Part 34 (1/2)

”He is the King!” she cried ”It is the King's face--the King's ring--! It is my love!”

”Your love,is there in the Castle This gentleman--”

”Look atmy face between her hands ”Why do you let theazing into her eyes

”God forgive !”

I felt her hands clutch azed at ain, saonder born, and doubt grow, and terror spring to life as she looked And very gradually the grasp of her hands slackened; she turned to Sapt, to Fritz, and back to me: then suddenly she reeled forward and fell in athered her to me and kissed her lips Sapt laid his hand on my arround, and stood up, looking on her, cursing heaven that young Rupert's sword had spared

CHAPTER 21

If love were all!

It was night, and I was in the cell wherein the King had lain in the Castle of Zenda The great pipe that Rupert of Hentzau had nicknahts in the room across the moat twinkled in the darkness All was still; the din and clash of strife were gone I had spent the day hidden in the forest, fro Sapt with the princess Under cover of dusk, ed where I now lay Though three men had died there--two of thehosts I had thrownout on the black water; Johann, the keeper, still pale frohtwell, that he had seen the princess; that she and he, Sapt and Fritz, had been long together Marshal Strakencz was gone to Strelsau; Black Michael lay in his coffin, and Antoinette de Mauban watched by hi e rumours afloat Some said that the prisoner of Zenda was dead; some, that he had vanished yet alive; so well in soland; others, that he had discovered the Duke's plots, and had therefore been kidnapped by him One or two shrewd fellows shook their heads and said only that they would say nothing, but they had suspicions that more was to be known than was known, if Colonel Sapt would tell all he knew

Thus Johann chattered till I sent hi, not of the future, but--as a s have happened to hi how strangely they had fallen out And above ht, I heard the standards flapping against their poles, for Black Michael's banner hung there half- for one night rows so quick, that only by an effort did I recollect that it floated no longer for me

Presently Fritz von Tarlenheilass was opened, and I was idly fingering the ce to the masonry where ”Jacob's Ladder” had been He told ether we crossed the drawbridge and entered the roo there in bed; our doctor from Tarlenheim was in attendance on hi held out his hand and shook mine Fritz and the doctor withdrew to the

I took the King's ring froer and placed it on his

”I have tried not to dishonour it, sire,” said I

”I can't talk reat fight with Sapt and the Marshal--for we have told the Marshal everything I wanted to take you to Strelsau and keep you with me, and tell everyone of what you had done; and you would have been my best and nearest friend, Cousin Rudolf But they tell me I must not, and that the secret ht, sire Let o My work here is done”

”Yes, it is done, as no ain, I shall have my beard on; I shall--yes, faith, I shall be wasted with sickness They will not wonder that the King looks changed in face

Cousin, I shall try to let the else You have shown ”

”Sire,” said I ”I can take no praise frorace of God that I was not a worse traitor than your brother”

He turned inquiring eyes on th to question ht he would questionit idly, he let his head fall on his pillow

”I don't knohen I shall see you again,” he said faintly, alain, sire,” I answered

His eyelids closed Fritz ca's hand, and let Fritz leadsince

Outside, Fritz turned, not to the right, back towards the drawbridge, but to the left, and without speaking led h a handso?” I asked