Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-03-14

i
 REAL kings life is perhaps TAI hard one, but pretended
 SSS| kings is, warrant, much
 z2D harder. On the next day Eapt instructed me in my duties-what I ought to do and what I ought to know-for three hours; then snatched breakfast, with Sapt still opposite me, telling me that the king always took white wine in the morning and was known to detest all highly seasoned dishes. Then came the chancellor for another three hours, and to him had to explain that the hurt to my finger i've turned that bullet to happy ac- count prevented me from writing. whence arose great to do, hunting of precedents and so forth, ending in my s'making my mark" and the chancellor Sattesting it with superhuity of sol 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 iiplomatique in the next few days, q demise of the crown necessitating all this bother.
 Then at last I was left alone. I called my new servant i've had chosen to succeed poor Josef young man who had never known the king), had a brandy and soda brought to me and observed to Sapt that I trusted that 1 might now have rest.
 Fritz von Tarlenheim was standing by.
 By heayenw he cried. 'We waste time. Aren't we going to throw Black Michael by the heels?''
 Gently. my son, gently" said sapt, knitting his brows. Tt would be a pleasure, but it might cost us dear. Would Michael fall and leave the king alivey'
 And" I suggested, "while the king IS here in Strelsau, on his throne, what grievance has he against his dear bro- ther Michael:'
 Are we to do nothing, then?"
 "We're to do Sothing stupid" growl- ed Sapt.
 "In fact, Fritz" said I, T am re- minded of situation in one of our English plays, The Critic Have you heard of it? Or, if you like, of two men each covering the other with re- : volver. For I can't expose Michael without exposing myself
 And the king" put in Sapt.
 And hang me if Michael won't ex- pose himself if he tries to expose me:'
 "It's very pretty" said old Sapt.
 "If I'm found out" I pursued, "I will make clean breast of it and fight 1t out with the duke. But at present I'm waiting for a move from him."
 Hell kill the king" said Fritz.
 '.Not he," said Sapt.
 Half of the Six are in Strelsau," :. said Fritz.
 . "Only half? You're sure?" asked Sapt eagerly.
 'Yes. only half"
 'Then the kings alive. for the other : three are guarding him." cried Sapt.
 'Yes, you're rightw exclaimed Fritz 2 his face brightening. ''If the king were dead and buried. they'd all be here with Michael. You know Michael's {. back, colonel?"
 "I know, curse him."
 "Gentlemen, gentlemen" said I swho are the Six"
 T think you'll make their acquaint ance soon." said tSapt. ''They are si, gentlemen whom Michael maintains in his household. They belong to hin body and soul. There are three Ruri tanians; then there's a Frenchman. ( { Belgian and one of your countrymen.'
 They'd all cut throat if Michae told them." said Fritz.
 Perhaps they'll cut mine" I sug : gested.
 '.Sothing more likely" agreed Sapt Awho are here. Fritz?"
 "De Gautet. Bersonin and Detchard.
 ''The foreigners. It's as plain as { . pikestaff. T. $ brought them and lef 2 the Ruritanians with the king. That because he wants to commit the Ruri t tanians as deep as he can" "They were none of them among ou . friends at the lodge. thenT' asked.
 T wish they had been" said Sap wistfully. They had been not six, bu four. by now"
 had already developed one attribut' of royalty-a feeling that need not re veal all my mind or my secret design even to my intimate friends. I ha' fully resolved on my course of action meant to make myself as popular a 1. I could and at the same time to show no disfavor to Michael By thes means I hoped to allay the hostility O his adherents and make it appear, l an open conflict came about, that h was ungrateful and not oppressed.
 Yet an open conflict was not what 1, Aoped for.
 The kings interest demanded secre cy. and while secrecy lasted had fine game to play in strelsau. Michae shouId not grow stronger for delay.
 ordered my horse and. attended D. Fritz von Tarlenheim. rode in tn grand new avenue of the royal park returning all the salutes which I re 6 ceived with punctilious pcliteness Then I rode through a few of tn streets. stopped and bought flowers O a pretty girl. paying her with a psec of gold. and then. having attracted tb desired amount of attention flor hal a trail of half thousand people afte rnei | rn<ip fa fhe residence of ttl