Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-19
CHAPTER vi.
"The King Is Dead-Long Live the
King"


much pleased by the American. and in.
tored. Receiving an Affirmative reply he
invited him. with an actual approach to
enthusiasm. to try a new French car as
soon as they landed.
| Allard accepted willingly. even gayly
a little OF his color had revived with the
ocean wind. some fine elixir had mounted
i through his veins as the yacht drew
from the arms Of the harbor and danced
out over the long Atlantic swell
After luncheon stanief dismissed the
! third member Of their party with that
| nonchalant grace Of his.
| did you write any letters this morn
ing?" he asked, when the salon had set
| tied into its usual repose.
"One: to my brother.
Good: every one writes letters-an ex-
cellent thing to do. / gave your name
to an avid-eyed band Of reporters as one
Of those sailing with me. You will be a
person of some importance in the tangled
affairs to which / am taking you; It is
just as well to prepare"
L have no desire to be curious" Allard
began. tentatively.
| But you naturally would like to know
| what is happening. Indeed, 1t is neces-
sary that you know" He paused an in
slant DO you recall what said to you
last night of my country, OF its intrigue
and wrong and lack of faith?'
Yes"
| The shadows deepened across the fine
dark face. Watching Stanief. it seemed
| to Allard as If the roEe-hued salon lost a
| little of its brightness also, as IL both
man and room remembered hours not
happy. :.
shadow of one mans hate Stanief said,
| quietly. II have known II watching
greediiy for my least indiscretion. heard
its wild-beast breathing as It crouched
beside me in the dark. stepped cautiously
10 avoid the snares it spread for me. I'm
| BILE to touch me openly unless l myself
stopped from inherited safety, my enemy
| has employed every secret artifice to lure
| me into reach every petty goad to sting
| me to a moments fOrgetfulness. ] never
have taken friend. conscious that one
would be forced to betrayal IL not already
planning II. I learned long ago that the
bright-eyed. fragile ladies of the court
center of dazzling pageant. the focus
| or a dazzling hate. / have had just one
| hope to carry with me. Not pleasant
hope. but it is about to be fulfilled. My
enemy is dying
The emperor
| Exactly"
| Allard remained silent. understanding
Vasli better now. Stanief rose and
the tumbling field of water. When he
| returned Ii was with a touch of scarlet
burning in his clear cheek
Before l started on this voyage, taken
| at his command he said, IL bade fare
we'll to my imperial uncle. III, grimy
and helplessly conscious OF the ultimate
end. he looked up from his pillows at me.
Your day is coming he declared. I
know how long your regency will last.
| how completely my son will be left your
toy and victim. But / shall walt on the
| threshold of the next world. Feodor Stan
| lief, until you come and ! see your pun
ishment. Now CO. 1t was the confess
| sion Of failure, the laying down of the
cards. the first frankness between u.s.
| The two men looked at each other.
II am probably regent now" Stanief
added.
| Allard's eyes did not leave the others;
dence of his regard.
"a stanief guards his own he
should have no fear. monseigneur."
Stanief lifted his head. the sunlight
| flashed back to the room before his ex-
| preston.
Thank YOU. he answered. proudly.
And from emperor to peasant / could
| find no one else to grant me so much
| But do not understand"
Then you have not read our history"
| Allard turned to the gates Of memory,
and gazing down dim vistas at many a
| vague crime and ambitious treachery, re-
manned silent.
my cousin Adrian" Stanief resumed.
| after a moment in which he also looked
across the past. by this time perhaps my
| Emperor Adrian. is fourteen years old.
| Not until he is seventeen can he be
\ crowned and take the government in' his
| own grasp; that is, the country is abso-
| lutely ruled by me for the next three
years. BY me; but those years will be q
| splendid warfare, struggle muffled in
| cloth of gold. ceaseless vigil beside
which my old life was peace. The coun-
| try is divided into two great parties
| those who wish me TO take the crown,
| and from whom / must protect Adrian;
/ those who wish to rid themselves Of me
| and govern as they choose through the
chiid-emperor. Remember that neither
faction believes 1 shall ever permit my
cousin to take the empire from me. 10y
atty. honor. justice-those are pretty. ex-
tinct phrases Of chivalry to their minds"
Allard made a movement of protest.
Surely not 50 bad, surely not nova
days" he objected. incredulously.
"Our country is still medieval" STAN
ief retorted. II tell you not one-half the
fact. But Ismake no pose Of virtue and
| perhaps / am merely obstinately resolved
| not TO do what is expected of me. but I
| will carry this through and crown my
cousin on his seventeenth birthday, IL l
| live"
/ His voice hardened into steel. his velvet
eyes flashed through their curtaining
iaslres. Allard rose impusively and held
out his hand.
] = SOFT qua Aoit.' Ne said last night" be