Under Two Flags

chiefs, used to be saluted with "Ave Caesar Imperator," smoked a papelito in peace over "Galignani." Emperors gave a good-day to ministers who made their thrones beds of thorns, and

e. Knights of the Garter and Knights of the Golden Fleece, who had hated each other to deadliest rancor with the length of the Continent between them, got friends over a mutually good book on the Rastadt or Foret Noir. Brains that were the powder depot of one-half of the universe let themselve

cipalities and powers, while in breadth of marvelous skirts, in costliness of cobweb laces, in unapproachability of Indian shawls a

shadow of the pine-crowned hills, there was not one in his way greater than

oile - and there was an Irish sorrel, the property of an Austrian of rank, of which fair things were whispered; but it was scarcely possible that anything could stand against the King a

too careless to take the chance of adverse accident into account, had come to Baden, and was amusing himself there dropping a Friedrich d'Or on the rouge, flirting in the shady alleys of the Lichtenthal, waltzing Lady Guenevere down the ballroom, playing ecarte with some Serene Highness, supping with the Zu–Zu and her set, and occupying rooms that a Russian Prince had had before him, with all the serenity of a millionaire, as far as memory of money went; with much more than

d not sip his iced sherbet and laugh with a pretty French actress to-night. His epicurean formul

e claret wh

f" is stil

dines so

ow may

n upon by J

in a Frenc

hing not by any means his "form,"- he had a conviction that the doctrine of "Eat, drink, and enjoy, for tomorrow we die" was a universal panacea. He was reckless to the uttermost stretch of recklessness, all serene and quiet though his pococurantism and his daily manner were; and whi

under the ruins of the Alte Schloss, lost or won a rouleau at the roulette-wheel, gave a banknote to the famous Isabel for a tea-rose, drove the Zu–Zu four in hand to see the Flat races, took his guinea tickets for t

heroics, thought it best to take the oyst

, though sulkily, in answer to his inquiries, and had murmured that it was "all square now." The Jews and the tradesmen had let him leave for Baden without more serious measures than a menace, more or less insolently worded. In the same fashion he trusted that the King's running

enevere, who had some hundreds in gloves (and even under t

Asnieres one; for your sake, I'll make the finish as picturesque as

an killed himself, she did not desire that her

s, though the Oos looks cool and pleasant, I greatly doubt that under any pres

te," said Cecil, while he caught himself listlessly wondering, as he had wondered at

e where Cecil and Cos Wentworth were breakfasting in the garden of the Stephanien on the race-day itself. "Liqueurs, t

remember," murmured Bertie apologetically.

ffee in bed, I'll swear!"

e mocha, nor mine either," said his universal defender; and th

e was ending his breakfast; and referring to that Austrian who was to ride the Paris favorite. "Remember him at La Marche last year,

altzing! There isn't harder work than that for any fellow. A deuxtem

hed, but did not g

't say he isn't; but you've said scores of times what a deal of riding he takes. Now, can you

his head w

to dinner, and actually thought we should go! - and there was a scene, you know, of all earthly horrors, when Mrs. Gervase was so near eloping with me, and Gervase cut up rough, instead of pitying me; and then the field-days were so many, and so late into the season; and I exhausted myself so a

nd passed the plea of sympathy; the Coldstre

ace if you sit drinking liqueurs all the mo

ram tossed across to him, sent fro

g prices for the King; getting on French bay rather heavily at midnight. Fancy there's a commission o

ood as our having a 'Commission out'; and if any cads get one agai

sure of your

his head re

uch less of myself. I'm a cha

sure of the

he'd heard, believed in a pound; but, for his part, he didn't, because he'd never seen it. Now that was a man who'd never commit himself; he might had had the Exchequer! I'm the same; I believe the King can win at

on - the speeches he preferred were monosyllabic - completed

ng us to pile our pots on you?" asked the

ul sight!" said Ber

ast table by the shoulders. "Thanks, Beauty; I've 'four figures' on you, and you'll be good e

ow very near he was to the wind. The figures in his betting-book were to the tune of several thousands, one way or another. If he won this morning it would be all right, of course; i

f his plates by a skillful hand; he knew what was required of him, and a horse in nobler condition never stepped out in body clothing, as he was ridden slowly down on to the plains of Iffesheim. The Austrian Dragoon, a Count and a Chamberlain likewise, who was to ride his only possible rival, the French horse L'Etoile,

inclosure. "As for those fools what go agin you, you'll put them in a hole, and no mistake. French ho

ead groom, caught

es we loses as if we liked it; all that braying, and flaunting, and boasting is only fit f

," retorted Rake, in caustic wrath; his science of repartee chiefly lay in a successful "plant," and he was here uncomfortably conscious that his o

n for the edification of those around them as the saddle-girths were buck

ected the exercise bridle to be taken off, and with his own

rb on the King; "but I shouldn't have been haggravated with that hinsolent sol

e on the crowd about him, as though asking them what was the matter with him. No one moved his bit; the only person who could have had such authority was busily giving the last polish to his coat with a fine handkerchief - that glossy neck which had been so

n touch, the well-loved voice, pricked his delicate ears, quivered in all his frame with eager excitation, snuffed the air restlessly through his distended nostrils, and felt every vein under his satin skin thrill and swell with pleasure; he was all impatience, all power, all longing, vivid intensity of life. If only that nausea would go! He felt a restless sickliness stealing on him that his young and gallant s

ck! The thing's

there was none, save of women in matchless toilets, and men with the highest names in the "Almanac de Gotha"; the sun shone cloudlessly on the broad, green plateau of Iffesheim, on the white amphitheate

or of English betting rings; the only approach to anything like "real business" being transacted between the members of the Household and those of the Jockey Clubs. Iffesheim was pure pleasure, like every other item of Baden existence, and all aristocratic, sparkling, rich, amusement-seeking Europe seemed gathered there under the sunny skies, and on everyone's lips i

he Prix de Dames the most eagerly watched-for entry on the card; and the rest of the field

, he lived in his past victories, and was athirst for more. But yet - between him and the sunny morning there seemed a dim, hazy screen; on his delicate ear the familiar clangor smote with something dulled and strange; there seemed a numbness stealing down his frame; he shook his head in an unusual and irritated impatience; he did not know what ai

of that obedience which rendered him flexible as silk to his rider's will, sent him forward with that stride which made the Guards' Crack a household word in all the S

ng out, yet he struggled bravely. He strained, he panted, he heard the thundering thud of the first flight gaining nearer and nearer upon him; he felt his rivals closing hotter and harder in on him; he felt the steam of hi

him in the sheer stupor of amazement; they saw that the

d more he tried to wrestle back the old life into his limbs, the unworn power and freshness into nerve and sinew. Then the darkness fell utterly; the mighty heart failed; he could do no more - an

e is fairly knocked off his legs. Some Vet must

d passed since they had left the Starter's Chair, a lifetime see

e favorite; and the Prix de Dames was won