Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-09
CHAPTER XVII.
Thu E{0hf

While Don Miguel was preparing for
the fight, a slight sound suddenly caused
him to turn toward that side Of the room
from whence a tall oaken door led to his
own and the cardinals apartments. His
eyes, rendered peculiarly keen by the i'm
minence Of his own danger. quickly per-
ceived thin fillet of artificial light run
ming upward from the floor, which at once
suggested to him that the door was
slightly ajar.
It had certainly been closed when
Wessex first entered the room. Behind
II, as Don Miguel we'll knew. the Cardinal
de Moreno had been watching; he was
the great stage manager Of the drama
which he had contrived should be enacted
this night before his grace. The young
marquis was only one Of the chief actors,
the principal actress being the wench
Mirrab who, surfeited with wine. i'm
patient and violent, had been kept q
close prisoner by his eminencs these last
six hours past
That little glimmer Of light dispeiled
Don Miguers strange obsession. The
cardinal, with the light opening Of that
door. had plainly meant to indicate that
he was on the alert. and that this unre-
hearsed scene Of the drama would not be
enacted without his interference The
duke, who had his back to that portion
of the room, had evidently seen and heard
nothing. and the whole little episode had
occurred in less than three seconds.
Now Don Miguel was ready, and the
next moment the swords clashed against
one another. Eye to eye these two enc
mics seemed to gauge one another
strength. For the moment their daggers.
held In the left hand, only acted as
weapons Of defense. the cloaks wrapped
round their arms were still efficient
| sheaths.
Very soon the Spaniard realized that his
original fears had not been exaggerated.
Wessex was q formidable opponent, abso-
lutely calm. a skillful fencer and with a
| wrist which seemed made Of steel. His
attack was quick and vigorous. step by
step-slowly but unerringly--he forced the
MARQUIS away from the stronghold Of his
position. Try how he might. parry how
found himself thrust more and more into
| full light. while his antagonist was equal
| iy steadily working his way round toward
| the more advanta geOus post.
No sound came from the cardinal
| apartments. and Don Miguel dared not
even glance toward the door. for the
| swiftest look would have proved his un-
doing.
Wcssex's face was like a mask. quiet.
| impassive, almost stony in It's rigid ex-
preston Of perfect determination. The
! Spaniard was still steadily losing ground.
| another few minutes and he would be in
| full light. while the dukes figure would
become the deceptive silhouette Under
these conditions, and against such per-
feet swordsman. the marquis knew that
his doom was sealed. An icy sweat broke
out upon his forehead, he would have
bartered half his fortune to know what
was going on behind the door.
| For one awful moment the thought
crossed his mind that his eminence. per-
haps. had decreed his death at the hands
of Wessex. Who knows? The ways OF
diplomacy are Oft tortuous and ever cruel
| none knew that better than Don Miguel
de Suarez himself. How Oft had he
! callously exercised the right given him by