Part 7 (1/2)
CHAPTER 5
The Adventures of an Understudy
With Fritz von Tarlenheim and Colonel Sapt close behind me, I stepped out of the buffet on to the platfor I did was to feel if ay group of officers and high dignitaries stood awaiting me, at their head a tall oldHe wore the yellow and red ribbon of the Red Rose of Ruritania--which, by the way, decorated my unworthy breast also
”Marshal Strakencz,” whispered Sapt, and I knew that I was in the presence of the most famous veteran of the Ruritanian army
Just behind the Marshal stood a short sparerobes of black and cridoreeted y from the Duke of Strelsau The duke, it seemed, had been afflicted with a sudden indisposition which made it impossible for him to come to the station, but he craved leave to await his Majesty at the Cathedral I expressed my concern, accepted the Marshal's excuses very suavely, and received the coes No one betrayed the least suspicion, and I feltofBut Fritz was still pale, and his hand shook like a leaf as he extended it to the Marshal
Presently we formed procession and took our way to the door of the station Here Ies, and I started to ride through the streets with the Marshal on ht and Sapt (who, as my chief aide-de-camp, was entitled to the place) on my left The city of Strelsau is partly old and partly new spacious modern boulevards and residential quarters surround and embrace the narrow, tortuous, and picturesque streets of the original town In the outer circles the upper classes live; in the inner the shops are situated; and, behind their prosperous fronts, lie hidden populous but wretched lanes and alleys, filled with a poverty-stricken, turbulent, and (in large measure) criminal class These social and local divisions corresponded, as I knew from Sapt's information, to another division ; but to the Old Town Michael of Strelsau was a hope, a hero, and a darling
The scene was very brilliant as we passed along the Grand Boulevard and on to the great square where the Royal Palace stood Here I was in thewith red and bedecked with flags and mottoes The streets were lined with raised seats on each side, and I passed along, bowing this way and that, under a shower of cheers, blessings, and waving handkerchiefs The balconies were full of gaily dressed ladies, who clapped their hands and curtsied and threw their brightest glances at ed in my horse's mane, and I took it and stuck it in lances at his face, but he was too impassive to shohether his sympathies ith s, Marshal,” said I gaily, and he nodded
I have written ”gaily,” and a strange word it must seem But the truth is, that I was drunk with excitement At that moment I believed--I al; and, with a look of laughing triuainand then I started For, looking down on me, with her handsome face and proud smile, was the lady who had been my fellow traveller--Antoinette de Mauban; and I saw her also start, and her lips azed atain I felt !”
Well, ent by; and then the Marshal, turning round in his saddle, waved his hand, and the Cuirassiers closed round us, so that the crowd could not co Duke Michael's, and this action of the Marshal's showedin the town , the least I could do was to play the part handsoe in our order, Marshal?” said I
The Marshal bit his white moustache
”It is more prudent, sire,” he murmured
I drew rein
”Let those in front ride on,” said I, ”till they are fifty yards ahead
But do you, Marshal, and Colonel Sapt and my friends, wait here till I have ridden fifty yards And see that no one is nearer totrusts them”
Sapt laid his hand on my arm I shook him off The Marshal hesitated
”Aain, he gave the orders I saw old Sapt s into his beard, but he shook his head at me If I had been killed in open day in the streets of Strelsau, Sapt's position would have been a difficult one
Perhaps I ought to say that I was dressed all in white, except ilt ornaments, and the broad ribbon of the Rose looked well acrossif I did not set ure So the people thought; for when I, riding alone, entered the dingy, sparsely decorated, sombre streets of the Old Town, there was first a murmur, then a cheer, and a woman, fro:
”If he's red, he's right!” whereat I laughed and took off ht colour and they cheeredthus alone, for I heard the comments of the crowd
”He looks paler than his wont,” said one