Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-05-11
" a ~ I staqoered baek.

" ttA a ffN 4 staggered back.
more free inasmuch as we soon learn
Ell that he was rather a weak man
than wicked and had acted through
out this matter more from fear Of the
duke and of his own brother Max than
for any love OF what was done But
he had persuaded all OF his loyalty
and. though not in their secret coun-
sells. was yet, 10y his knowledge OF
their dispositions within the castle.
able TO lay bare before us the very
heart OF their devices. And here, in
brief. Is his story;
Below the level OF the ground In the
castle, approached 10y flight Of stone
steps which abutted on the end OF the
drawbridge were situate two small
rooms. cut out OF the rock itself. The
outer OF the two had no windows, but
was always lighted with candles; the
inner had one square window, which
gave upon the moat In this inner
room there lay always. day and night.
three OF the Six. and the Instructions
OF Duke Michael were that on any at
tack being made on the outer room
the three were 10 defend the door or
IL so long AS they could without risk
10 themselves. But so soon as the door
should Dee In danger OF being forced
then Rupert Hentzau or Detchard for
one OF these two was always there)I
should leave the others 20 hold IL as
long as they could and himself pass
Into the inner room and without more
ado kill the king. who lay there. well
treated. indeed, but without weapons
and with his
steel chains which did not allow him
10 move his elbow more than three
inches from his shoulder. Thus be-
fore the outer door were stormed the
king would be dead. And his body?
For his body would be evidence as
damning as himself
NAY. sir" said Johann, Ibis high
ness has thought Of that While the
two hold the outer room the one who
has killed the king unlocks the bars
In the square window they turn on a
hinge). The window now gives no
light, for its mouth is choked by a
great pipe OF earthenware. and this
pipe, which is large enough TO let pass
through II the body of a man. passes
into the moat, coming TO an end i'm
mediately above the surface OF the
water. so that there is no perceptible
interval between water and pipe. The
king being dead, his murderer swiftly
ties weight to the body and. dragging
IT TO the window. raises it by pulley
(for lest the weight should prove too
great Detchard has provided one) till
II Is level with the mouth Of the pipe
he inserts the feet in the pipe and
pushes the body down. Silently, with
out splash or sound, IL falls into the
water and thence TO the bottom OF the
moat, which is twenty feet deep there
abouts. This done, the murderer cries
loudly, AIS wellv and himself slides
down the pipe; and the others, IL they
can and the attack Is not too hot.
run 10 the inner room and. seeking q
moments delay, bar the door and in
their turn slide down. And though the
king rises not from the bottom, they
rise and swim round TO the other side,
where the orders are for men to wait
them with ropes, to haul them out. and
horses. And here, IL things go iil, the
duke will join them and seek safety
by riding; but II all goes well they will
return TO the castle and have their
enemies In a trap. That, sir, is the
plan of his highness for the disposal
OF the king in case OF need. But II is
not 10 be used till the last, for, as we
all know, DE is not minded to kin the
king unless he can, before or soon aft
er, kill you also. sir. Now. sir, 1 have
spoken the truth, as God is my wit
ness, and pray you 10 shield me from
the vengeance OF Duke Michael; for n,
after he knows what have done, I
fall into his hands / shall pray for one
thing out OF all the world--a speedy
death, and that shall not obtain from
him.
The fellows story was rudely told.
but our questions supplemented his
narrative. What he had told US ap-
piled to an armed attack, but II sus-
picions were aroused and there came
overwhelming force = such, for In
stance. as I. the king. could bring-thes
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