The Washington herald., 1909-04-27
CHAPTER II.
The Dukes Plots.

In her snuggery al Of white. half-re-
clinine amid the cushions OF the couch,
was the Duchess Myrtle OF Mario. Her
slight, smaIl-boned. perfectly formed
figure bstokened birth: her short, straight
nose betokened cruelty. her oblong eyes
betokened craft: her low forehead be-
tOkened shaIloWness: her full red lips be-
tokened righteousness; her thick. plump
wrists betokened coarseness- But given
birth. the whitest OF teeth, the fairest OF
compilations. the blsckest OF hair. the
most lUstrous OF black eyes, the most
flexible OF voices. and here was a woman
20 play upon human passions with an
audacious skill that defes she swapping
o o'ersrained strings.
A woman less bold than the Duchess
Myrtle would have chosen for the color
scheme Of the room something softer. not
so severe as this which tends to bring out
every fmperfecti0n Of features and skin.
But secure in her powers, as II chaIleng-
ing criticism, white gowned. amid white
cushions. in the rooms white light. here
now she Ioned. languorous. and gave audi
ence.
We are ready. Myrtle, II you are. To-
night is the best night that could be Sc
lected."
It was the duke. her husband. the pres
ent other occupant Of the room. who
spoke A squat alert. tawny-compIex-
ioned man. with a marked Hebraic cast
Of countenaRce. was the Duke OF Mario:
nevertheless, not a Jew, but OF italian
descent, by his blue eyes and brown hair.
therefore a 5orn plotter
Very well" she replied calmly.
You feel certain Of yourself-that you
can make the king do as has been sug-
gested ::
He has needed only the glance this
long time" she answered, smiling subtly.
Let him have the glance. then. to-
night From TO we VIII watch
The road from the castle to Smorden.
When We stop the coach you can make
as much huliaballOo as you please; or.
rather. while We are seizing him
You promise not to hurt him." inter
rupted the duchess. stipulation in her
tone
we have no desire 10 hurt him Oh.
he viii have sense enough not to resist
when he sees the odds against him.
4iO tA4t- St4--A5 NC VIII impair = III
title"
And after you have him. what then2-'
we win put the crown where Il be-
longs do not believe there viii be
bloodshed. to speak Of An empty throne
is the easier occupied. and I look 10 see
Stecsin with a new king and the furry
over within three days And once the
prince is seated he viii stick. Then the
king can return or do what he chooses
We have nothing against him personally "
And what viii be done with NE IN the
mcantime?"
You might be III from the fright"
vouchsafed the duke with laugh 'T
take the guilt for the abduction upon my
self and 20 sbsolve YOU. publicly from all
duplicity- The king ran his risk in max
ing love TO nv wife. and he simply was
caught in the trap that ] laid for him
He should have known that the house
OF Mario never has hcgotteu fools. AS
for you-I shall send you horne (you
won't mind. I ho2e) for a short period,
and then shall be reconciled to you
Yes: not 10 have the king know
think that VIII be the better plan," unused
the duchess.
The duke eyed her sharply and frowned.
Myrtle he said. suspicion and warn
inS IN his voice 4 can tr1st you7 I en-
courage your interest in the king. but
do not advocate an interest in the man, Il
love you, MyrtIe-and, remember. you arc
my wife. I am sacrificing enough. as it is,
in submitting 10 playing second fiddle
The court laughs az my blindness
and do sacrifice nothi1s?" she re-