The Spectator., 1916-03-07


 with those who cared to join him, male or female, creatures dissolute as himself, who had clung to him fatuous- ly in hope of possible reward at some later time.
 Before this ruler Count Sachio of Grahoffen presently bowed humbly, protesting his friendship, giving no token of his treacherous errand.
 What, again, friend Sachio of Ora hoffen?' tested Michael when he saw him. You have become one of our most faithful subjects, is it not SO? I still miss Count Frederick, who has left many duties unperformed-I still miss the young American, who should be here to tighten the cares of the heavy hours. Yet you come-late our enemy. now our friend. What can we do for you, Sachio, to show our grati- tude for your faithfulness?"
 Nothing, your majesty, save to al low me division of flask. now and then, with the greatest monarch of the modern days. Nothing save to al low me to join your majesty for lighter moment betimes, after the du- ties of the day are done. Meantime since l would not weary your majesty -I pray no more than safekeeping within your majesty's walls, as l wander here and there. The art treas ures of this palace surpass any with which l am acquainted. As youth, tried to paint, and I still love the work of those who have done as mas ters what my student hand could nev- CT do. May look at the pictures in the galleries-the statues, your maj esty?"
 With all the heart in the world. my dear Sachio." exclaimed Michael Your discerning judgment is valued most highly. Make free with what you like, and come to us when you please"
 This carte blanche was all that Sachio could ask. He accepted it liter ally. What he purposed actually was to make free with anything he saw; and he did indeed intend to return to King Michael when he pleased. Thus set free to wander as he liked in the palace of Gretzhoffen, he made no doubt whatever of his own quick ar rival at the hidden door of the lost treasure of GretZhoffen. As he bowed himself out he scarce could conceal the satisfaction on his face.
 So al nd His was no haphazard intellect, apt to accept the dictum of mind less exact than his own. He was a soldier first, and next diplomat. but all the time a model secret agent, typical spy and detective. He now set about the busi- ness in hand, deliberately. with preci- sion. methodically, so that he need not do any task a second time.
 He himself had sketched rough map of the lower galleries as he fan cied them to lie. He calculated now that with the aid of this chart and his own earlier acquaintance with these subterranean chambers, it would be easy to find the last door that lay be- tween him and the buried treasure ok
  
 What scenes of horror these places must have held Sachio did not pause to ask. That souls had passed out there through these cold walls of stone, that human flesh had quivered here in tor ment and human voices broken in their anguish. meant naught to him. A king had seen fit to surround his treasures with such terrors in order to fence away all intruders. He had buried these treasures under the very floor of his torture chamber so that all might fear to intrude there in their search. Some might be deterred by such fears-but not Sachio of Grahof fen. He walked on calmly. unmoved sure that his own persistence. his own had defeated the purpose of he dead king. whose methods so long | mad defied the avarice and greed of | .hese two kingdoms, Sachio lost little time in the earlier | portions of the subterranean galleries. l md satisfied himself only that he was | lot being pursued. Soon he arrived | ipon the lower levels, where he did | lot expect to meet disturbance. Now | ,ame the crux of his search.
 He made his way slowly along the | larkened channels carved at some un- Inown day from the granite rock on which stood the Gretzhoffen castle. ried door after door, and entered | chamber after chamber, slowly, me- hodically. with no enthusiasm, but | 'nly the air of man covering all pos- ible mischances in his search.
 He looked most carefully in that 'ortion of the vaults where he had ound the half of the torn parchment. ut got no further trace of the miss ng portion. This gave him a certain ause. for he had figured that the roken coin and the broken parchment you'd correlate, would focus. some shere nearly at the same point. But he stained and mildewed walls, still amp from their recent hoodings. ave him but cold encouragement = Hk |