How he meant 70
deal with the other three OF the band
know not 7 dare say De did not think.
FOR the killing OF Michael was not pre-
meditated Antoinctte. left alone with
the duke had tried 20 stanch his
wound, and thus was she busted TIL he
died. and then. hearing Ruperts
taunts, she had come forth 20 avenge
him Me she had not seen. nor did she
ill I darted out OF my ambush and
leaped after Rupert into the moat.
The same moment found my friends
on the scene. They had reached the
chateau In due time and waited ready
by the door but Johann. swept with
the rest 60 the rescue Of the duke. did
not open it-nav. he took part against
Rupert. putting himself forward more
bravely than any IN his anxiety to
avert suspicion. and NE had received a
wound, in the embrasure OF the win
dow. TIL nearly half past . Sapt wait
ed; then. following my orders. he had
sent Fritz 20 search TIE BANKS OF the
moat. l was not there Fastening
back. Fritz told Sapt and Sapt was
for following orders still and riding at
full speed back 20 Tarlenhelm. while
Fritz would not hear OF abandoning
me. let me have ordered what would.
On this they disputed some few min
utes; then Sapt. persuaded by Fritz.
detached a party under Bernenstein TO
gallon back 10 Tarlcnhem and bring
up the marshal. while the rest fell to
on the great door Of the chateau. For
near fifteen minutes il resisted them;
then. just as AntOinette de Mauban
fired at Rupert Hentzau on the bridge.
they broke in. eight OF them In ALL and
the first door they came TO was the
door Of Michaers ROOM and Michael
lay dead across the threshold with a
sword thrust through his breast. sapt
cried out at his death, as 1 had heard,
and they rushed on the servants, but
these in fear dropped their weapons.
and AntoiEe;te fiung herself weeping
at Sapts feet And all she cried was
that had been at the end OF the
bridge and had leaped of What OF
the prisOner?" asked Sapt, but she
shook her head. Then Sapt and Fritz,
with the gentlemen behind them, cross
ed the bridge. slowly. warily and with
out noise, and Fritz stumbled over the
body OF De Gautet In the way OF the
door. They felt him and found him
dead
Then they consulted, listening eager
Iy for any sound from the cells below.
but there came none. and they were
greatly afraid that the kings guards
had killed him and, having pushed his
body through the great pipe. had es-
capped the same way themselves. Yet
because / had been seen here they had
still some hope 0hus, in6eed, Fritz in
his friendship told me-. and, going back
10 Michael's body. pushing aside An
tOinette. who prayed by IT, they found
a key 70 the door which / had locked
81,