Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-10

to be paid in some form or other Would it
be wise to go to the Altstrasse? And an
other question came to him, question that
set his pulse beating faster for moment
Was this De FrOilette an emissary OF the
Princess Martha? Might she not be in
Sturatzberg now? Might he not see her to-
night?
= Il would risk anything for that" he said.
las he swung himself from the saddle, land
whatever the adventure is; so that 1t has a
spice of danger in it, 1t is welcome. I shall
know how to take care of myself If the
price asked be too heavy"
A big bearded man came forward to take
the horse, and the manner in which he drew
the back of his hand across his mouth sug-
gasted that he had left the tankard hastily.
/ HAS any one inquired for me. Stefan?'
| mo. captain, 1 have been undisturbed I'M
til now" the man answered in deep voice
we'll suited to his frame. as he led the horse
away. Knowing his solder-servant's weak
ness and his capacity for induging in it
with impunty, Ellerey wondered how long
a time he would require undisturbed before
signs OF his potations showed themselves.
Drink heavily he certainly did. but since he
never exhibited any Ill effects from it. at
! night or morning it would have been unjust
| to call him a drunkard.
The Altstrasse was of the old town, mar
| row thoroughfare Of gaunt houses which
| now sheltered a dozen families In rooms
| where the wealthy had once lived, and in
which ministers and ambassadors had enter
| tanned the wit, beauty and bravery of ma
/
palatial buildings which had grown up
| round the citadel leaving the Altstrasse as
| misfortune may leave a gentleman the
| marks of breeding evident though he be
| clad in rusty garments. Over the doorways,
| through which tatterdemaliOns men, women
| and children. focked in and out. were hand
| some carvings. deep-cut crests and coats-of-
| arms; ragged garments were hung to dry
| over handsome balustrades and wrought
| iron ratings: while in the rough and broken
roadway garbage. cast there days since, lay
| rotting where it had fallen Poverty
| had seized upon the place. Haunting pow
| erty, seeking no concealment. Ellerey had
| passed through the Altstrasse before to-
! night. but the surroundings had had no par
ticular interest for him then. Now they ar
rested his attention. What plots might not
have birth and grow to dangerous maturity
in such surroundings among such people as
these? The rabble had overrun these de-
serted mansions; might it not one day ham,
mer at the doors of the palaces by the cita-
del yonder with demands not to be gafnsafd
What manner of man was this De Froilette:
:. what ends had he in view, that he should
live in such q place?
| Number 10 looked as faded as it's neigh
| bors, showed even fewer lights in its win
dows, and. except that no small crowd hung
about the closed door, was no whit more at
! tractive than ever. Elerey's summons was
answered Immediately. however. and he en-
tered a large bare stone hail. the dim light
which hung in the center disclosing many
fast-closed doors on either side.
Monsieur is expected" said the man def
} | erentiaIly leading the way down a stone
| passage and up a flight of stairs to a land
ing corresponding with the hall below. But
how different! Here was luxury. deep
carpet deadened the football, rich curtains
| hung over windows and dOorways. and an
cient arms were upon the walls. Ellery had
, little time to appreciate more than the gen.
eral effect for the man. drawing back a
heavy curtain. opened a door, and without
| making any announcement stood aside fol
| him to enter. .---
welcome, mon ami. welcome. said De
{ Froilette, coming forward to meet him
Condolences are easier here than on the
$ highway" ,ta.
e The room was perfect the abode OF a mar
5 Of taste with the means to crafty 1t to the
| full 1t was costly and unique a collectors
: room. discriminatory arranged. and the
3 owner, motioning his guest to a chair wa:
= worthy of his surroundings. In the after
= noon he had been mufied in cloak. and
: Ellerey had noticed little of his appearance
e beyond the fact that his eyes were dark ana
Q restless. Now he saw a man courtly ant
e distinguished in a manner. with clever
I earnest face, at once attractive and inviting
e confidence His hair. cut short. and hi
h beard trimmed to fine point. were blacl
s with a few streaks of white In them blu
e his face was youug-looking. the lines few
( and faint His fifty years sat lightly upol
|. him. One would have judged him stu
4 dent or a traveller. rather than a politician
d or a man fighting life strenuously.
:. my surroundings surprise your he said
o with a smile.
e such things are hardly looked for in tn
a Altstrasse," EHerey answered.
e 'They are part of myself. Capt. Ellerey
:. but wish to remain In privacy. You
It elect of the city do not naturally visit Il
O the AltstrasSe, and I have rooms beloy
e bare enough to impress uninteresting peopl
/? with the fact that am a poor sort Of fel
e low and likely to be an Improbable &C