The Washington herald., 1912-07-28

menr of country with whom none of
your name or nationality should will
ingly have dealings"
The prince started violently. The
shock caused him to forget his new
found dignity.
How in the devils name, do you
know thats" he demanded.
Il know more" the baron continued
Il know the consideration which you
were to give for this money"
Then the prince began plainly to
show the terror which had crept into
his heart-the terror and the shame. He
looked at his host like a man dazed
with hearing strange things,
1T comes to nothing" he said, in
hard, unnatural tone. 1T is a foolish
bargain, indeed. Between me and the
throne are four lives. My promise is
not worth the paper it is written upon.
| shall never succeed"
That, prince, is probably where YOU
are miSinformed," the baron replied.
You are just now in disgrace with
your family, and you hear from them
tell"
Has anything been kept back from
me the prince asked.
iell me this first" de Grost insisted.
Am l not right in assuming that you
nave signed a solemn understanding
that, IN the event of your succeeding to
the throne Of your country, you will
use the whole of your influence toward
concluding a treaty with a certain
power. one of the provisions of which
is that that power shall have free ac-
cess to any one Of your ports in the
event of war with England"
There was a moments silence. The
prince clutched the back of the chair
against which he was leaning.
"Supposing it were true?' he NUT
tered. 1T is, after all, an idle prom
ise."
The baron shook his head slowly.
Prince" he said, it is no such idle
promise as it seems The man who is
seeking to trade upon your poverty
knew more than he would tell you. You
may have read in the newspapers that
your two cousins are confined to the
palace with slight colds. The truth
has been kept quiet, but it is none the
iSSS " d lC" VI US lie So
called cold is really a virulent attack
of diphtheria, and, according to to-
nights reports, neither Prince Cyril nor
Prince Henry is expected to live"
Is this true?" the prince gasped
1T is true" his host declared MY
information can be relied upon"
The prince sat down suddenly. He
was looking winter than ever, and very
scared.
Even then" he murmured, there is
John"
You have been out OF touch with
your family for some months" Baron
de Grost reminded his visitor "One or
two OF us. however. know what you
probably will soon hear. Prince John
has taken the vows and solenlnly re-
signed, before the archbishop, his heir
ship. He will be admitted into the
Roman Catholic Church in a week or
two, and will go straight to a monas-
tery.
You see now," the Baron de Grost
continued, that your friends gener-
osity was not so wonderful a thing.
Count Won Hern was watching you to-
night at the Bridge Club. He has gone
home; he is waiting now to receive you.
Apart from that, the man Nisch, with
whom You have played so much, is
confederate OF his, political tout, not
to say a spy
The brute" Prince Albert mutter-
ed, Il am obliged to you, baron, for
having warned me-" he added. rising
slowly to his feet 4 shall sign moth
ing. There is another way"
De Grost shook his head.
My young friend" he said. there
is another way. indeed, but not the way
you have in your mind at this moment
| offer you an alternative | will give
you notes for the full amount you owe
tonight. so that you can, if you will,
go back to the club direct from here
and pay everything-on one condition"
Condition
You must promise to put your hand
to no document which the Count Won
Hern may place before you, and pledge
your word that you will have no fur
ther dealings with him"
But why should you do this for nle,"
the prince exclaimed Il do not know
that l shall ever be able to pay YOU"
IF you succeed to the throne. you
will pay me-" the Baron de Grost said
IF you do not succeed. remember that
I am a rich man, and that l shall miss
this money no more than the sixpence
which you might throw to a crossing
sweeper"
The prince was silent His host un-
locked a small cabinet and took from it
a bundle of notes.
Tell me the whole amount you owe"
he insisted, every penny. mind"
Sixteen hundred pounds" was the
broken reply.
De Grost counted a little roll and
laid it upon the table.
There are 1000 pounds he said.
Listen, prince. A name such as you
bear carries with it certain obligations.
Remember that, and try to shape your
life accordingly.
Take my advice-go back to your
own country and find some useful oc-
cupation there, even If you only rejoin
your regiment and wear its uniform.
The time may come when your coun-
trv will require you, for his work comes
sooner or later to every man.
You are leading a rotten life over
here, a life which might have led to
disaster and dishonor, a life, as you
know, which might have ended in your
rooms tonight with a small bullet hole
in your forehead. Brave men do not
die like that. Take up the money,
please"
ord'aYpdw';;. ;;.'Iaaaporoti etaoinetalounu
The Baron de Grost sent acipher dis
n Il