The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-03-26

emn oaths. Then the French ambas-
sador was introduced to present his
credentials. Here my ignorance was
of no Importance, as the king would
have been equally raw to the business.
We worked through the whole corps
diplomatique in the next few days,
demise of the crown necessltating all
this bother.
Then at last l was left alone.
called my new servant 1--WE had chosen
to succeed poor Josef q young man
who had never known the king, had
brandy and soda brought to me and
observed to Sapt that l trusted that ]
might now have n rest.
Fritz Won Tarlenheim was standing
by. ~
"By heaven!' he cried. 1--WE waste
time. Aren't we going to throw Black
Michael by the heels?"
"Gently, my son, gently" said Sapt,
knitting his brows. 1T would be a
pleasure, but 1t might cost us dear.
| Would Michael fall and leave the king
aliyeT @@& '
"And," suggested, "while the king
Is here in Strelsau, on his throne, what
grievance has he against his dear bro
Their Michael?" ...
"Are we to do nothing, ,thenT
"we're to do nothing stupid" growi-
ed Sapt.
I'm fact, Fritz" said I, II am re-
minded Of a situation in one OF our
English plays, The Critic Have you
heard of it? Or, IL you like, Of two
men each covering the other with re-
volver. For can't expose Michael
without exposing myself
sand the king" put in Sapt.
"And hang me IL Michael won't ex-
, pose himself if he tries to expose me!'
, Its very pretty" said old Sapt.
.'If I'm found out" I pursued. II
, will make a clean breast of it and fight
1t out with the duke. But at present
I'm waiting for move from him."
Hell kill the king" said Fritz.
"Not he" said Sapt.
y 'Half Of the Six are In Strelsau,'
said Fritz.
"only half? You're sureT asked
i Sapt eagerly.
eyes. only half"
"Then the kings alive. for the othel
three are guarding him." cried Sapt.
"Yes, you're rightr exclaimed Fritz
+ his face Frightening. "If the king wer'
dead and buried, they'd all be her
with Michael. You know Michael
back, colonelT'
l. 81 know, curse him."
Gentlemen, gentlemen" said ]
"who are the Six"
e Il think you'll make their acquaint
ance soon," said Sapt. They are ST.
. gentlemen whom Michael maintain
" in his household. They belong to hlr
y body and soul There are three Rur
70 tanians; then there's a Frenchman,
Ne Belgian and one Of your countrymen.
lie They'd all cut a throat IL Micha'
y told them" said Fritz.
e. perhaps they'll cut mine" SUI
" gested.
40 Nothing more likely" agreed Sap
4, "who are here. FritzT
- ''De Gautet. Bersonin and Detchard
~ THE foreigners. It's as plain as
Il. pikestaff. He's brought them and le
"A the Ruritanians with the king. That
"A because he wants TO commit the Run
tanians as deep as he can"
m "They were none Of them among OF
| Nufx nE 30 NaNu n
81 wish they had been" said Sal
wistfully. They had been not six, b
m. four, by now"
I had already developed one attribu
- Of royalty-a feeling that need not T
veal all my mind or my secret deslgi
er. even TO my intimate friends. hi
ed fully resolved on my course OF actio
Ip. I meant to make myself as popular
nd could and at the same time to sho
no disfavor to Michael. By the
he means hoped to allay the hostility
his adherents aud make II appear.
lot an open conflict came about, that
was ungrateful and not oppressed.
lpt Yet an open conflict was not what
hoped for.
On The kings interest demanded secl
iet cy. and while secrecy lasted had
fine game to play in strelsau. Mlchi
YET should not grow stronger for delay.
nu ordered my horse aud, attended
NJ Fritz Won TarlenheIm. rode In I
no grand new avenue Of the royal pa
i n returning all the salutes which |
Nv ceived with punctilious politene
'as Then I rode through few Of I
~ streets. stopped and bought flowers
ne n pretty girl. paying her with a pie
o. Of gold, aud then. having attracted
desired amount OF attention flor b
=, " a trail Of half a thousand people al
,s, mel. I rode to the residence Of
Princess Flavla and asked If size vol
receive me. This step created mr
n, interest and was met with shouts
,at approval. The princess was very y
ular. and the chancellor himself
,.a not scrupied 20 hint TO me that
Inn. more I pressed my suit and the m
,er rapidly I brought 1t to a prospect
ace conclusion the stronger should I be
mn. the affection Of my subjects. 2
ow, chancellor, Of course, did not ind