The Spectator., 1916-02-08


 With such an adversary King Michael, or even the stouter soul now at his side, might we'll find pause.
 Soon it will be indeed too late, your majesty" exclaimed Count Frederick. "Come-we must find some safety in the inner chambers of the palace, Luckily it was built for precisely such crisis as this in it's fate. Come, mademoiselle, your hand, quick. Your majesty, it is not beneath your dig nifty to hasten now"
 Pursued by vague noises of combat and by countless vague fears conjured up by their surroundings, deep in the hidden fastnesses, they went on until at length they were far below the level of the rooms devoted to the usual opposes of the daily life of the palace. Below them, before them, all was dark ness and gloom. They were we'll among the subterranean dungeons which had held so long their secrets against all corners.
 Michael was the prey of yet added
 
 thus leaving the light of day and ven- turing among these regions whose tra- ditions held them so potent in ter TOT for the human mind as once they had offered terrors to the human body. Yet he could do no more than follow the guidance of the bolder mind which now led on.
 They were followed ill some part by the refugees of the palace, as anX- ious as themselves to find some ref uge. So at length they halted in an abiding place which for the time at least was silent-a deep dungeon where light and sound alike were cut off. Such had been their haste that all were well-nigh exhausted-Mi- chael spent most of all and voicing most of all the babbling of his nor tai anguish. Thus circumstanced, they found such places of rest as offered and waited for what might come.
 Meanwhile the relentless Sachio was searching some entrance into the pal ace, the hiding place of his enemies. and, as he supposed, also of the wom- an whom gladly he would have called his friend-the woman whom he feared most of all.
 Break in the door, men," he cried. Smash in any window Enter, in the name of our own king. We have them defeated now, and they must not es- nd Un will soon have them in our hands
 His men obeyed. There came soon the splintering of wood, the crashing of glass at the palace windows. Be fore many moments had passed the legions of Grahoffen were pouring through the breach and overrunning the interior of the palace. Sachio, with some hurried instructions to an aide, led on the advance. All through the upper portion of the palace the echo of hurrying footsteps resounded.
 They are coming" said Kitty at length quietly to her companions. They have taken the palace. We can not escape. This must be the end They will have us out now at any cost"
 What shall we do? Where shall we hide? What will become of me-" walled Michael. Save me. Frederick, save me. What shall I do?"
 You shall keep silent, your ma jesty, if you please. You can go no- where better than this. I will do what can" rejoined Frederick. Most beloved majesty, you are in a hard case, but pray you, trouble us not too much in the work of doing what we can for your majesty and ourselves"
 Trying now this door, now that, ad- vancing, receding, the men of Ora hoffen came on. They filled up the corridors, all the reception halls of the front and rear of the Gretzhoffen palace. Count Sachio, his king, his leaders and their soldiers-all now Joined in the last dash upon what they thought to be the finish of their en- emy's last citadel.
 Aloof and apart, concealed for the time in the remote cell which had re- ceived them, Count Frederick and his companions hoped against hope for yet a little while, but hoped in vain. Again came the crashing of doors, the rush Of feet on the stone floors. Use- less to contend against their numbers the last door was broken through. Discovered, surrounded, trapped, Count Frederick and his companions faced their assailants.
 "So." laughed Sachio. as he stood panting but triumphant, after his last attack. 50, at last! You have run far, my friends, and lodged us very nimbly. Where shall you go TOW, my good ccunt-where shall you so, my pretty one-and you, your august ma jesty of Gretzhoffen, before whom l must tremble-what is the next place of retreat for you?"
 His taunt had truth under 1t. The last card seemed to have been played, and played to an awful loss. There seemed to be TO further retreat; the little resistance which Frederick and Kitty could offer would serve for