Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-08-18
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against Lepage wounded him
hardly less deeply. He regarded his
body servant with the trustful affec.
ton which grows on an indolent man
In course of years-of countless days Of
consulting. trusting. relying on one
ever present, ever ready. always trust
worthy. Lepage had been with him
nearly thirty years. There was hardly
secret of the kings manhood which
he had not known and kept. At last
had he turned traitor
Stenovics had failed to allow for this
human side of the matter-how much
more alone the revelation would make
the king feel. how much more exposed
and helpless. just. moreover. when
sickness made his invaluable servant
more indispensable still. A forlorn dig
nifty filled the kings simple question
lis 1t true. Lepage?"
Lepage's impassivity vanished. He,
too. was deeply moved. The sense of
guilt was on him-of guilt against his
master. 1t drove him on beyond itself
to fierce rage against those who had
goaded him into his disobedience.
whose action and plans had made his
disobedience right. for right now he
believed and felt 1t. His talks with
Zerkovitch had crystallized his sus.
picions into confident certainty. He
was carried beyond thinking of what
effect his outburst might have on his
own fortunes or how 1t might distress
the already harassed king. He struck
back fiercely at his accuser. all his ma.
tional quickness Of passion finding vent
In the torrent of words he poured forth
in excuse or Justification He spoke
his native French very quickly, one
word jostling over another. his arms
flying like windmills and his hair
bristling, as 1t seemed. with defiance.
Eyes. it's true. sir. disobeyed your
majesty-for the first time in thirty
years! For the first time In my life.
Sir. did 1t! And why7 Because 1t
was right. Because 1t was for honor
was angry. yes! had been scolded
because Count Alexis babe me call him
prince and you heard me do it. Yes,
was angry. Was 1t my fault? Had
told him he was prince? No! Who
had told him he was prince? Don't
ask me, sir Ask somebody else. For
my part. know well the difference be-
tween one who is prince and one who
Is not. oh. Pm not ignorant of that!
know, too. the difference between one
who ts queen and one who Is notch,
with the utmost respect to Nine. la
Comtesse! But l know 1t. and re
member 1t. Does everybody else re-
member itY
He stopped for moment and clutch
Cd at his stiff. tight collar as though to
wrench 1t away from his neck and let
Ine stream of his words flow even more
freely. While he paused nobody spoke.
Stenovics' heavy gaze was on the king.
Stafnitz's eyes discreetly on the cell
ing. The countess looked scared Had
they made mistake? Would it have
been better to run the risk of what Lee
page could do? The kings hands We're
on the table in front of him. They
trembled where they lay.
why wasn't the prince to know?
Because then he wouldn't go on his
Journey! His Journey after the Ger
man princess! He faced Stenovics
now, boldly and defiantly. pointing a
forefnger at him. Yes, they wanted
him to go. Yes. they did! Why. sir?
To marry princess-a great princess?
Was that what they wanted? Eth. but
1t would have been little use for Count
Alexis to ask me to call him prince
then! And Nine. 10 Comtesse-with the
utmost respect to Nine. la Comtesse-
she wanted great princess here? Oh.
she wanted that nightly. to be sure!'
The king stirred uneasily In his chair
"Sir. will you listen to him:" the
countess broke in.
His answer was cold II listen to
every man before order him to be
punished"
Eyes. they wanted him to go Yes.
certainly! For he trains his men ut