| Show ophy of cravonia Kr avonia by ANTHONY HOPE author of the prisoner copyright 1906 16 anthony alope fl awkins I 1 chricy air bweni was a star ill lit IN sin lit s na incitement F was ril dually growing alot III tin ca 14 busy nt at the hotel tie de paris purls anti nt at the C colden olden lion men clustered chiet ered in ili group and talked alle while their said thy thay th y would ix be letter nt at home in ludIng their and letting politico 1 nione alone knowledge wit far to seer Itu humors alors asere acte might lo be 10 ns its reas reassure ns he lie plen stid hut but lie hid bid the tile night nt at the ul kit uns quiet in lit the tile city but news calme 1 of the force lint that wits being raised in its Vol and the size of th force lost ahing clug the tile passed from 1110 mouzli uth to mouth little slann slana 11 the elince it was not eager a ts to light him certain reaction in ill hi fits favor set el in it if they did not lou him they bold held him in air cru reaped respect if he meant to tight tha dpn they were siere not euro sure tuat that they didt DoL Dob ruvia ravas naine name too vas aa much on oil utana lip stories about so puy phy were bandied to and fro people be can to 10 remember that they had from the beginning thought her very remark able a force to bo be reckoned with tho tile superstitious ideas about her made their farat ti rat definite defan lie a ace now no she had bewitched the prince they said and tue meu men of be the hills too abo whole hole mountain country woul I rise at her bidding and weep sweep down on oil slav nn in rude warfare and anti mad bravery the shee paLlas would come following the red star the citizen citizens of clarna did not rella the prospect at the beat it would be very bild for trade at the worst it would man milan blood and death let loos 0 la in the A stern ruler was bet ter than civil nar the troops of the garrison were no longer such favorites s they bad had ln been even captain her culee cules subdued ble tits demeanor n bleb in deed had quite recovered from front the chastisement of the princes sword to a self effacing discretion lie too in hia his heart and in ble his heavy heary driml five tire brain bad had an uneasy feeling about the witch with teim red star had ebe she not been the u of trouble but for her Ster kotTe lone long knife would bare set an end to the 00 whole ch cepter pter ions long ag agol the time waa was short and the tile omens doubtful it was wits the moment for a bold stroke for a forcing game tb th waver wa vercra ers must be hown shown where power lay hosit was the winning inning aide captain Slark markart art arrive at alayna at I 1 had used jha tart well and reached the city nearly cheo boura hours curlier eadler when mien marhart far Lart told he reported himself at once to the general how he had hail been outwit ted liten civics smiled buying saying 1 I know and I 1 know abat lint he has done doile place 1 be he got here they estole a it march mareb on you but not on im ine captain and now your story he listened to markante Mar karte talo tale with a frowning brow and then dia dis missed him saying you will rill meet me at tit tho palace wo meet the king ili n conference at tit 4 but the gen erni himself went to the palce pal ce long beaole baffo ia 4 1 I and he lie and aud roltz were CI closeted arith ith counter 4 Kl Elleu lenburg burg lapage rt returning tit frum a walk to the city at 2 haw the tilt general arrive on horseback horae baci lieutenant Ila statz saw lep go arrive aye and bad seen bim him net out and marked all ble ills going j but of alls lepage waa was unconscious the little lieutenant haq not much march on nit of a holdst r but bo ile was o 0 you but bus an art excellent spy lenot on an we tile page nad bad been w ith lilt zeri captain kovitch the king wait confined to bla tits apart ment a stilt of nix six rooms on th first floor lacing facing the river 1 here be he bud bl owl witting sitting roam dressing drea aing and slid bedrooms besides theae these there were the little cup loarl lepage sapt in ill nod and pare spare room which at t dated dr 1 the sixth room 1 occupied ly by odds oddi and cud end include ilia la the tackle rod s and other lirar ement of his faborito fa torito pa pas time the council wae was held in it the sit ting room and apato were biot spot present prent but each cacti waa its lo 10 bla his own room ready for nuy possible cull call on bla his service services 1 s lankart lar kart wa was there first to tell bla ills etory story and deliver bis his letter second secand la in hita capacity as stetary sreta ry to gen I 1 eral the cou coul atess tesa and ceaf nitai the party the king aln was anxious wi worried ff led ab unwell ilia s oice oleo at its J be atad ad aloud 01 ol bla his sous ou letter it 11 was wa brief bat but dutiful and even veo affectionate after a sapi reproach that he tie hare have been kept in ignorance of it tin 14 li lone entertained albut lie the bines health the prince it nil aln audience within the next t tin is ilay luys 4 lie ile had hail which it ita m lib ills duty to lay before hid his tiia jc und he firmly but respectfully claimed almed 1 the tho light of confidential with his tits father that u 4 e to bid his ma jestyn a true duppre clation of hie his views the hit lilt at ste as a plain ilau and the tile palace did not labor it the letter end ed 1 then with nn an expression of earnest concern concerti for the ho kings health there wat wan no word in it about starting on oil hi hla journey journe then told bis lits stor that he bad had much to tell in essence he be added only tint that the lirline pru proposed iru posed to avalt tho tile lings answer it tit Pru neither to hiro him had the preice said a word about starting on oil bis his journey bourney on oil this point silted pur no doubt to the tho plan do ased in that preliminary discussion with mith the other two members ot the little coterie it Is remar remarkable Lable air even evelt moro than remarkable that tits loyal high ness makes no reference at 11 to the direct command which your innie majesty sty wai in to disatio to him lie observed the kiner king listened IN ened puzzled and anti lather d yes it proper it respectful dut now that eon sou knows know the tile late of my health I 1 think I 1 illusto title him it beem ii unnatural to refuse after nil it may be the last t time jule aluce hi K on this journey 11 but la Is the prince going on oil hia ills journey serl Steno does the studied silence of lili letter augur well for his tits obedience ho ek an later few in order to persuade pe your majesty against your better judgment I 1 must be pardoned freedom free dota of speech great guteres is aro are at stake the last dordi vere ere tru i enough though not in the sense in wilch the line king was meant to understand them my son knows how near neur thi matter IH im to my heart I 1 shall be able to persuade him to do bis his duty said the kinc king 1 the he lint first round of the fight its go lag against the coterie col erle they did lid not nant the king to see hn 1 son daniel danger lay illy there ine the princes was the er character it might well prevail and they ceru ere no tie huger certain that the knew or guessed nothing of their hopes and intentions how much news had Zer berkovitch kovitch carried to aras lok tho tile night before Steno vico ad the tb ling king agala again captain markart fathered gathered that the prince wae was reluctant to interrupt the military training on oil which be he Is engaged at cir A very excellent wag thing that but the other matter la is more urgent I 1 change my mind ou on ac account count of that A personal interview might be iry try ing to your majesty the tho ling king looked annoyed possibly a iette suspicious 11 youre no other objection 0 b than that to urge general gener a I 1 steno vice Steno Ste novica had none other which be he could produce frio NO sir be he eald sald while IM here I 1 must do my duty and I 1 shall induce my illy son on to do hie his ill receive the prince of blavin lu in private aud audience lenco tomorrow or next day I 1 if tho the timo time later inter and ill write the letter myself roye the decision wag was final sad it was defeat so far there was n moments allence markart saw colonel Staf nod hia tits head almost imperceptibly toward countess the need and the moment for rc re its had come the colonel was vas calling bell up lip the order of battle had been well considered consid emd in countess apartments the amend line came into action the countess began 15 egan with a question 11 put with a sneer did no other reason for the princes till include to act set out oa ou hh his journey suggest itself to captain arkert ark rt from what he lie saw at the king turned sharply round to her then to markart well benr he ask ed the latter markart Slark art was badly madly embarrassed who was at 11 the countess maio Zer berkovitch kovitch andl and her ber husband for one night and suit Un Po dobrava brava 1 yea yes IlL Do bravar rhex still there asteal lb the king lie looked perplexed even axed but aguin be lie he lie looked at fate novice and Sta fultz bat bal ahls time be he found no similes alles or their facea faces were mere deadly eer tot 4 OU come tellwell well wel lwell ell not artous dedous er tous natural perhaps I 1 but ut the prince a sense of doty duty hell see tnt tint that wont do and well end send the sm a hint well tell her hoi bon much wo we rul her at slavna lie ile tried to make them answer bla his amilo smile 1 I 1 accept bh smooth ing away of lie file it was all a failure im bound to way xer ill it I 1 consider baroness Ila dorava a serious obstacle to hh his royat le obeying your wish wl perlous obstacle 11 eald ste noyles thra we ne must kt tier away gen crol will ho he let br ber got go snap napp peti cil the th count M 1 I mt orde it if it cornea comes to th abat I 1 eald salil tho tu kitic kirz abose or affairs thes winit hilli liy the th loat or acim IM ired tit t loe control of herself I 1 attl at of fair holiday dirtat ionAl if it nere only th it 1 I it would be beneath your w n tice sir air and beneath len catli aulne ivya it more than that that 0 th the ling king darted tair ted unit leaned for annl looking nt at her she rose to her feet crying more than that while we sit talling here he may be marry ing in that woman marrying Mar her cried the king ills fae turned red and then ai the blood 1 again 1 became very pale abot wb ebe she meana means yea yes aud and what he tie means toot too the dav wn aghast tho the second na As tault struck truck bome houle struck nt at illi dear pot hapes und mounded oun ded hla moat most antl inti cinto ambitious but to lie was still in ju acied lions ilo lie ile spread out trembling liand turning tur nin froni from the vehement wo annn to tits two counselors gentlemen be he eald said imploringly alth outstretched handa hands they mere w silent grave and ad silent I 1 CP cr plain nin markart ekart couyou saw any tl iliff to suggest tills tills terrible idea the tile tire fire aa wae hot on poor markart ngian HP stammered ani andrt stuttered uttered mic theotho Th etho the baroness haro nesa seemed 1 to hive lunch much influence bir to to hold a very vilgil position in the princes princ ca toto bo be in bh lili confidence veil struck in the countess she wears the uniform form of hit bli artillery that n compliment usually rescued for ladles of royal rank I 1 lip peal to you colonel Stat nitzi in most services it Is so go I 1 belle believe ic countess the colonel answered nn gravely ruit mit I 1 should never neer allow it and without my consent it might be invalid sir air though theres some doubt about that but it would be a fatal bar to our german germ q n project aven an influence short of actual marriage S he b e means marriage I 1 eay say mar marringer marri ringel agel the countess w wad a i quite qu ite rudely impatient of her ally which was very artistic an ambitious and dangerous daug erous the colonel row mm ro w to hit his w m n n 1 she feet and saluted la has taken advantage of the favor the king showed her it I 1 asked the king shrugged his boulders shoulders of course there would be no control then enid said he the king looked around we must rouet get her uway away from Ira ilok 1 III etie torne come jeered the countess not ehe she will he let br her gu go not her the king his band weakly across hia brow then be he rang a bell on the table lepage entered and the ling kinc bade bode bini him bring him the draft which hleb tr had prescribed for hia his ceryes nerves well might the unfortunate man feel the need of it between the counter countess open eruption and the not lesi formidable calm of and staf nitz and all bla his favorite dreams in danger she wont ont leave bin him or bell follow her the woman noman bun hais infatuated himl filial the cott nten sted tray madame let me think eald said the harasem haras sm and albl kins king aae e must open with baroness dobrava I 1 may I 1 suggest that he the matter might prove urgent sir air mild said Steu ovica livery every hour Is 13 full of dinger 11 de tinged the countess couii tesa 1 ibe I he king held beld up his hl s band for hence silence theu then be took look paper anti pen pet and wrote with ith ills hi own band hand sonic soine lines ue signed signet the document and folded it III face wax wan now liol birin and cr aimer the peril to his greit greil tt t hope hopes per haps a son of the precarious tenure of hil 1 pow to impart to him a new prompt ne it 11 decision 1 alien to bb his normal chir character acter colonel staf nitz he lie bald in ili a tone tolle of the colonel rose in n hl 4 feet att and ea sa buted ilon an ud riser r in lit council he be begallie callie in a a soldier on duty 1 I 1 am aul about to at to jon yon a duty of or great delli derkacy acy I 1 choai ch you be bt eff ase short of gemeril biro him self there t L x no vio man mail in whom I 1 hive auch such confidence morning yon you nili go to Irn and inform bid his roal that you have a com fro from me for baroness dobrava if it the prince la Is abent ab nt you wilt will KM are the baroness demelf if it she Is ab fant yott yell will follow lier tier and find her 11 er the tb itter nitter n Is urgent ou will tell ber that it b 6 tn request that tint she nt at once accompany you back here to the palce pal where I 1 shall receive her und nd acquaint her with my further if it bh allf noks of sy hat that are not em powered to ell fell br hor anything she must icaro learn them thetis from troll myself illy self if nhe she makes avy demur about accompanying you immediately or tf if demur li 14 mide in i de or dclay lay suggested from any guy quarter you will ill eay that my 1 is n corn coal roand mand if 1 that Is 1 not hot sufficient oll will produce this paper palter it la Is nt an order un der my hand addres addressed seit to you and di d to anest arrest po brava and anti escort cort her here toi to my prea pres euc boce bot acty objection or OC resistance any person whatever will offer at his hi peril you will be back here by tomorrow evening with in charge P do it the baroness n labout employing the order for arrest 1 it possible but do it anil at all costs do you perfectly air sir am arn I 1 I 1 tule an escort tile answer to that question was anxiously and awaited an anxiously yes said the king you will the areche pr ee lie force I 1 lea leae e to your out discretion it should be large enough to make you secure from frow hindrance by any ret pet short of open and armed resistance to my commands com manda Staf nitz again and at a sign froin the I 1 ins ilia resumed bis his seat the kings manner relaxed as lie turned to to Ste noses when wee got her here we uell 11 reason with her shell hear a reason and her that her health will aest by a foreign trip it if necessary I 1 shall cause her to be deported she must be out of in |
