The Spectator., 1916-02-15

not portion of discarded accouter- ments. He stopped and picked it up.
 It was a silver cigarette case, eyi- dently of value and evidently aban- doned by some of the Grahoffen forces who so recently had left the place Count Frederick examined it curious ly, opened it.
 Within the lid there was written little inscription which gave him start. ITO Count Sachio, our we'll beloved, for deeds of valor From his king"
 "So." exclaimed Frederick, "so then So then! lie was here but now. And look-' Not far away he saw the prints of sharp-heeled boots in the broken soil He caught up a little bit of filmy lace-a kerchief whose perfume was familiar to him. He saw against the bark of nearby tree a fragment of like lace, torn perhaps in some struggle.
 Yes, she was here"
 Agitated, he hastened once more now to the palace door, He demand ed of all whom he met where last they had seen the young American, but they could give no intelligent replies.
 Let me tell you. then" said Count Frederick in a flash of anger, since you cannot learn for me She has gone to Grahoffen-as prisoner. Go there then, follow Sachio, as I have already ordered. The young Ameri- can without question has been taken prisoner. We must rescue her. We must do that for every reason in the world-for her own safety and our own
 And for my own peace of mind" he added sotto voce, as. haggard. he turned away to find such relief as he could in the countless duties which now were to devolve upon him amid the wreck of a government and the ruin of a city.
 Although the forces of the king of Grahoffen had been worsted in strat- egy and had given their parole in or der to save their lives in the flooded chambers of the dungeon levels. the kingdom itself. it's ruler and it's lead ing men seemed to feel little of the terror common with those actually de- feated Upon the contrary, old Cor tislaw and his nobles were victims not so much of terror as chagrin. Neither were they disposed too scrupulously to observe their own plighted word, which had purchased life and liberty. Passing from the limits of the be- leaguered capitol, they did not seorn to take such loot as lay at hand, or to carry with them such prisoners as pleased them. Among these latter it chanced that they had one more pris. oner whose freedom might much have altered the course of events in this complex little drama.
 Had Roleau, the doughty servant of Kitty Gray, been on hand at the time of the equalization of the Grahoffen | forces, no doubt he would have kept | so close to his mistress as to guard against any such sudden surprise as had now left her at the mercy of her enemies. But Roleau, prisoner to Grahoffen, had no knowledge of any of the late stirring events, nor any knowledge of the whereabouts of his mistress.
 The windows CT the cell in which Roleau had been confined faced upon the corridor sometimes used ny the retainers of the palace, less frequent ly by those persons of greater impor- tance. Roleau heard footsteps now voices, the confusion of large party arriving. He stepped close to the bars of his cell, pressed his face out so that he might see. Upon his fea- lures any who had observed must have seen joy, exultation. For, though himself a prisoner, Roleau had seen now, down below there the form of that mistress whom he served,
 But Roleau was wise. He did not cry out. He did not shout in sudden greeting, as she passed among his cap tors. Only he stood close and hoped that she would look up.
 She did look up, and saw him stand ing there, and guessed his reason for silence-saw his sudden finger on lip demanding silence from herself as Ncll. A udaH Ol lutClllGtlSC ptsSGu once more between the two.
 Well, well, my pretty one." taunted Sachio. Welcome once more to our portals; and may you bide with us longer this time than last" We shall see," was her retort.
 Sachio did not answer, but grimly led her on into the presence of King Coruslaw himself Cortislaw was still furious in his chagrin at the defeat of his plans.
 "So, again, mademoiselle!" said be- and his gray beard curled in his evil smile. "Wc have you once more. Be lieve us, it is the last time You shall not escape again. Why is she here, Sachio?" he demanded-"How did you take herr"
 'I found her as an angel disdaining the earth, yoIr D1ajesty," laughed Ss chic, 'spurning the ground-in short safe, as she supposed. high in the