The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-01-31
81 B.A NEss EAl,1tlstA oRczYI

q f. i i
Gorczy. all rights rcserved.o
!shcathcd his long italian dagger. and
holding 1t in his left hand he quickly
wrapped his cloak around that arm.
Il "Yousnre mud protested Don Miguel
with o frown, for a sword .nnd-daggsr
light meant death to ono man at least,
and n mortar combat with one 30 daH-
p crate us SYessex had not formed part
Of tho programme so carefully arranged
BY the Cardinal dc Moreno.
by the mass man wns tho Duken
glove OH thy clieek7" &
yG su w1 sh9 araw rstori Ss Don nsn
dagger but I NV ear that this quarrel
is nc, !, z. 2; my making"
NO Mn.-- M,.s. Of m MI sarde"
Not tina: Tic was u coward; he had i
fought more than ono serious duel 10.
fore noW and risked his lifo often /
enough e for mere pnstime or sport. nut
eyes OF tiis man, whom he and his
thief had so wantonly ,yronged f,,r
the sake or their own political ADVANCE
ment such cold determination to
Kill. TINT. much against his Will. tie
Spaniard felt nn Icy shiver running
down his spine. N.
The room. too.ialf in darkness. WITH
only the strange. almost unreal, brii-
light over one portion Of the floor. that
Portion who're one man was to die!
The Marquis de suarez had been
provoked; his was therefore the right
of selecting his own position for tic
c1mbnt In the case Of such peculiar
illumination, this was great initia!
t advantage.
The spaniard with his back towar,s
the great open bays had his antagonist
before him In full light. whilst HIS oWn
| figure appeared only as dark sllhau-
cite cite elusive and Intensely deceptive.
Wsssesx, however, seemed totally nm
own position. He was still dressed ii.
! the. rich white satin doubiet in which
! he had appeared at the banquet a few
hours ago. The broad ribbon OF the
] Garter the delicate lace at the throat
IL the jewels which he wore. all woulii
! help IN the brillian, light to guids
This enemy's dagger towards his breast.
But ne seemed only Impatient to be-
4 GIN the Issue one way or the other.
~ tered to him not at all. The Spa.s-
inrls dea Il, or his own yx1s all tina he
| dssired--nerfans his own now. for
choice. He felt less bitter. less hui.
i fniisnted. spce he held Ills sword n
/ lis hnnd. and only vaguely recollectei
that Spar iafds ma de "a boast these days
/ n carrying poisoned daggers In their
CHAPTER xxvI1.
4. The Fight.
Whilst Con Miguel was preparing
4 Tor the fignt. q sugLt sound suddenly
caused him TO turn towards that side
Ct the room from. whence II tall ~ kni
i door led 20 his own and the Cardinals
I apartments. HIS eyes rendered pecu-
i u ariy keen by the imminence OF his
G , dan ser, a'Iui.kly perceived q .h!a
y tllet. OF artificial, light running up
wards from thr floor, which at onca
Il slightly ajar.
II had certainly been closed when
i Wessex fret entered the room BE.
4 hind IT, as Den Miguel well knew. the
Cardinal de Moreno had been watch
OF the drama which he had conrrIved
i should be enacted this nigh, before
\ Ills Grace. The young Marquis was
only one Of TIC eiltst actors. ire prin-
T'ho surfsited with wine. impatient
end Violent. had teen kent u closD
prisoner by His Em!nence these last six
That little. gllnmer of light dispellei
4 Don Miguei's strange obsess.un. The
q Cardinal, with the slight opening ot
that door. Lad plainly n.-ant to inLi-
cate thar he was onlitfc alert and that
(; tia. unreF tarsed scene OF tho drama
would not be enacted without his in-
reference. The Duke, who had HIS
back 20 that portion OF groom. had
Il and the whole little episode had oc-
: Cured in less tEan three seconds.
Now Don Miguel5was ready. and this
next moment the swords ciashed
two enemies seemed to gauge one an.
others strength. TO- the n6mant their
dangers acid In the Lett Fand only acted
:, as Weapons OF defense. the cloaks
y wrapped round their arTng were still,
!, ciicttr.r shesths.
Very soon the Spaniard realized THAI
his original fears Fad not been efaE-
Fernicd. Wsssex was FORMIDABLE .op.
Ier. and with,a wrist which seemed made
LOT steel. Ills attack was quick and
!, vigorous. step by step.SsIowly but ,inI-
!. erringly-hc forced the SIar1uis awa:'
. from the stron ghola q his l."siston.
: the Young Spaninrd gradually found
a ! imsclf thrust more and more In 10 full
light. h.lst his antagonist was eaual'H
Z steadily working his way round 90.
: wards Ihe more advantageous most.
i No sound came from tho Cardinals
: apartments, and Don Miguel dared MOI
! even glance towards the door. For :ilp
! swiftest look would have proved his
Wessex's face was like a mask. qulet:
4 impassive. almost stony In Its rigid
. cypress on OF perfect determtn utior.
n The spaniard was stu steadily. losing n
= :srolrd:: another few minutes and lite
/ 1 WOULD b. In full light, VII list the Dukes
~ figure would become the deceptive sill :
q houette. Under these conditions. and
= against such a perfect swor.1sman. tie
Marquis knew thai his doom was
. sealed. An Icy sweat broke out upon
mis- forehead He would have bartered
d half his fortune to know what was
= going on behind the door.
For one awful1momert the thought
!; crossed his mind that His Eminence
s lpe rrapss. had decreed IFS death at the
: ,l,ands e,f WesseS. Who knnvs. The
ways of diplomacy are Oft tnrtrcc','i
7 ard ever cruel: mons knew that better
& than Don Miguel de Suarez himself
a How CT t lad he call0usly8e exercised the
right given hhn by Virtue OF some Inn
o portant mission entrus ted to him IN
6 order to sweep rutilesslyS aside the
lesser paws which stood IN the Wy
o sofa his success:a 94
= II,d he become the lesser pawn n ON
nj in this gigantic game OF chess. IL
ii which the hand Of a Queen was the
= Ifiral prize for the victor? Was his
&c death 1T the hard Of this mansof more
importance to tho success OF the Car
=. Ginals intrigues than his life would
nj he? IT 50. Heaven al one could hell
i, him, fow Ills sE,minencc would not hesl.