The Spectator., 1916-01-25

l 's'S HaVo"S'S iiSeAS VI SsoHS ago, an extra bottle of Beloc, and my 1 majesty sent a man, Count Sachio, yonder to bring it. My majesty de- | sires-"
 "Sachio here!"
 Yes, here. You have said that twice. He was here, twice or once l know not how many times. But now you are here, mademoiselle, and that is enough My majesty desires-"
 He advanced toward her. The leer upon his puffed face gave her swift disgust as well as terror. With no purpose whatever, as he stumbled for ward she fled from the room, fled she knew not where.
 Without much plan. Kitty turned toward the interior of the palace, and down the long hall which before that time she had explored. Something told her that Frederick, if he were here in the palace now, had passed that way.
 The torture chamber-that dread spot! Must she go there to look for him? She sped on rapidly along these passageways which she had learned before. Through the last deep sunken tunnel which led to the door of the torture chamber itself she passed alone, trembling with fear, and yet re- solved
 The door was locked. She turned to see the key upon the wall. As she turned there came to her a faint sound. Someone was knocking at the door, The blood stopped at her heart. She felt her face go cold. Had the dead indeed come to life? Was it in- deed true that some hand from beyond the grave alone could point out the hiding place of this treasure? What could it mean?
 But the knocking at the door grew bolder. She heard voice-a faint voice through the steel facing of the inner cavern. Trembling, she fitted the key. gave one great push to open the door. which yielded the more quickly to power eXerted within She saw the faint gleam of light added to those of her own candle; saw the face of the man she had sought!
 'Iou?" she cried. Tt is you?"
 She heard him answer calmly. slow ly, without agitation, as though all the time he had been convinced she would come.
 Tt is ended" said Count Frederick as last. slowly. Never again will doubt! l prayed for you, prayed that yi.u should understand before l died But it was meant for you to come for pe, that l might know-know as much as they who are here, who have been my fellows and my friends. Mademoi selle-I had said good by to every thing excepting one. There was that left which no man should die without knowing experience which only makes life worth living. have dread cd all things. but now l hope. l must -l shall hope!"
 He stopped toward her now. and for the moment each was careless of the strange surroundings in which they stood. For q half moment the heart of Kitty Gray was on the point of sur render
 
 have no time now," said sine gently. Tt was but chance which brought me here"
 Chance? Yes. if fate, if the hand of heaven mean chance, shall call il chance, not otherwise. l say that it was the plan of fate long ago that you should come to me. now and here"
 We have come close to the secret" said Kitty Gray slowly. But we have come closer to perils."
 True. more than you know"
 What do you mean?"
 "Sachio was here-it was he and his man who thrust me in here, where I had planned to place him. They know 1t all-all that we do now. made moiselle. Sachio himself has gone to carry his news to his king. We are undone. mademoiselle! There will be war"
 If war, then why do we wait here!" she demanded of him. War is what we have sought to avoid for this king dom by our own knowledge of the coin. If it be too late-why. then, we must fight. An. how l wish were man. that l might fight as we'll"
 You have fought we'll for all of us. mademoiselle." said Frederick. We have repulsed our enemies. Would | you repulse-your friend?" She made no answer, but was away before him in the dark passageway. CHAPTER L.