The Spectator., 1916-03-07
NINETEENTH INSTALLMENT
CHAPTER LxVlIl.
Count Sachio's Search.

Count Sachio's Search.
 Your majesty, I can now assure you of our success
 Count Sachio of Grahoffen spoke calmly. On his face was written full conviction of the truth of his words. He stood once more with his monarch in the great hall of the palace of Gra- hoffen, whither he had hastened at once on his return from the rival capital.
 'Why, Sachio?" demanded Cortis- law. What reason now to believe our success nearer than it has been any time these months past?"
 "Your majesty asks proof? Look!"
 Sachio held out in his hand the two halves, or what purported to be the two halves. of the broken coin of Gretzhoffen. He, indeed, supposed them to be both halves of that mys- terious coin, although in truth one was only the counterfeit long since devised by Count Frederick to appease his own king. That Michael of Gretz- hoffen had missed his former posses sion-that Kitty Gray still held one half of the actual coin-neither Sachio nor his king now knew.
 Both conspirators bent above the bits of metal and both smiled in exul- tation. Their arduous search seemed now really to approach it's end.
 By my faith. Sachio.' exclaimed Cortislaw. it seems indeed we have but to run the trail hard and fast a trifle further"
 Yes, your majesty, it remains only for your servant-your very faithful servant, may I say it?-to find the hiding place of the scripts and treas ures themselves"
 That is necessary detail" said .Cortislaw, with cold grin. 'I have fed long enough on maps and keys and scripts-now 1 would dip my hands in actual mintage of gold coins -l would see the light of real gems shining. and not this ignis fatuus which we have followed so long over the morasses of doubt and uncertainty. Success. Success, Sachio-in real coins, in real gems. in real treasures that success alone can mean any thing to you or me-"
 Be it so. your majesty" said Sachio, with no abatement of his conf dence. T take my chances. stake my life on the hazard of full success. If l find not the hidden treasures of Gretzhoffen. then hang my head on our walls as warning to all boast CTS"
 'Go. then" said the king coldly; you have found your way within their gates -before--do so again. Seek 'deeply-under the wall of the torture chamber, perhaps. the coin says-the treasures hiding place lies deep under the walls--but precisely where is that?"
 Always the kings cautious mind carried him into the doubts and diff faculties of any case.
 Tt must be somewhere below and beyond the galleries which they flooded from the meats when they came near drowning all our troops" replied Sachio. Il know those gal leries as l do my own bedchamber Trust me to run out this puzzle to which we now have the key here in my hand. When l do, l shall dip my hands deep in actual mintage of gold coin"
 You will do nothing of the kind. Sachio." said his monarch. You will reserve that first right for your king"
 Sachio flushed red, but bowed. con- scious of the swift rivalry of pirates who parcel unholy gains.
 True, your majesty" said he. T upoke but in metaphor. The senior right in any such endeavor as this is always. of course. that of the king. The right and the pleasure os the monarch who has led us to such sue cess as this is thing paramount to all others. But swift enough shall be my course to your majesty, once l have found the actual hidding place" Agreed" said Cortislaw. and turned a0 gnaw his beard in the impatience of man long baked of his most inti- mate desire.
 And Sachio hastened. be that said for him. His swiftest car carried him across the devious way that lay be- 1 tween the two kingdoms. and duly he | arrived at the door of the palace of | Here his acquaintance | with the place and his ready reference | of all inquirers to the king himself | gained him easy access once more.
 Michael, the weak. still dwelt in the palace. giving small care to the ruin and disorder which lay about him on all sides Let others care for the gov ornment. let others make good the breaches in the capitals defense. lot |