Part 8 (1/2)

She sain, and whispered:

”Did you notice Michael?”

”Yes,” said I, adding, ”he wasn't enjoying himself”

”Do be careful!” she went on ”You don't--indeed you don't--keep enough watch on him You know--”

”I know,” said I, ”that he wants what I've got”

”Yes Hush!+”

Then--and I can't justify it, for I coht to do--I suppose she carriedwhich I haven't got yet, but hope to win so, I should have thought it encouraging:

”Haven't you enough responsibilities on you for one day, cousin?”

Bang, bang! Blare, blare! We were at the Palace Guns were firing and tru the princess up the broad , of the House of my ancestors, and sat down at ht hand, on her other side Black Michael, and on my left his Eminence the Cardinal Behind my chair stood Sapt; and at the end of the table, I saw Fritz von Tarlenheine rather sooner than he decently should

I wondered what the King of Ruritania was doing

CHAPTER 6

The Secret of a Cellar

We were in the King's dressing-roo myself exhausted into an arratulations on thewas eloquent of satisfaction The triuood wine, had made a new man of Fritz

”What a day for you to re for twelve hours myself! But, Rassendyll, you mustn't throw your heart too much into the part I don't wonder Black Michael looked blacker than ever--you and the princess had so much to say to one another”

”How beautiful she is!” I exclairowled Sapt ”Are you ready to start?”

”Yes,” said I, with a sigh

It was five o'clock, and at twelve I should be notone

”You'll be lucky,” observed Sapt grimly, ”if you're not the late Rudolf Rassendyll By Heaven! I feelon my shoulders every minute you're in the city Do you know, friend, that Michael has had news from Zenda? He went into a roo like aer

Sapt sat down

”I must write us an order to leave the city Michael's Governor, you know, and we n the order”

”My dear colonel, I've not been bred a forger!”