The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-02
BY Vincente Blasco Ibanez
Author Of 1.-THE Four Horsernen
Of the Apocalypse" and Other
Novels Of World RenOwn.

Author Of 1.-THE Four Horsemen
OF the Apocalypse" and Other
Novels Of World Ren0wn.
rTIS surprise made it diff
cult for him to answer the
4A attack. He began rather
timidly to explain. He visited the
Duchess SO regularly, he said,
because the lady asked him to
come and see her every day.
He had often felt that he
might prove to be a nuisance,
but every attempt he had
made to break off his visits
had been fruitless. He scarcely
left her for few hours that she
did not send for him again. She
was as kind to him as a mother
49, Suddenly the lieutenant's
humble tone vanished. His eyes
guessed from Michaels some
thing that he himself had never
imagined. The lieutenant seemed
TRANSPORTED.
He bore himself as though he
had suddenly risen to the same
aerial level as the prince. His
eyes shone with the same wild
splendor as the other mans; his
body stiffened with the tension
Of a spring about to be released;
his nostrils quivered nervously.
The, little clerk, with his timid
bearing. recovered the air of gal
liant bravery of the fighting man.
His voice sounded harsh as he
went on talking.
shall go wherever I am in
vited," he said; wherever 1 feel
Ike going. do not recognize
the right Of any man to inter-
fere with my actionsr' The
duchess was the only one who
could close her door to him.
Why did the prince interfere in
that lady's affairs without con-
sulting her first?
mICHAEL'S EXCUSE.
ST. am related to her." said
Michael. nwardly hesitating
somewhat at making use of the
kinahip which he. had so often
wanted to deny.
Besides" continued the
prince. "it is my duty to shield
her from gossip. 1 cannot per-
init that, seeing you staying
there at all hours, anyone should
suppose
Michael instantly regretted
these words when he saw the
twofold effect they had on the
young man. First, Martinez was
merely indignant. Had anyone
dared gossip about that great
lady who had been such a saint
In his eyes? But with this pro-
test came a certain satisfaction,
q childish pride. He was obvi-
ousiy flattered that his name
SHOULD be connected with that of
the Duchess in absurd SUPPOSE
tons. Michael's words had just
now revealed Martinez to him.
self, giving substance and name
to the obscure sentiments that
until then in embryonic state had
pulsed unrecognized within him.
And the Prince. irritated at his
: own clumsiness, guessed, with
Jealous penetration, everything
that Martinez was thinking.
eff anyone takes the liberty of
talking about the Duchess" said
the Lieutenant proudly, 'if any
body dares to gossip because she
does me the honor Of receiving
me in her home-the greatest
honor in my life!-I will take it
On my shoulders to punish who
ever invents such a lie, no mat
ter how high up he may be, no
matter how powerful he may
think himself to be-" -
Lubimoff listened impatiently,
Martinez was daring to attack
him! These last words carried
Q threat for him.
His own imprudent action had
served merely to open this young
mans eyes and make him think
OF possibilities which had never
before crossed his mind. And
Prince Lubimoff himself had
elected to show this cheap lieu
tenant that, in the opinion Of
gossips. such Things We're pos
sibIe!
Fhe tone in which the officer
: defended Alicia aroused his anger
even more. He OWNED in it
great pride, the vanity of a poor
fellow who had known love ad-
ventures only in books and who
suddenly finds himself in sup
posed relations with a duchess,
as the rival of prince. How
glorious for an upstart!
A ,'EW T..
"Eoy--'' SD AuD.moff. in Il
hard voice.