The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1910-08-04

manded. you have my permits
sion"
Royal Highness, not my COM
urges us here to fail and die. You
are the master; Royal Highness, his
name for grace"
81 promise you nothing. Cen
tainly not your liberty"
mo, no, but life." he made a
movement to throw himself at the
Regents feet, but drew back be-
fore the decided negative. Royal
/, Highness. to live, only to live. He
is great lord. he goes to court; he
/ hates and fears you. Royal High
ness, he is the Baron Sergius Dali
morrow"
! "Ah," observed Stanief, and said
nothing more for several minutes.
! His all given, the man waited fe-
verishly. not daring to speak ex-
cept by his imploring gaze. But
Stanief finally pushed the button
| without vouching a reply.
"Dimitri." he said curtly to the
officer who appeared in answer to
the summons, take this man and
have him imprisoned until I send
for him again. Understand me;
there is no charge against him at
present; simply he is a prisoner at
my pleasure"
The officer saluted In silence,
however amazed at the presence in
Stanief's study of one who certainly
had not passed the door, and in ST.
lence marshaled his dazed captive
backward to the threshold. There
|, he halted and again saluted.
Monsieur Allard awaits the
honor of being received by your
Royal Highness.'
Very well; admit Monsieur AL
lard"
"Highness," faltered the prisoner
once more.
Dimitri favored him with a scan
dalized stare, jerked him unceremo-
niously out the door, and admins
tered a shake that almost sent him
into Allards arms.
| More respect, animal" he Or
ordered explosively. Pig of
peasant! oh, a thousand pardons,
Monsieur Allard; pray enter
Allard laughed and passed on.
giving the prisoner a compassionate
| glance that altered to one of sur
prise and distrust at sight of his
| face But he asked no questions,
having learned many things in the
course of his life in the Empire.
, Adrian himself had first given his
favorite the dry advice to see moth
ing that did not concern him.
Stanief had resumed his writing:
at Allard's entrance he looked up to
nod pleasantly toward a chair, and
continued his work without speak
ing. The two were accustomed to
each other; smiling, Allard sat
down and let his head sink against
the high back of the cushioned seat.
The fire glowed and danced, rose
and fell, making an artificial bright
ness that Knocked the clouded sky
without. Gradually, from waiting
Allard drifted into reverie, in whose
closing mists his surroundings were
lost from sight
| After a while Stanief laid down
the pen, pushed aside the COM
pleted task. and surveyed his com
panion unobserved. Twice the Re
gent moved as If to speak, then
changed his intention and remained
mute. The expression that forced
its way through his locked COM
, posture was not gentle: it was as if
he struggled fiercely with some
/ emotion and felt it wrench and
writhe beneath the surface of self
control But in spite of his will,
his dark brows tangled. the black
eyes glinted hard behind their de-
ceptive lashes. And when he fin
| ally spoke. his voice carried tone
never before used to Allard.
John, what is wrong?" he de-
manded.
The other looked up in surprise.
| Nothing. monseigneur," he an
swercd. rather YEARLY.
Stanicf's fingers closed sharply
on one of the ivory toys which
strewed the desk.
THAT is not true" he contra
dicted. Kindly say so if you do
not wish to explain; l am not a
child to be put off with light
word. Something has been wrong
| with you ever since your return
from Spain"
Too assured of their friendship
| for resentment or to attribute the
speech to anything except interest
in his affairs, Allard smiled even
while changing color with pain.
Il have you always. monseig-
nour." he said. IF have lost other
loves, at least | can rest content
with you"
The paper knife snapped in Stan
| ief's grasp.
Thank YOU" he responded, with
an accent worthy of his cousin. Il
/ believe | asked you to explain"
The unconscious Allard pushed
the bright hair from his forehead,
| his eyes ON the ruddy unrest Of the
| flames.
ITO be continued.)