Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-03-21

who are left:"
 "They will serve Queen Flavia," said I, "and I would to God I could be one of them"
 A pause followed. Old Sapt broke it by saying sadly, yet with an unmeant drollery that set Fritz and me laugh ing: ........
 Why didn't old Rudolf III. marry your-great grandmother, was it."
 Come" said I; ''it is the king we are thinking about"
 ''It is true." said Fritz.
 Moreover" went on. T have been an impostor for the profit of another, but I will not be one for my own, and if the king is not alive and on his throne before the day of betrothal comes will tell the truth, come what may" .' .t ..
 ''You shall go, lad" said Sapt 7
 Here is the plan had made: A strong party under Sapt's command was to steal up to the door of the chateau. If discovered prematurely, they were to kill anyone who found them with their swords, for wanted no noise of firing. If all went we'll, they would be at the door when Jo- ham opened it. They were to rush in and secure the servants if their mere presence and the use of the kings name were not enough. At the same moment-and on this hinged the plan woman's cry was to ring out loud and shrill from Antoinette de Mau- bans chamber. Again and again she was to cry: Help. help. Michael, help" and then to utter the name of young Rupert Hentzau. Then, as we hoped, Michael, in fury, would rush out of his apartments opposite and fall alive into the hands of Sapt. Still the cries would go on. My men would let down the drawbridge, and it would be strange if Rupert, hearing his name thus taken in vain, did not descend from whera he slept and seek to cross. De Gautet might or might not come with him. That must be left to chance.
 And when Rupert set his foot on the drawbridge? There was my part, for was minded for another swim in the moat; and. lest l should grow weary, I had resolved to take with me a small wooden ladder on which could rest my arms in the water-and my feet when left it. I would rear it against the wall just by the bridge. and when the bridge was across I would stealthi- ly creep on to it-and then if Rupert or De Gautet crossed in safety it would be my misfortune, not my fault. They dead, two men only would remain, and for them we must trust to the con- fusion we had created and to a sud den rush. We should have the keys of the door that led to the all impOr- tant rooms. Perhaps they would rush out. If they stood by their orders, then the kings life hung on the swift ness with which we could force the outer door, and thanked God that not Rupert Hentzau watched, but Detch- ard For though Detchard was cool man. relentless and no coward, he had neither the dash nor the recklessness of Rupert. Moreover, he. if any one of them. really loved Black Michael, and it might be that he would leave Bersonin to guard the king and rush across the bridge to take part in the affray on the other side. ..r
 So planned-desperately. And that our enemy might be the better lulled to security gave orders that our resi- dence should be brilliantly lighted from top to bottom, as though We were engaged in revelry, and should so be kept all night. with music playing and people moving to and fro. Strakencz would be there. and he was to conceal our departure. if he could. from Fla via. And if we came not again by the morning he was to march. openly and in force. to the castle and demand the person of the king. If Black Michad were not there. as 1 did not think he would be. the marshal would take Fla via with him. as swiftly as he could, to Strelsau and there proclaim Black Michael's treachery aud the probable death of the king and rally all that there was honest and true round the banner of the princess. And. to say truth, this was what l thought most likely to happen.
 For 1 had great doubts whether ei. ther the king or Black Michael or had more than day to live. Well. if Black Michael died. and if I. the play actor, slew Rupert Hentzau with my own hand and then died myself. it might be that fate would deal as lightly with Ruritania as could be hoped. notwith. standing that it demanded the life of the king-and to her dealing thus with me was in no temper to make objec. tion.
 IL was late when we rose from con. ] ference, and I betook me to the prin. cess apartments. She was pensiye that evening. yet when left her she flung her arms about me and grew for an instant bashfully radiant as she slipped ring on my finger. was wearing the kings ring. but had also | on my little finger plain band of gold engraved with the motto of our fam. fly. "Nil Quae Feel" This I took ofY '''11 ifiTlIII