Princess Maritza

beside him. There were no sounds of hurrying feet in pursuit. He could not have out-distanced his enemies so completely in so short a t

y; the darkness might hold a legion of foes, and the silence be a trap to catch him. Ellerey found the door with difficulty, indeed by chance, for it was cunningly hidden. Whatever the danger, he must enter the garden again in search for his comrade. The door was shut, and as he felt along it from top to bo

t you,

t, then? Th

ght you were one of them, and just

t from the gate. Ellerey had supposed him

you h

grave in the garden for a certainty had it not been for the Baron's second, who stood over me when I f

rey answered. "Can

hang on to you, and w

something was said ab

, then; but I haven't

ere unlikely to be stopped and questioned, but with dawn it would be different. Ellerey was without his coat and cloak, there had been no time to seize them as he rushed from the garden, and he carried a grievously hurt man in his arms. The first peasant, trudging to his early toil, who caught sight of them would run and tell the news as he went. Such publicity was to be avoided at all costs, or there would be small chance of his being at the Toison d'Or, in the Bergenstrasse, to keep his appointment. Already a long, thin streak of gray showed low down in the east, a

called out, "I would

at him, then set down the

n. "An attack in the night by some ruffians who would have murdered us, good mother. My co

isting strangers,"

there not hone

, but there is that on your tongue

a secret? The time is coming when you shall have little enough

u are welcome," she ans

ay com

p of the woman and her grandson, who stared in wonder at their com

companion; "he lives close to the pa

a moment. He had been a true comrade, and Ellerey had given little thought to

desire to visit him just now. To invent a tale to satisfy the doctor would be difficult, and might well be left to the wounded man. H

d, "and there is something to help my poor thanks. Ca

nd paper were brought, and Ellerey wrote rapidly for a few moments; then tore the paper in hal

ter me quickly," he said, and then he went up

ents the boy

w the palac

es

f it there is a

he boy; "the foreigners

it squealing for mercy under the whip. Ask there for Dr. Go

ad no

know the statue of King Ferdinand there? I shall be beside it. Away

ey proceed with greater caution than he had ever exercised. Only a few in the dim light could have seen his face sufficiently to recognize him, but he drew the cloak up to his chin and concealed his face as much as possible. He avoided the larger thoroughfares, being undesirous

gered in a side street until he saw the lad ap

vered the

gave it me, and I said

" Ellerey returned. "H

ou earn

service in Sturatzberg so long as no one was near to offer a higher price for unfaithfulne

he lodging of a Captain called Ellerey. He h

all ha

f you loiter." And having watched the lad disappear, Ellerey went quickly down a side street, and by m

sh, perhaps, that were too much to expect, but with his wits clear. Sitting up, he glanced round the room for signs of his master's return, and, seeing none, grunted again in wond

ered without being heard. "Here's another street quarre

ngers through his hair to take some of the tangle out of it, shook his great frame to force his clothes into comfortable position, tightened his loosened belt, and took off his boots. For a

is master, there was no expression in his face to mark it. He was stolid and imperturbable; would have remained so probably had Ellerey been carried up the street dead on a shutter. He grunted now and

he was little interested. As the lad came nearer, however, the soldier became aware that the sleepy street was beginning to rouse itself. The blind in a window of the house opposite was drawn aside for a moment, and a face looked out. The aspect of t

where a Captain

bawl for information like that until yo

than I always do,

h your shouting. Come within the doorway, my lad, and whisper. Perhaps I'll catch the meaning

as he was told, and repeated

, but he's not abroad yet," said Stefan. "We do some

aid the lad, "I want

ce he lives here, too. W

abroa

ever sleep

," said the boy. "Will you bring me to th

hisper. He's of a deli

know, for

ed doubtful

hat t

ether you deal with men or women, though the women will bri

ive this pa

d read it, not without s

ave yo

know no mo

h way lies

oad towar

s morning, be a fool and forget. If your memory's too good, it's like enough some friend of mine will be

, s

nd, like a whisper bubbling up through water. I

e went in, and striking a match, burnt the paper

a liberal draught into the tankard. "A man gets rusty as an

such refreshment," sai

ntil three parts of the liquid was gone. Then he drew the back of his hand across his beard and mustac

ad told his master more than once that this servant of Captain Ellerey's was a drunkard an

the good tidin

me, because you don't

ancois. I h

Then is your disea

reet corner she'd wait awhile to see me pass, and she'd remark on the cut of my features and the stalwart looks of these legs of mine. I took no notice, but her love was proof against a trifle of that kind. She'd 'make a husband of me some day,' she said, and t

s shoulders, thinking wha

Monsieur Francois-'There's a fat woman you're afraid of because she's going to marry you.' I sweated from every hole in my skin, thinking the time had come. Then says he: 'You needn't be afraid any more. She was married yesterday to a timber-cutter from Breslen way, and he'll tame her fast enough like you might a hungry sparrow in winter time.'

tiful," sa

n fondling a woman. Ugh! What bring

essage for

onsieur De

y messages f

me quickly, and you sha

e morning air out of

it to the Capta

tefan, "am I not to

Francois, "you spoke of it just now. Monsieur De Fr

d I am content, but distrust me, and my ears are ever on the stretch to catch news which I may use to my advantage. But I

So e

stars often, and on his return sighs like a gatheri

hman nodded sy

find a market f

st word that sticks in my throat. I've never let out secrets before, may

enchman followed eagerly, laughing at his companion's simplicity. It would be strange

, as Stefan went down into a cellar, bidding

here. Here's wine should make you dream to your heart's content. The Captain will think that it has leaked somewhat. Scurvy trea

and to his

a copious draught, while Francois

ng's palate,"

eur, nectar! My secrets bubble to my to

oney, Stefan. After al

in to

nkard and lowered his voice

g nearer to his companion. "The Captain did not return

an, what else?" said t

e house opposite not an hour ago. What

vain that he tried to free himself. He was no match against the muscles Stefan had shown him a little while ag

u as soon as it is safe to do so; and if it will save your character I'll let your master in the Altstrasse know that you did your best to carry out his instructions and make a fool of me. Should you be able to drag yourself about presently you have

-satisfied smile, a strapped-up bundle under his arm, and

halted when they had ridden out of sight, and turned aside to reach the Breslen road. The last to go was Stefan. He went by th