The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1909-01-05
Tophy of
krav0nia.
BY ANTHONY HOPE.
Author Of -Ths Prisoner Of zsnds.-
Copyright. 1906. Anthony Hope
Hewiins.
Confined from Last Issue)

Stenovics spoke In a calm, smooth
voice. Absolutely, sir. l believe the
mans honestr' he said, with an inflec-
ton Of good humored surprise. zone
sees how he got the idea, I'm sure
he's genuinely devoted to your majesty
and TO the prince. as we all are. He
sees something going on which he
doesn't understand. He knows some
thing is going ON that he's ignorant Of
He knows the unfortunate condition
Of your majesty's health. He's like a
uurse-forgive me-in charge of sick
child. He thinks everybody but him
self has designs on his charge. It's
really natural. however absurd. but II
surely makes the precaution suggest
I'd even more necessary. II he went
about spreading tale like this!'
The line was clever-cleverer far
than the countess rage. cleverer than
Stafnitz's airily bitter sneer. But Of 1t,
too, the King took no notice. Lepage
took no more than lay in very scorn-
ful smile. lie leaned down toward the
mofionless. dull faced king aud said In
bis ear:
| htl Wuultu MIN W bOs YES Diu
they want him TO come back again.
sirr" lie bent little lower and al
most whispered: "How long would his
| Journey have taken. sir? How long
would II have taken him to get back II
--in case Of needf" One more question
he did not ask IN words. but Il was
plain enough without them. How long
can your majesty count ON livingy'
At last the king raised his head and
looked round on them. His eyes were
heavy and CLASSY.
This man has been my trusted serv-
ant for many. many years. You. Gen
eral Stenovics. have been my right
hand, my other self Colonel Stafnltz
is high in my confidence. and Lepage is
only my servant"
II seek to stand no higher than any
other OF your majesty's servants except
In so far as the nature of my services
gives me a claim" said StenovIcs.
But there's one here who stands far
nearer to me than any one. who stands
nearer TO me than any living being.
She must know of this thing II It's
true. II it's being done her hand must
be foremost among the hands that are
doing IT," His eyes fixed themselves
on the countess face. rs II trre?" he
asked.
"Sir. how can you ask? How can
you listen? True, It's a malignant In
vention, He's angry because re-
proved him"
YES. I'm angry. | said so. But it's
true for all that"
"Silence. Lepage, Am to take your
word against the countess'f"
Markart. a silent listener to all this
scene. thought that I>epage's game was
up. Who could doubt what the count
ess' word would BET Probably Lepage.
too. thought that he was beaten. that
he was ruined man. for he played
desperate card-the last card of a bank
rupt player. Yet II was guided by
shrewdness and by the intimate knowi-
edge which his years of residence in
the palace had given him. He knew
the king we'll. aud he knew the Count
ess Ellenburg hardly less thoroughly.
Il speak truth. sir. as believe ii. but
/ can't expect you to take my word
against the countess. ! have too much
respect for Nine. la Comtesse to ask
that"
Again he bent down toward the king.
The king looked up at him. Stenovics'
smile came back into the mind In
low, soothing tone Lepage made his
throw-his last suggestion. mime. la
Comtesse is OF great piety. If Nine. Ia
Comtesse will take solemn oath
well. then. I'm content. I'll say was
mistaken-honest. declare, sir. but
mistaken"
Stenovics raised his head. with a
jerk. Stafnitz smiled scornfully. He
was thinking that Lepage was not.
after all. very resourcefui fellow. An
OATH Great heavens. Oaths were in
the days work when you put your
hand TO affairs like this. But here Ste
movies was wiser. and Lepage was
shrewder. Stafnitz generalized from
an experience rather one sided. The
other two knew the special case. When
Stenovics scented danger.
The king knew his wife. too. and he
was profoundly affected-convulsed TO
the depths OF his mind. The thing
sounded true. II had a horrible sound
OF truth. He craved the countess de-
NAL, solemn as it could be framed.
That would restore the confidence
which was crumbling from beneath his
bewildered mind.
"Can anybody object to that" be
asked slowly, ''if I say II will relieve
my mindT He smiled apologetically.
'.I'm sick man. you know. II 1t will
relieve a sick mans mind. Danish a
sick mans fancies? IL ! shall sleep a
little better and old Lepage here he
ashamed of himselfr'
None OF them dared to object. None
could piausibly unless the countess her
self, and she cared not. In his present
mood the king would not accept the
plea of her dignity. Against 1t he would
set the indulgence due to sick mans
rebellious fancies. Could she for her
dignity's sake deny him what would
make him sleep?
He looked at her Something in her