West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1907-05-16
CHAPTER XII

err HE details OF my return home
can have but little interest.
E7S-f;Sl l went straight TO the TyroI
Sz->sSJ and spent a quiet fortnight,
mostly on my back. for a severe chill
developed Itself, and / was also the
victim of nervous reaction, which
made me weak as baby. AS soon as
l had reached my quarters / sent an
apparently careless postcard to my
brother, announcing my good health
and prospective return. That would
serve TO satisfy the inquiries as to my
whereabouts, which were probably
still vexing the project of the police
Of Strelsau.
let my mustache and imperial grow
again, and, as hair comes quickly on
my face, they We're respectable. though
not luxuriant by the time that / land
ed myself in Paris and called on my
friend George Featherly. My inter
view with him was chiefly remarkable
for the number OF unwilling but nee
essary falsehoods that told. and raj
lied him numerically when he told
me that he had made up his mind that
i had gone I'm the track Of Nine. dc
Mauban to Strelsau The lady. II aD-
peared, was back In Paris, but was
living In great secluslOn-a fact for
which gossip found no difficulty In ac-
counting. Did not all the world know
Of the treachery and death of Duke
Michael? Nevertheless George babe
Bertram Bertrand be OF good cheer
for" said lie fllppantly, "a live poet
Is better than n dead duke" Then he
turned on me and asked:
What have you been doing to your
mustacheY
ITO tell the truth" I answered. as
sumlng a sly air. "a man now and then
has reasons for wishing TO alter his
appearance. But it's coming on very
wei again"
What? Then I WASN'T so far out?
II not the fair AntOinette. there was a
charmer"
There is always a charmer." said I
sententiously.
But George would not be satisfied till
he had wormed out Of me Che took
much pride I'm his ingenuity an nbso-
lutely imaginary love affair, attended
with the proper soupcDn Of scandal.
which had kept ne all this time In
the peaceful regions OF the Tyrol. In
return for this narrative George re-
called me with great deal Of what he
called Inside Information" ntnown
only TO dlplomatists az 10 the true
course Of events IN Rurltanla. the plots
and counterplots I'm his opinion. he
told me- with a significant nod. there
was more to be said for Black Michael
than the public supposed. ana he hint
cd at well founded suspicion that tho
mysterious prisoner Of Zenda. concern.
Ing whom good many paragraphs had
appeared. was not "a man at all but
'horc / had some ado not % gmiIel n
woman disguised as n man. nnd that
strife between the king and his broth
er for this imaginary lady's favor was
at tha bottom OF their quarrel.
Perhaps 70 was Nine. de Mauban
hcr-aif' 7 suggested
$50" said George dccislvciv. "An-
'9lnctfo dc Maubau was Jealous Of
hor and betrayed the duke TO tho king
Tor ihat reason And. TO confirm what
] say. IT'S well known that the prin.
ccss Ilavia is now extremely cold To
The king after having been most A..
fcctIouato."
$40 thIs point J changed the subject
an1 escaped from Georges Inspired
deIuIon But n diplomatists never
know anything more than they had
succeeded in finding out 600 This fin.
stance they appear % me 10 De some.
what expensive luyurics.
While in Paris wrote to Antolnctie.
though ] did not venture 10 can upou
hnr. ] received 600 return very A.
fect.ng io'tor Goo which She assured me
that Toe kings generosity and kind.
ness no less thau Der regard FOR me-.
bound Der conscience 10 absolute SCI.
crerF She expressed The intention Of
rcttIIng ln The country and withdraw.
ing herself entirely from society
whether sho carried out her designs
] have never heard. but os ] have not
NOT her or heard news " her uy 10
th.s Time 10 s probable that shc did
There is no doubt that ehc was deeply
attached 10 tbc Duke NJ sireIsau. and
her conduct no the time Of lbs death
proved that no knowledge Of the mans
real character was enough 90 root her
regard for hIm out " her heart