The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-04-02

once common all over Ruritania. were
still to be found there In considerable
numbers). really because 1t brought us
within striking distance of the Duke
of Strelsau's more magnificent dwell
Ing ON the other side of the town. A |
large party of servants, with horses |
and luggage. started early In the morn
Ing. We followed at midday, travelling |
by train for thirty miles and then |
mounting our horses to ride the re-
naming distance to the chateau.
We Were gallant party. Besides
Sapt and Fritz. | was accompanied by
ten gentlemen. Every one of them had
been carefully chosen and no less care
fully sounded by my two friends, and
all were deyotedly attached to the per-
son of the king. They were told part
Of the truth, The attempt on my life
in the summer house was revealed to
them as spur to their loyalty and an
indictment against Michael. They We're
also informed that friend OF the
kings was suspected to be forcibly
confined within the castle of Zenda.
His rescue was one of the objects of
the expedition; but, 1t was added, the
kings main desire was to carry into
effect certain steps against his treach-
erous brother, rs to the precise nature
Of which they could not at present be
further enlightened. Enough that the
king commanded their services and
would rely ON their devotion when oc-
caslon arose to call for it.. Young, well
bred. brave and loyal. they asked no
more. They We're ready to prove their
sutiful obedience and prayed for
| fight MS the best ana most celebrating
mode OF showing 1t.
| Thus the scene was shifted from
Strelsau to the chateau Of Tarlenheim
and castle of Zenda which frowned at
us across the valley. I tried to shift
my thoughts also. to forget my love,
and to bend all my energies to the task
before me- 1t was TO get the king out
of the castle alive. Force was useless.
In some trick lay the chance. and I
had already an inkIlng Of what we
must do But I was terribly ham,
pered by the publicity which attended
my movements. Michael must know
by now of my expedition, and I knew
Michael too we'll to suppose that his
eyes would be blinded by the. feInt OF
the boar hunt. He would understand
very we'll what the real quarry was.
That, however. must be risked-that
and all il might mean, for Sapt, no less
than myself, recognized that the pres
ent state Of things had become unen-
durable.
And there was one thing that I
dared TO calculate on-not, as l now
know, without warrant. II was this
hat Black Michael would not believe
that / meant we'll by the king. He
could not appreciated will not say an
honest man, for the thoughts of my
own heart have been reyealed-but a
man acting honestly. He saw my op-
portunity as had seen II, as Sept had
seen II; he knew the princess-nay
land l declare that a sneaking sort OF
pity for him invaded mel. in his way
he loved her. lie would think that
Sapt and Fritz could be bribed, so the
bride were large enough. Thinking
. thus. would he kill the king, my riva
and my danger? Aye. verify, that hs
would. with as little conjunction a
! he would kill rat. But he would XII
i Rudolf Rassendyll first, II he could
and nothing but the certainty Of beini
, utterly damned by the release Of th'
king alive and his restoration 10 th'
/. throne would drive him to throw ava,
3 the trump card which he held In re
t serve to balk the supposed game Of th'
impudent impostur Rassendy!l. Mus
3 ing on all this as rode along, I tool
courage.
Michael knew Of my coming sur
enough. / had not been In the hous
i an hour when an imposing embass.
arrived from him. lie did not quit
j. reach the impudence Of sending m.
o would he assasslns, but he sent III
e other three Of his famous Sixth
three Ruritanian gentlemen, Lauen
e gram. Krafsteln and Rupert Hentzar
d 4 fine. strapping trio they were. splen
3. didIy hOrsed and admirably equipped
% Young Rupert. who looked a dar
devil and could not have been NOR
e than twenty-five or twenty.three, too
!" the lead and made us the neates
d speech. wherein my devoted subjec
and loving brother. Michael Of Sire
sau. prayed me 10 pardon him for nc
paying his addresses in person anG
further. for not putting bis castle q
my disposal. the reason for both Q
these apparent derellctions being this
he and several Of his servants lay sic
Of scarlet fever and were In a yer
sad and also In a very infectious stat,
- So declared young Rupert with an Il
m solent smile on his curling upper u
IL and toss Of his thick halr-he was
z. handsome villain. and the gossip "a
M that many a lady had troubled b,
n. heart for him already.
Of "lf my brother has scarlet fever
10. said I. che Il nearer my complexiC
ne than he II wont 20 be. my lord.
on trust he does not suffer"
n. "fIe Is able 10 attend 10 his AFFAIR
At sire"