Princess Maritza

nkard beside him had held, but he started, wide awake on the instant, as his master entered. Ellery

rough handling in my

ef

ain," was the answer. "The

than the man inside the

rt, while the clothes are only fit fo

er have a corpse to deal with, s

ugged his

pses of, for acquaintances are easier come by than goo

h in Sturatzberg," Ell

rned. "If I tell it, I am not compelled to believe it

, what else

of the many intrigues in Sturatzberg; but let it be a street attack. Was any man left

counter of blows

ve their statements. I have heard of half a dozen men lying dead, or dying, at a street corner, victims to a

lk into them," laughed Ellerey. "Some day, perhaps, when I am certain of

t it down again. Then he turned round suddenly: "Some time sin

idn't

me so little," Stefan answered; "but I may yet prove a

enough might be his father, for anything he knew to the contrary. His mother, he knew, had died bringing him into the world; a wasted sacrifice, he called it, since the world could have done very well without him and he without it. Being in it, he took al

man with any secret of his. Yet the soldier's parting words

nion on whom I can rely," he mused. "I

d only be to attract attention to himself and his movements, which was undesirable, whether it were her Majesty who had taken occasion to test his courage, or oth

Ellerey accompanied M

ur

e Froilette, as they went. "You will find it tolerably easy, but, pardon th

n, monsieur, or wom

, beware. There is a little, ferret-eyed devil at Court who can spy out secrets almost before

the fact that he was in De Froilette's company, until he chanced to be left alone for a few moments at the head of the grand staircase. Some half-dozen paces from him four men were engaged in earnest conversation. From their position they could scrutinize every one who ascended the stairs or crossed the vestibule, and it seemed to Ellerey they were there of set purpose; more, that his arrival had been expected and waited for. One of the four was a man of about his own age, richly dressed, and of distinguished bearing. He appeared chief among his companions, who addressed him w

g you, monsieur; shal

ople present, and dancing had commenced in the ball-room. It was a brave assembly, men wearing brilliant uniforms and the decorations of every nation in Europe, and women beautiful in themselves, glorious in sheen of satin, rustle of silk, and flash of jewels. Wo

Majesty. She was even more beautiful to-night than when she had come to the Altstrasse, and, surrounded as she was by beautiful women, seemed to hold by right the

saying that your countrywomen are the most accomplished, the most

guttural tones which ill agreed with a compliment; "I l

ay the palace of Sturatzberg," said De F

the Queen. "Are we so unpatriotic, Baron Petrescu?" an

ty. I have been in Eng

omen are the most bea

s though his answer had some reference to him; and the Queen, who did not seem too pleased with the frankly s

d. "You come but seldom to Court. As an Englishma

ll women, your Majesty, but, as yet,

you shall give us, and we will ask for a repetition of that confession constantly. The first time you look down before our questioning eyes, and stammer in your answer, we shall know that love has laid siege to the citadel of indifference, and captured it." Ellerey smiled,

slowly across the room, his manner was not without dignity, but had little graciousness in it. There were a few who feared him; many who despised him; some who hated him; and from east to west of his kingdom it

is mincing gait, and his apparently nervous deference to everyone about him, would have amused those who did not know the man, or until they had made a more careful study of his face. Nature seemed to have tried her hand at a caricature, and had placed upon this diminutive body a leonine head. The face was a network of lines, as thoug

er the Ambassador had passed. "He has already noted your presence, and will know all about

ment or pleasant jest, and before many days had gone had earned a reputation as an irresponsible cavalier; one whom it would be dangerous to take too seriously or believe in too thoroughly. Such a man was, for the most part, after the heart of the feminine portion of the Sturatzberg Court, and that he played the part well the Queen's

Ellerey repeat his confession, and h

in the Court of Sturatzberg. Men whose tastes on all else were as wide asunder as the poles were at one in praise of her, and even women were content to let her reign supreme. Her dark eyes, fringed with long lashes, were, perhaps, the most perfect feature of a perfect face. They could persuade, they could reprove, and it was d

words were quite true, for he had looked into this woman's eyes many times. Then h

hours, but he had another reason for seeking her so persistently. He had seen little of the face of the woman who had cried to him for help that night at the corner of the Altstrasse, being more concerned with what was required of him than with her who petitioned, but somehow this woman always reminded him of that night. Whenever she walked beside him, he recalled that other woman who had run hand-in-hand with him thro

ance with m

r hand upon h

he said, as they went toward

ht have been laughed at for

small person in Sturatz

d with her Majesty's

s

judge by what I see, and

and have thought sometimes tha

ty's welcome,

f your own kindness to

man la

are slow of compre

ain of Hors

row, and in his own country may be-Ah!

abonds, C

liding over the floor of the ballroom to the strains of a sensuous German waltz. Ellerey danced well. He had earned the reputa

s difficult to distinguish

men. Indeed, I only know one man who has it in the fullest sense, in greater m

o two men. He seemed to be interested in the conversation, but at the same time took notice of every couple which

u have aught to conceal, Captain Ellerey, take care that the

aid Ellerey, as he guided his partn

cannot help. There would have been desperate work for yo

ould have p

red. "And turned some friends into enemies, Countess. Surely you mu

are in choosing my fr

y definite idea to which

cour

e asked in a whisper

s monsieur'

an so completely that she would make her interests identical with his own, and he could only explain her answer by pr

y certain of

I take great care in

ny reason for your f

u may que

which a woman was concerned. She found me after

her hand. "Do you imagine I should visit the Alt

that was

aptain Ellerey, and I am i

room. He had succeeded in making her angry, and had g

pardon me,

answer, as she turned away with another partner

r? I have noted several;

his arm Ellerey turned

lord; certainly not

difficult to diagnose sometimes. In the Court of Sturatzberg one has ample opportunity of studying it. I may be rig

ing, evidently expecting Ellerey

as he walked slowly by the Ambassador's side, striving in vai

he best atmosphere for a youn

haps

st me, Capt

when, m

n ever, although he did not say so. "You are thinking that I might have taken notice of a countryman before this," he replied. "Well, perhaps there is something in the thought. Still, you were not brought to

few, and, in truth, I have no gre

d Lord Cloverton, "for lately surely you have made many ne

been conscious of the

careful to stu

aking of t

t Lord Cloverton

ajesty is very gracious to all. I do not

I dropped two lumps of sugar into my coffee, instead of one. It made it abominable, and I had to leave it. But there is anothe

her than that. If you know my brother well enough to accept his opinion abo

rtainly, I seldom do in judging men I come in contact with. Sir Ralph, however, gives some promin

eyond my expectati

e y

me, my lo

o one near enough to overhear their conversation. Lord Cloverton glan

valry regiment on account of his cheating at cards and for other d

h gentleman and honorable soldier, whose services his King and country had no further need of. He was foully murdered by a lie. The Desmond Ellerey who has the honor t

e Ambassador stood looking after him unti