The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1908-01-24
cHAPTER XXI


As the Duke Of Wessex was cross
ing one OF the large rooms OF the
wing which divides the old Fountain
Court from the cloister Green. he sud
denly heard himself called BY name.
Luck favors me, indeed" said o
voice from out the gloom. His Grace
Of Weseex an mistake not"
At this hour Of the evening these
rooms were usually deserted. and LETT
but dimiy illuminated by a few wax
tapers placed In tall, many-armed can
delabra the hickering light OF which
failed 10 penetrate into the distant cor
ners OF the vast panelled chambers.
Wessex could only see the dim outline
Of q man coming towards him.
Eat your service, fair sir. whoever
you may be-" he responded lightly;
but, by the Nasal meseems you must
claim kinship with the feline species to
be able to distinguish nay unworthy
self in the dark.
may! twas my wish which fathered
my thoughts. had hoped to meet
your Grace here and was on the look
out.
'sThe Marquis de Suares," rejoined
wessex, as the young Spaniard now
came within the circle of light project"
ed by the candelabra. You wished to
speak with me, sirT
Al would claim this privilege of>your
Grace's courtesy"
Indeed, I am ever at your service"
replied the Duke, not little astonishsd
at the request.
since his first meeting with Don
Miguel at East Moiesy Fair he had
only exchanged a very few words with
the NSpaniard. and the latter seemed
even 10 have purposeiy avoided him
during the past few days. To this HIS
nn attAmffnn. The
foreign ENJOYS at present staying in
the Palace were exceedingly anttpa-
thetic to him, and. beyond the spctal
necessities of Court life. he had held
no intercourse with any OF them.
Rivals all of them. they nevertheless
Joined issue with one another In their
hostile attitude towards the man who
was the formidable stumbling-bloek 10
all their diplomatic intrtgues.
The Duke himself, IN spite OF his
naughty aloofness from party politics,
knew full wen how great was the en-.
nifty which his personality aroused In
the minds of all the strangers At
Mary's Court.
he was certainly much more amused
than disturbed by this general hostile
attitude towards himself. and many
a time did the various ambassadors
have to suffer. with seeming good-na-
ture, the pointed and caustie shatts
aimed at them by His Grace'S READY
wit.
looked with some suspicion on this
sudden change of front on the part OF
one of his most avowed antagonists.
.sEIow can I have the honor or serv-
ing an envoy of the King Of Spaip?" he
continued lightly.
But Don Miguel appeared in no hur-
RI to speak. His manner seemed 70
have completely altered. AS a RUE
he was a perfect model OF sell posses
sion and easy confidence, with just
reflection OF his distinguished CHIEFS
the Cardinals. own suavtty OF manner,
apparent in all his ways. Now, he was
obviously ill-at-ease, shy ana nervous
and with a marked desire to be frank
vat too bashful to give vent TO so boy
ish an outburst.
There was in his dark eyes, too.
look almost of appeal towards the
Duke to meet his sudden access OF
frian dIiness halfway. All this Wes-
aeY had already noticed with the one
o,,ielV glance which he cast at the
Young spaniard. He mOtioned him to
= chair and himself leant lightly
arainst the edge of the table.
Don Miguel took this to be an en-
to proceed.
"Firstiy, your Graoe's pardon II
should unwillingly transgrsss' he be"
ssAfv pardon?" rejoined the Duke.
much amused at the Marquis's obvious
'"Tis yours already. But
how transgress?"
"By the asking Of question whlcn
your Grace might deem indiscreet,
NAV. my lord" quoth the Duke
rally. mo question need be tndiscreet'
though answers often are%
Your Grace Is pleased to laugh
hut IN this case I that 10
hardly know how TO put II
yet would assure your Grace
.srv our Lady, Hnanp' cried Wessex.
with a sliwnt shaw Of tmpatlsns0. ''aas