Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-20
CHAPTER VII.
Allegiance.

Check. You are losing your game. m!
JOHN
Allard laughed in frank admission
voyage.
Il am stupid tonight. monseisneur. 1
| is difficult to sit here and play ches
when we are anchored at last before on
goal. the city Of excitements. One ha
the feeling that one should go ashore q
once
When one arrives in a port near mid
night one does not arrive omcially unit
| be to go direct to the palace. you will
| comprehend that the hour is unfortu
| nate
Yea Although every one must know.
was undoubtedly signified to the emperor
hours ago. Play. play; tomorrow vii
come without our aid"
Allard moved a piece at random.
Il am not the only one impatient he
defended. "Count Rosal and Vasili spent
| the lights Of the city and telling me al
we would do, from seeing Maderpoiselle
Liline dance to trying that new automo
bile. They went to bed at last from sheer
evaporation
"They do not have to stay awake tt
amuse his royal highness.'
"Oh, I could not sleep, monseigneur
But I play bad chess
Stanief shot glance at him: perhap.
he himself could have confessed a SINH
lar inability, IL he had chosen, in spite OF
his indolent impassivity.
You assuredly do" he agreed. Check
mate. Set up the board again and avengt
yourself
ships side marked the rising of the tide
the roar and hum of the huge city came
strangely after ocean silences. On the
rivers bank girl was singing a minor
half-gypsy air. which penetrated at in
tervals. almost as IL with timidity. into
the rose-and-gold salon. Allard gathered
his straying thoughts together and COM
PEELED his attention to the game. They
are changing the watch on deck, he re-
f1ected, absently; he heard the movement,
and agitation.
For any one to disturb Stanief unsum-
moned was rare; for the door to be
opened like this, without permission. was
unprecedented But Mario offered nc
excuse as he held aside the heavy por-
there. Stanief lifted his eyes, languidly
then sprang to his feet with an abrupt
ness that sent the chessmen rafting over
the floor. Allard, startled. rose also and
turned, to draw back mechanically into
the shadow and leave host and guest face
to face. Mario dropped the curtain
closing the door softly as he went out.
The slight, rather frail boy, clad In deer
mourning, was not unlike Stanief himself
in fine. dark beauty of feature, and there
was a composed stateliness worthy OF
both in the gesture with which he extend
ed his small hand In greeting. Stanief
moved forward without a word. and,
kneeling, bent his head to the slim fin
gers for which the one great jewel seemed
too heavy. Still on his knee. in con-
straint Of their difference in height, he
received the young emperor's formal en-
brace.
II am glad you have returned. cousin,
the boy said. with a grave dignity OF
speech corresponding to his bearing. ITO
morrow wished to see you before
them
Stanief looked into the eyes on a level
with his own. before rising.
Il shall hold this visit always in my
heart. SIRE he answered. his tone IN
finitely gentle. II have not been given
many such pleasant memories"
"It is a long time since we saw each
other; you did not come to me-
THAT was never my fault. sire.
NO he conceded calmly. II knew 1t
was not. although they told me 30"
II am grateful for SO much justice.
Permit me-
Adrian took the armchair which the
other advanced, and himself indicated a
seat very near for his cousin. He had.
Of course. seen Allard on entering, but.
accustomed to the constant presence of
others, lent no further attention to the
gentleman who remained standing at the
Swallowed end of the salon. On Stanief
his large. intent eyes were fixed with an
imperiously eager scrutiny.
You are the same as always. as you
were last winter" he declared. slowly.
'Dalmorov has insisted that l would find
you very different now"
1.-THE Baron Dalmorov is more than
kind" Stanief replied, betrayed into his
unusual frown. May ask why / should
have changed?'
Because you are regent and you gov
ern ALL
IT beg pardon. sire; if am regent, you
are none the less emperor
Over the young face swept an express
sion that SO altered SO hardened 1t, that
it was as IL another and dual self came
into view.
Then l rule you as my father did, he
flashed.
Allard gasped in his corner; was this
the child of fourteen whom he had ex-
pected to amuse? And not as to q child
uriyo, tho difficult answer nv the one