Part 15 (2/2)

”daue!” I said

He looked at me for a moment, then he lit his pipe It was quite true that I was in a bad teo, I'ed by half a dozen fellows”

”I know you are; I send 'em,” he replied co away, ”it wouldn't be exactly inconvenient for Black Michael if you disappeared With you gone, the old game that we stopped would be played--or he'd have a shot at it”

”I can take care of myself”

”De Gautet, Bersonin, and Detchard are in Strelsau; and any one of them, lad, would cut your throat as readily--as readily as I would Black Michael's, and a deal more treacherously What's the letter?”

I opened it and read it aloud:

”If the King desires to knohat it deeply concerns the King to know, let him do as this letter bids hie grounds The house has a portico, with a statue of a nyate in the wall at the back At twelve o'clock tonight, if the King enters alone by that gate, turns to the right, and walks twenty yards, he will find a suht of six steps If he mounts and enters, he will find someone ill tell him what touches most dearly his life and his throne This is written by a faithful friend He lects the invitation his life will be in danger Let him show this to no one, or he will ruin a woman who loves him: Black Michael does not pardon”

”No,” observed Sapt, as I ended, ”but he can dictate a very pretty letter”

I had arrived at the same conclusion, and was about to throw the letter ahen I saw there wason the other side

”Hallo! there's some more”

”If you hesitate,” the writer continued, ”consult Colonel Sapt--”

”Eh,” exclaienuinely astonished ”Does she take reater fool than you?”

I waved to him to be silent

”Ask hi his cousin, and therefore ins with--A?”

I sprang to my feet Sapt laid down his pipe

”Antoinette de Mauban, by heaven!” I cried

”How do you know?” asked Sapt

I told him what I knew of the lady, and how I knew it He nodded

”It's so far true that she's had a great roith Michael,” said he, thoughtfully

”If she would, she could be useful,” I said