The King of Alsander

h a hint of the workman about him; his hair almost silver, his blue eyes and fair complexion as British as could be. There was little to suggest anything more interesti

tly rounded as a woman's. Of these eyes we can say but little; they were large dark eyes, but no poet can sing or painters paint the charms of the soul's windows. Even more beautiful was the mouth, on which hovered a smile. But though in the eyes of Arnolfo there shone a humorous sympathy, though his smile faded

one of my friends in my presence?" The Co

business has a British Consul with friends who outrage British subjects

unfortunate state of my arm, due as it is, and as I have already hinted, to excessive zeal in the public service. Also, I may in

nt him reeling against the wall. Norman was about to reply to this onslaught in ki

d a great deal to endure. I would think less of him if he had not hit

good clout on the head. Why don't you challenge me to a duel l

I will not fight you. Strange as it may seem,

f you are too frightened to fight, you must at least let me in my tu

ndship," said Arnolfo, and, turning to the Consul, he add

to such a man. He is rude, unmannerly, and dangerous, and not

Consul still seemed reluctant, he added in a whisper, "I comman

on. I have come on purpose to see you. I hastened here as soon as I was informed of your arrival. I want

d your friends have inflicted on me the most shameful degradation, and now you implore forgiveness and talk of sincerity. Are you, is this city,

sm in his gentle voice. "It gives you just that vitality which I have not got. It is exactly

keeper and as a conspirator. I agree with you that you are unfit to rul

let me tel

n that you have no further designs against me, I w

entle tone, "I have had enough of your British and barbarous sulkiness. I am the proudest man in Alsander, and I have let you strike me in the face. But I will not let you in

e incense fragrance of the strange room-had the Consul journeyed to China also?-hypnotized his will. He felt tired and carele

easant boy will tell you, is the guardian of the Princess. It was his plan that the Princess should be educated in Ulmreich, among a sober and wise people, where every facility would be obtainable to cultivate her mind and refine her intelligence. I will confess to you that it was his dream to seat a noble and wise woman on the throne of Alsander, even, if necessary, before the death, or at all event

and she is almost stupid. She grasps nothing, despite the most careful education that a woman could possibly receive. She has fits of piety and fits of melancholy. If that were all, married to a good husband, she might do pass

ent they do not know that they are missing anything. But my father and I love Alsander with a burning passion; we dreamt of Florence, of Athens, of Venice, of the great deeds that have been performed by little States; and night after night we used to discuss what could be done with Alsander. We considered a republi

he was getting at the truth at last, noted in his mind the weakness of the last remark-co

me almost with tears against his treachery, and I could hardly persuade him to let me go. But once arrived in Alsander I put on so brave an outward show, played with such gaiety the part of an elegant young man bent on nothing but pleasure, that

on you so strongly objected the other day. He told me that there was a plot in the plot which now he would reveal. 'Your father,' he said, 'has partly deceived you. We are not groping in the dark; we have a plan already formed, a plan fantastic and wild, but still a plan; and we have cherished that plan for years. It was necessary that we should be assured of your discretion and ability before inaugurating our conspiracy; yet we postpone

sed my as

ing. 'It was all arranged between your father and myself years ago. It had been actually necessary to seclude the King for a time, and

s,' I remarked, 'but I do not see how it w

his queer Jewish smile, and then

"That was a superb idea. Of course, if no one has ever seen the King, you can substitute anyo

more difficult task than those of the Oriental potentates. They had first of all to find a man suitable-and though all that is needed, after all, is a certain amount of honesty, energy and intelligence, for it's not so hard to manage a little State like ours, yet we soon discovered that most honest, intelligent and energetic men were, unfortunately for our purpose, already installed in worldly positions so enviable that they were not

was sanguine of success. He was

erjaculat

great Ode to the Sun. Sforelli, it seems, knew the old man well, and often declared to incredulous company that the supposed

Norman, "he

is feet were pulled to the village against his will at least seven miles on a hot summer afternoon, and all by the power of the Jinn! And now, though we feigne

man and looked down into his face and smiled. The world went

rule this country-let us not say a King-it sounds too foolish-you would not choose an English grocer, examine his f

situation got hold of us: we were inclined to make the most of it. It is not every day one examines a man for the post of King. And as for the rest-we had to frighten you-into secrecy,

I have a right to demand that? I only claim the just equi

d not accept the dishonour from you now. If you think me a coward-I am a coward, but I can overcome my cowardice. That is not my reason," the boy went on, holding out his han

said. "I do not care if you want to make me your jest again, or if you want to kill me, but I

rnolfo, with strange warmth. "However, I admit there are many difficulties

n, first of all! Or must I b

ur features altered, your colour changed, or a hair of your head displaced. In any case, the Royal Family were always fair. Krade

!" objected Norman. "Every one

t the land. It is a very pretty story, and will greatly enhance your popularity. Besides, the Old Poet in

an, "that the King was sent abroad to be

re expected. Not a detail has been forgotten by Sforelli. There

onsul?" ga

the British Government, tired of wanting a strong Tur

Vor

he young man, but with le

What shall we do with

panese, as simple as the Jiu-jitsu trick with which I felled you in the

anything to do with it," cried Norman

to him or to the world?" So saying, Arnolfo sat down in the

id Norman, pompously, shocked that his gentle companion should be capable

, as mad as Andrea. Come, I love argument; let's have it out. One life, one rotten, miserable life to buy the happiness of a country, and you won't spend it. You call it principle. When y

ilthy, cold-blooded murder. It isn't

with you inste

not like yo

of ethics in the world do you justify yourself? You are just frightened to do someth

feel

u kill a man who was just g

tain

whose existence do

nk my existence d

hat is worthl

e realm of ideas. "He lives with his ideal. His cobwebbed, cracked-plaster room is for him a most elegant palace; he sees the phantom courtiers al

justify a politic

is organized killing, does not. Unorganized killing means death not to one man here or there but to society. That is why we English, who think society a good thing, hate murde

ur action. Your act is, as you said before, in accordance with your feelings. I

terribly urgent t

ssibly be do

to a lunatic as

zed that the French Revolution has occurred. You are still a hundred years behind the Co

tress of the ethical argument from the hypnotic fascination to which he had succumb

you so desperately. This about the murder was only nonsense-to hear what you had to say, though I'm afraid the good Sforelli suggested it in earnest

f," said Norman. "Do y

t sacrifice: you are going to seize an all but worthle

lies to theft: I am helping to

ection you will not persist. You have not

them. It's a game-but it's worth playing. I don't care what awaits me-discovery-disaster

t of the mystery. I will prepare the rest as quickly as I can. About

er the stress of subdued emotion, laid his

e more thing, remember, I had almost forgotten," he added,