Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-25

You need not try to escape: the guard is
within call. I might have had you ar
rested half an hour ago when first saw
you"
Royal highness. how-why-'
Stanief answered the stupefied gaze,
coldly amused.
| Because it interested me to watch
your attempt I keep a mirror on my
desk, not being without experience. Who
sent you to kill me?''
| Royal highness. my brother was hung
last week.
| las you this week. welle'
| The man WINGED.
Royal highness. we wanted freedom
They tell US that while your royal high
ness lives it cannot be: the country Is
too firmly held and too content. So we
strive to act In time
He spoke as one reciting q lesson
monotonously. with effort. His type was
familiar. lacking even the poor excuse
OF originality.
| tempt to kill me?'
Serenity; he worked in the palace
late"
Il remember. He was tried: 1 had
| nothing to do with his CASE He paused.
considering; and the other stared at him
IN mute fascination. Before I ring to
say?''
Gracious highness. pardonr'
Stanief regarded him with scornful
amaZement.
Pardon? You are mad. mon ami. Do
you fancy me child or a woman to set
| you free after this performance? Why
should 1 pardon you? You do not in
| terest me in the least. Go face your
oil IL th4 41A t. ,l,rl
| and Stanief turned away.
Royal highness, mercy-I am afraid!
| Not that will"
"What?'
Buy he offered. desperately Roy
atty. not to sell my comrades-who are
we In your sight-there is some one else,
some one OF the court who wishes your
DEATH"
stanief stopped with his finger on the
bell and bent his keen eyes on the livid
face 1t was not pleasant spectacle,
| this sordid, trembling figure in the fire.
light. but An uglier specter doomed be-
hind it.
go on. II you choose he conceded.
You have my permission"
Royal highness. not my comrades.
But he Is not OF us; he urges us here
! to fail and die. You are the master;
| royal highness. his name for grace"
II promise you nothing. Certainly not
your liberty"
mo, no. but life!" he made move
ment to throw himself at the regents
feet, but drew back before the decided
negative. Royal highness, to live. only
to live. He is great lord, he goes to
court: he hates and fears you Royal
highness, he is the Baron sergius Dali
morrow"
"Ah." observed Stanief. and said moth
ing more for several minutes. His all
given. the man waited feverishly. not
daring to speak except by his imporing
gaze. But Stanief finally pushed the
wit
"Dimftri," he said, CURLY. to the off,
Ger who appeared in answer to the sum-
mons. take this man and have him i'm
Pr aSsnan until IL, send send for him again
against him at present; simply he is
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 silence marshaled his dazed
captive backward to the threshold.
There he halted ard again saluted.
Monsieur Allard awaits the honor of
VERY we'll; admit Monsieur Allard''
"Highness," faltered the prisoner once
more.
Dimitri favored him with scandalized
the door. and administered a shake that
almost sent him into Allard's arms
More respect. animal" he ordered.
explosively. pig Of q peasant! Oh,
enter"
Allard laughed and passed on, giving
the prisoner compassionate glance that
altered to one of surprise and distrust at
sight of his face. But he ASKED no ques-
TONS having learned many things in the
course Of his life in the empire. Adrian
himself had first given his favortte the
dry advice to see nothing 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 speaking. 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 brightness that
Knocked the clouded sky without. Gradu-
ally from waiting Allard drifted into
| reverie, In whose closing mists his sur
| roundings were lost from sight.
After a while Stanief laid down the
| pen. pushed aside the completed task
Twice the regent moved as II to speak.
then changed his intention and remained
mute. The expression that forced it's
way through his locked composure was
not gentle: 1t was as if he struggled
| 1ercely with some emotion and felt 1t
wrench and writhe beneath the surface
| Of self-control. But in spite Of his will.
his dark brows tangled. the black eyes
1
| laslles. And when he finally spoke his
voice carried tone never before used
| to Allard.
John, what is wrong?" he demanded.
The other looked up in surprise.
| Nothing, monseigneur," he answered,
| rather YEARLY.
Staniefs fingers closed sharply on one
nf the ivory toys which strewed the
desk
THAT is not true" he contradicted.
Kindly say so II you do not wish to
| explain; I am not child to be put OF
with light word. Something has been
wrong with you ever since your return
from Spain.''
Too assured OF their friendship for re-
| sentiment or to attribute the speech to
anything except interest in his affairs.
Allard smiled even while changing color
with pain.
IT have you always. monseigneur." he
| said. IF I have lost other loves, at
| least I can rest content with YOU"
The paper-knife snapped In Stanie"s
| grasp.
THANK you.' he responded. with an
accent worthy of his cousin. II believe
| asked you to explain
| The unconscious Allard pushed the
| bright hair from his forehead. his eyes
| on the rudy unrest Of the flames.
"Of course, I meant to tell you some
time, monseigneur," he unused, aloud.
| But it seemed q bit cowardly to bur-
den you with my troubles: you could not
| help them. and you have SO many OF
your own. It was no time to speak Of
| such thing during your wedding. and
as the weeks went by 1t grew harder