The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1939-05-12

was there-at the wedding. l saw
them arrive"
"What of that?" said the Ouch
ess. "He wasn't"
His eyes again fast on the Count
"By heaven" said Herrick, II
don't believe that he was. And yet
the bridegroom's name was Rudolf
of Brief"
Two hours had gone by, and Win
ter was telling his tale. This in
Herrick's room, the middle room OF
the tower. (This had not been a
bedroom the week before: but now
1t was changed.)
"The first thing / knew, sir, a
servant came running in, to say his
lordship had tainted and his valet
was wanted at once. Well, that
told me you were off, and very soon
after, Bertram the Steward comes
in, as white as a sheet. He asks
the older servants to come to his
room, an when he was gone, foot
man begins to talk. I couldn't get
all he said, but I made out her
Grace an Mr.. Herrick 'ad put it
across the Count. There's a chauf-
feur there speaks some English, and
so got on to him. What's the
trouble?' says. What's anyone
done?' An then he starts off :.
"They've got this much clear, sir
that there was another brother an
he was twin: that 'er Grace and
Mr.. Herrick keeps on referring to
him: that his lordship keeps getting
caught out, because he don't seem
to see that they're mixing him up
with his brother in all they say.
But they can't understand why his
lordship is so much upset. why
can't he see?' they keep asking.
why don't he tell them they're mix
in him up with his twin?' Of course,
the Stewards got it-you ought to
have seen his face. An Mr.. Parish
has rammed a point or two home.
But they all know there's something
wrong, an they all think her Grace
has come here to put it right. It
seems she said something like that.
And they've got Mr.. Herrick's story
about the forgetful priest: but they
think that when he said Rudolf,
he must have meant Ferdinand I"
ooh, give me strength" said Her.
rick, and threw up his hands.
"If I may say so, sir, you 'aven't
no call to complain. They've got
the truth in their hands, but, except
for the Steward, they're holding it
upside down."
"And what will happen" said
Herrick, 'tif ever they turn it
round?"
Shocked to death, sir" said VIM
ter, eff you ask me. I think they'll
walk out on him, sir, from bottom
to top. They're very 'ouse-proud
lot. An another thing-in their eyes
her Grace can't do no wrong"
There was little silence.
It was clear that we had won the
first round, and won it well. 1t was
also clear that Old Harry was going
for a knockout, because the pace
she had set could not possibly last
for one thing only, her threat to pro-
duce poor Gering was one which
she could not fulfill. And again it
was clear that Old Harry's judgment
was good, because win on points
would be useless to us. The Count
of Brief had to be fioored-or be
made to throw in the towel.
If he contrived to stand up for
the first few rounds, the man was
safe. I could not lose sight of one
thing. And that was that he had a
second who knew no law.
Indeed, this was how / saw it
that the Duchess of Whelp was fight
ing the Count of Brief, because the
fall of the Count would set Elizabeth
up: but Virgil was fighting his cous-
in, because, if he brought her down,
the fall of the Count would not mat
ter, because he = Percy Virgil
would then be bound to succeed.
ITO BE CONTINUED