Part 4 (1/2)

”No, by thunder, you shan't--and that's sans phrase, as Sapt likes it

For you shall dine with ht, happen ill afterwards Come, man, you don't ht,” said Fritz von Tarlenheiuest!” cried the King; and, as Fritz shrugged his shoulders, he added: ”Oh! I'll remember our early start, Fritz”

”So will I--to at his pipe

”O wise old Sapt!” cried the King ”Coive you?”

”Your Majesty's,” I answered, bowing

”Well, that shows they weren't ashaot no house of my own here, but my dear brother Michael lends us a place of his, and we'll make shi+ft to entertain you there;” and he put his ar to the others to accoh the forest

We walked for arettes and chattered incessantly He was full of interest in hed heartily when I told hialleries, and yet more heartily when he heard that my expedition to Ruritania was a secret one

”You have to visit your disreputable cousin on the sly, have you?” said he

Suddenly e-lodge It was a one-storey building, a sort of bungalow, built entirely of wood As we approached it, a little man in a plain livery came out to meet us The only other person I saw about the place was a fat elderly woman, whom I afterwards discovered to be the mother of Johann, the duke's keeper

”Well, is dinner ready, Josef?” asked the King

The little servant informed us that it was, and we soon sat down to a plentifulate heartily, Fritz von Tarlenheiood knife and fork, asnoticed ood trencher dry! Wine, Josef! wine, ? Are we cattle, Josef?”

At this reproof Josef hastened to load the table with bottles

”Remember tomorrow!” said Fritz

”Ay--to drained a buracious--or h to callRed,”

whereat he laughed loudly

Now, be the ht, the e drank was beyond all price or praise, and we did it justice Fritz ventured once to stay the King's hand

”What?” cried the King ”Remember you start before I do, Master Fritz--youby two hours than I”

Fritz saw that I did not understand

”The colonel and I,” he explained, ”leave here at six: we ride down to Zenda and return with the guard of honour to fetch the King at eight, and then we all ride together to the station”

”Hang that sarowled Sapt