The Spectator., 1915-11-23
He has planned this


 the equaminity of his own soul in these events, so difficult alike for king and his people to endure. There
 fore, remain loyal to your king, whom I represent before you. The ballroom
 soon will be cleared. Let the streets
 also be cleared. Go to your homes
 Wait, and depend on us who have your true welfare at heart"
 There surged up to him now the
 i.Sures of more than one man, some in
 uniform, from places in the throng, in the street. What is it-what is wrong why do we not have the order to
 march on the palace?" they deman6eG eagerly.
 "All's wrong" whispered the Count
 them. For some reason, best known
 to himself, the king is not drunk t,.
 night, but sober. His people are not
 turned against him-on the contrary | they seem to respect him more than they have done for months-there
 would be division among them if we started new revolt now. Here, take this gold, my friends . he added and stripped himself of
 some considerable sums he had brought with him. Tt is all I have
 Give 1t to those who need it most Take them away from here-let them go to the drinking places. See that these places are filled now, and that the toast shall be Long live King Michaeln'
 We may not yet cry Long live King
 Frederick"
 The nobleman shook his head Not yet" said he. They still shall cry
 Long live King Michael That will do for the time at least Count Frederick returned through
 the great entryway and rejoined King Michael where he stood. Your ma jesty,' said he, your people are re- turning to their homes.' Frederick, my friend, my savior!" The weak king, his features working. grasped the hands of the stronger
 man. You tell me they will dis perse?"
 Even now they do so, your ma jesty."
 Kitty, by this time somewhat for gotten in the kings vacillating mind stood looking from one to the other of these two. As she read the situa- tion, it carried something of defeat to her. An instant ago she herself had dominated the scene. Otherwise bnr somewhat sarcastic smile. It was
 the time of his triumph and of her discomfiture.
 "Mademoiselle is distrait?" said he.
 She is not dancing-she will return
 to her hotel. perhaps? What can one do for mademoiselle?" Kitty turned toward him calmly If l might ask one of you gentle
 men to secure my car for me-" Count
 Frederick smiled and bowed as he
 turned away.
 But Kitty was not so soon to leave
 the great salon of the palace that
 night. She passed toward the entrance
 slowly, caught in the crush and confu-
 sion of others who were crowding out in the fiasco of the much-vaunted black and white ball. For the time. | she found herself in the shelter of q great column, where she was willing enough to pause. As she halted here | she heard voices just behind her-one deep voice. which it seemed to her she had surely heard before. Tt is pity that the affair did not come off tonight, your excellency," she | heard another whisper hoarsely. We
 have everything in our own hands | now. I have all the plans of the forti- | fications, the maps of the avenues, the | specifications for each street crossing.
 It would have been entirely simple for the army of Grahoffen to march
 through this ramshackle city as it
 liked"
 Vest broke in the deep voice
 which haunted Kitty's memory, T sup
 pose so; but what would we do If
 We could not pay our troops the next | day? How much better off than Gretz-
 hoffen would then be our own case | No, Frederick is right in his main plan. The throne alone is worth noth-
 ing-it is worthless in his kingdom
 or in our kingdom. or in any other
 a poverty-stricken kingship is no busi-
 ness for any man. Why have you not | diagram of the treasures burial
 plaee-with that, now, the matter | would be somewhat different tonight | "Hush!" she heard the other voice
 whisper. Apparently warned, at least,
 by their suspicious, they moved away,
 although Kitty shifted her own posi-
 tion so that her presence was not | known.
 Was it Count Sachio's voice she had
 heard-was he. the kings friend,
 Count Frederick's friend, the worst
 traitor of all, and was he also plot
 ting for the restoration of the two | lost bits of Gretzhoffen coin?
 (Which way should she turn now To Frederick? Impossible. To Mi
 chael? Equally impossible. The two men whose talk she had | overheard passed now from behind | the pillar toward the interior of the