Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-07-25
Your French Is frst rate DO you

Your French Is first rate DO you
speak English as well7s
"As readily as German, think. You
may recall that had an English tutor.
and maybe l did not tell you in that
interview at Paeis that l had spent a
year eft Harvard university"
What the devil did you do that for7-
growled Won Stroebel.
From curiosity or ambition, as you
Ike l was in Cambridge at the law
school for a year before the archduke
died That was three years ago I am
twenty-eight. as you may remember.
am OBTAINING you; have no wish 70
rake over the past. but I am sorry-I
an very sOrry-we can't meet on some
common ground"
Il ask you 20 abandon this democrat
ic nonsense and come back and mako
man OF yourself. You might go far
very far-but this democracy has hold
Of you like a disease"
What you ask is impossible. 1t Is
Just as impossible now as Il was when
we discussed It in Paris last year. To
cit down in Vienna and learn how TO
keep that leaning tower Of an empire
from tumbling down like stack of
bricks-it does not appeal to me"
Don't talk to me like that II Is not
amusing"
NO; IL Is not funny. To see men like
you fetching and carrying for a dull
King. who would drop through the
gallows or go to planting turnips with
out your brains-it does not appeal 10
my sense or humor or to my Imagina
ton II l were going TO furnish the
brains for an empire 1 should ride in
the state carriage myself and not be-
merely the driver on the box, who
keeps the middle OF the road and looks
out for sharp corners. Here is a plan
ready TO my hand Let me find that
lost document, appear in Vienna and
announce myself Frederick Augustus
the son OF the Archduke Karil l knew
both men intimately. You may renem
Der that Frederick and I were born in
the same month 1, too. am Frederick
Augustusi We passed commonly I'm
America as brothers. Many OF the per
sonal effects OF Karl and Augustus are
in my keeping-by the archduke's own
wish. You have spent your life study
Ing human nature, and you know as
well as do that half the world would |
believe my story II said was the
emperors nephew. In the uneasy and |
unstable condition Of your absurd en- |
pire should be hailed as a diversion |
and then-events. eventsw
Count Won Stroebel listened with mar.
rowing eyes. and his lips moved in an |
effort 20 find words with which 10 |
break In upon this lmpious declare. |
ton When Armitage ceased speaking
the old man sank back and glared an
him.
Karl did bis work well. You are
quite mad. You viii do well 10 go back
TO America before the police discover
YOU" |
Armitage rose, and his manner
abruptly.
Il do not mean 70 trouble or amos !
you. Please pardon met Let US be
friends II we can be nothing more"
1T is too late. The chasm Is too deep |
have given my life-my whole life as
you have said--to one service. TO up
hold one idea. You have spoken OF that
work with contempt History. ! be
"Your place is secure. No one can
gainsay that" broke in Armltage.
IL YOU would do something for me-
for me-do something for Austria. do
something for my country and yours
You have wits. I dare say YOU have
courage. ! don't care what that serv.
ice may be. / don't care where or
how you perform it 1 am not so near
gone as you may think. / know well
enough that they are waiting for me
10 die. But I am IA no hurry 10 az
ford my enemies that pleasure. But
stop this babble OF yours about de
mocracy. Do something for Austria
for the empire that I have held here
under my hand these difficult years
then take your name again. and you
VIII find that kings can be as just and
wise as mobs."
For the empire-somethlng for the
empire?" murmured the young man.
wondering.
Count Ferdinand Won Stroebel rose.
'You viii accept the commission.
am quite sure you will accept / leave
on an early train, ana l shall not see
you again" AS be took Armitage's
hand he scrutinized him once more
with particular care. There was a lin
gering caress In his touch as he de
tanned the young man FOR an instant
Then he sighed heavily.
Good night Goodbye he said alb
ruply, and waved his caller toward |
the door.