Part 12 (1/2)

Pausing an instant, wefreely and ached severely, the bone being ood horses all that was in thereat resolve died away, and we rode in gloomy silence Day broke clear and cold We found a farive us sustenance for ourselves and our horses I, feigning a toothache, ain, till Strelsau lay before us It was eight o'clock or nearing nine, and the gates were all open, as they alere save when the duke's caprice or intrigues shut the before, all four of us--the men and the horses--wearied and jaded The streets were even quieter than e had gone: everyone was sleeping off last night's revelry, and we ate of the Palace There Sapt's old groo for us

”Is all well, sir?” he asked

”All's well,” said Sapt, and the 's hurt!” he cried

”It's nothing,” said I, as I diser in the door”

”Reood Freyler, I do not need to tell you that!”

The old fellow shrugged his shoulders

”All young ?”

said he; and Sapt's laugh left his opinion of my motives undisturbed

”You should always trust athe key in the lock, ”just as far as you ing open the door,Fritz von Tarlenheim stretched, fully dressed, on the sofa He see, but our entry woke hilance at me, and with a joyful cry, threw himself on his knees before me

”Thank God, sire! thank God, you're safe!” he cried, stretching his hand up to catch hold of , whatever his faults, made people love him For a moment I could not bear to speak or break the poor fellow's illusion But tough old Sapt had no such feeling He slapped his hand on his thigh delightedly

”Bravo, lad!” cried he ”We shall do!”

Fritz looked up in bewilderment I held out my hand

”You're wounded, sire!” he exclaimed

”It's only a scratch,” said I, ”but--” I paused

He rose to his feet with a bewildered air Holding my hand, he looked me up and down, and down and up Then suddenly he dropped ? Where's the King?” he cried

”Hush, you fool!” hissed Sapt ”Not so loud! Here's the King!”

A knock sounded on the door Sapt seized me by the hand

”Here, quick, to the bedroom! Off with your cap and boots Get into bed

Cover everything up”

I did as I was bid A rinned, and introduced an extreentleain, and informed me that he was of the household of the Princess Flavia, and that her Royal Highness had sent hi's health was after the fatigues which his Majesty had undergone yesterday

”My best thanks, sir, to hness that I was never better in an to find, loved a good lie for its own sake), ”has slept without a break all night”