DR. SILEX.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 199, 20 August 1904, Page 14

DR. SILEX.

By HARRIS EURL.AHD. Author of "Dacobra," and "The Unspeakable Thing."

CHAPTER XXIII. (Continued). i A strange and new light Hashed into her face, and my heart grew cold as 1 watched her features. Then it died away and gave place xo a quick look cf horror ar.d disgu.'c. "I unde: .--.and you. Count Guv." she answer, j; -t:ic kin-.- is fortunate in having such a servant. 1 did not know it was }>o .-ib'.e to buy the honour cd' a kuight o: .'■■ -tur"i.i.'' fc l enn ii".ir y ir trtunts." he >uhi in a passion!..*.- vo.co; "ws are discus-dti" hu-doe- •- now. I Wave made you an offer it ml have named the price." She urjvi-J nw.-.v i"om the window, and her l.c: -iru.-k Lhe sword that lay upon t'ne 'locr. liho stopped suddenly and laughed. "1 understand you :v.w, Count Cny." she said ccm.e:i:pU:oi;i'\ ; "you have played the part id an anient lover to perfection. You have not been wooing mc, but a liin.__.om. H.v yourself you could never reach the throne. I em th.' daughter of a king to whose memory all the poorer class,--, are still devoted. If I were by your si' 1 -; lhe whole country would rise and support our arm-. I am your steppinu'stoiie. aud you letup! mc with nn ofh r cm flint which is nearest and deare-t to my hetirt. I do understand you. Sir City —now.'' He made a -c--o toward.: her. rtyd caught her by tli.» wtisls. "ilv all the saints!"' he cried c 1.;!, "you do tae a great wrong. Lady Tiiura. It is not I who have tempted you. It is you who have tempted me—to sacrifice my honour as a knight. 1 love you more than a thousand kingdom--. Can you noc read it in my face. Can you not, hear it in mv voice?" She looked nt him coldly. "When 1 was in England.'' :, :e said. "I saw n,e:i and women pretend to h ■> what I '■■•'•' were nc;t aid i.-L- 1 ' emotions that tl-e.V did not >•■'. — for :'.'■ ,;.p.-.isi>t>ieat cf i v '. \ people. Thy li-h-u-d the passion of lovi* most ivoiu"'•'r.'lly." '•You will drive 1-. ru.ul," iie cried hoarsely. "Thine is. ho v. i \ it." -he eon! it -'."n i l cold, even ton".'. '",'■ >"■ f-,| to v i the unes'i'm of '-.•'.. It i - indlirct ■a. to mc w'l'-'.her y.; I v'- tne or n--' - save, p.M ban I : ,i * oiy >'- t ruat! vani f y i- j litt::- ;■•:-.; •d. Y-\.v ■':■>■ posed \j. ■•;::•.in ; - ■.: ><;'i'Ay <■■■ ;-1•. i .•:.!! one. 1 do not l.,ve ;■■■•. cud it is p--r----haps hetivr that Ci.e.-- ---lould he no sentiment on i it iie" si 'v." "You :-.< ri'r'-t." he vjilie-l in a '.oie? as cul.n as Iter "It is pure'; matter of bu-:i'i'«•■•. l.c. on mc a : ati inslrttmcnl, a nc f ■ to .-,.' cr.-', an opportunity cf ;.i-:i: i'yl.'l'r [hi! lf)e ]f:V! cf your heart — lite >'•'•.fare of vot'r couitirv. (On the ■,;-.•■ iinnl, L sell \ >tl an aioii •■' ami -1.-'" -: ' : ■ -11 ' " "On li - other." • :••■ i.-pled, "I f>!l you t'i" 1..y to th • hear':; of the people ■ —a-"! cv-'-lf. I: : - v, ell to be plain aU- the matte-.-." "It h well tv he plflin," he snid. "Th ure !'«,.■> terms. Do you acee|ii, or rc-- ; -e them?'' ■•' i- moved otic" mure lo the window nnd looked out to where the great harrier of ice stretched along the horktou. From the look hi her face 1 think she rr-ali ed that Count Guy had ipoketi the truth. The fate of the expeciitiV.'. was sealed. Her followers were it. < in a trap, waiting until their to:.chfwe to kill them. My heart was sick with pain and appre'e'-n-ioii. t-he recall fulfil her dearc-t hope., and ambition with n single word, and with lite same word could -trikc out u'l the happiness from tny life. Count Ouy can'" lo her side. "P ■• fore you choo«e." he sah.l. "1 would

pla< c lhe matter clearly before you. [• can fulfil my pari of the hnrgain. The j kin<r has oppressed iii« country, r.n.l his , throne is totter rig on its foundations.] You yourself have uaict that 1 support i it. If I withdraw mv support, thei kingdom falls. 1 will lake no adv.uit- ] age of you. .1 wiM not risk you lo merry j mc until you buve been rrciwrted <Jueen ] vt Asturnia. There wiil be no mis- : alliance. The blood of king* runs in ! my own veins." j She was still -iieiit nnd looked out across tho ice. And even ns sin- look- i cd. the (Vreat Fires suddenly died out i and the night began. And* with them I all hope died out from my heart. For 1 had expected an' indignant re- ' jeclion of the U ilVr, .. few seat! 'ng ' words of scorn, a sharp di.-.tni-wal of the' subject. But she was only silent. "Do you know, ho," he coiuinupd. that your follower* are in revolt 1 They have watched tho iep close iv upon them until ti-ey .. n . sick with terror. Three-quarters of the men ure for leaving you to y.,ar fate. Any moment these ships of yours n . av ~„ W( , at ;„ search of some, escape from their prison. « is tio time for maidenly scruples and delays. Remember that this is merely v. marriage of convenience, and remember, too, that tomorrow you may ],nk frnm that window and see nothing but an empty waste of ice and sea." "How do you know this?" <=iie> asked quickly, without looking at him. "I have been in correspondence with your leaders," he replied; "I have suggested to Sir T.'uile Je Brie the possibility of my assistance." "And did you mention the price you ask?" " ' "'Xo. I did not mention tbe price I ask. i do not ask it of Sir Thule de Brie." Again there was sih'ime, nnd I heard nothing but the beating of my own heart and the rustling of the rushes, ns Count Guy stirred them with one of his feet. "Remember y>>ur ] ( >ve for your country,' he said, lifter a p;'.use; "remember your oppressed people." But still there- was silence. I "You followers have sacrificed their ' lives in this cause.," lie continued. "Are you not prepared to sacrifice anything?" But still there was sil?-ncp. Then suddenly I saw the face of the Princess faintly silhouetted against the window. I started, for the only light outside that I knew of was due to the reflection from the city lamps and the sky. And this could not be occasioned by any such cause. But even as I looked, the patch of sky changed from grey to pink, and from pmk to crimson, till the glare of it was reflected on every ■wall of tbe room. "What is happening!" the Princess cried, pointing out across the sea. "what aTe those fires springing to light in the bay?" He looked out into the glare, and in the reflection of it I saw a smile of triumph on his face. "They are your ships." he said quiet* ire burning; they will never

•Ts this your work?" she cried pa - j sionatciy, turning on him as though she j would strike him in the face. i "It. is \he work of those who love you." he answered, "it is *he best replyto those who would leave you to your j late, i suggested it to Sir Thule de j Lrie whan ho sent word of the threatened j mutiny. By all the paints! he will not j he popular with his men to-night.'* i Toe Princess buried her face in her i iiar. is and was silent. The sight of the j burning :-hips mu.-t have tilled her mind with a multitude of thoughts. These j .<icii were now bound to ncr for life or death. There was no turning buck:. Their very lives were given into her hand, and foe question that would de- ! cide their fate was still unanswered. Count Guy was not slow to press his point. "Lest they should draw back." he murmured. "Sir Thule de Brie could not have done this by himself. There are others, not men of this country, who hay sacrificed themselves that you may be Queen of Asturnia. These rash fellows know their duty. Are you going to leave them to their fate?" The Princess did not answer, but I knew that she had heen driven into a comer. If I had only had my revolver I could have cut the whole tangled skeiu of ruse and argument. But 1 was unarmed, aud the man I had to deal with could have crushed mc with one hand. "Have you no duty to your country?" he continued, and his voice was very tender. Sha drew herself up and looked at him with a face of stone. '•Count Guy," she said in a hard voice, "I will give you your answer to-morrow morning. I must lutve the night in which to think it over. When lam by myself I Khali be able to weigh things more clearly in. my brain." He bowed, and raising her hand, to his lips, turned on his heel and left the room. Wh?'.i the elai—: of his steel had died awcy. I flung myself from my place ef concealment with hot words of auger and passion on my lips. Tbe Princess mnve'd toward* mc, and by the glow of ! the burnt v.j ships I could see the expres- | .i(.,;i on lur face. It wa« <mch that Ij .-..•.i\i ii ii sjvak. Pain aivj doubt and I )v ~• ;,«,] n:,Me resolve wore -o miur'eil ! :-. ; ;i her cimr.tei—nee tnut all thought | o,' -.-It was thrust aside. I read the u*iwer =he would give Count Guy of M.irlivi el. ■\\v dear lady." I whi?peied. "can I ii •!;. ruj?'' ■i-; your =dl<-r..'-r." she replied: ''by le-ivi'mr'—i'-nM what would bins my true j-.;-!"mi"U. Y r y good and kind friend. I. ■ 'h- ■'■■■ ,-i : 'rrat burden to bear, and I must i>,ar if alone."' "i knew. 1 know,*' I answered, 'and ! w.uild help y.-.u." '"You do r.o'. know all.'' she said, turnips* her eyes away from mine. I took h°r

hand end lilted it to -my lips, -but when 1 recalled who had kissel it V\st, I dropped it as though it" had stung mc, and (•■nt to the doer with bowed head and clenched hand.;. At the door 1 turned, and for one brief mom: nt 1 imagined 1 saw a look of love and pity upon her face But. when 1 lookrd again 1 saw nothing but a cold iv.tJ: of stone, gazing out into tbe red ■.'lave on the sea. I CHAPTER XXIV. j TIUO DEATH KONC. ! The next morning I beard from one of i the pages that the Lady Thora had consented to become the wife of Count I Guy of Marmorel. An hour later we ' were summoned to a meetintr iv the great j hall of lhe castle. It was lull to its utmost extent with a moving mass of pen- j nous and plumes and spears, and the low , '. murmur that ran through the throng;

sii.rvi'd mc that expectation and discus- j '>•< n ran his.i. In a few minutes the ■ ! m.'ititude ot men had settled itself into jn mere orderly disposition. The knights j btoc.d i:i long ranks oi steel and blazonry j : dose to the great dais at the end of j ! the hall, next to them the squires and) p.:gc». and then stretching to the other j 1 end a close mass of archers and men-at- I : arms. I I (in the. dais itself were placed two j ! chairs, and behind these stood Sir Hugh j I de la Perchc. Lord Fulk of Brubaneou, i tin? Lord of Alarmontien, and ; r Ca-e- j i chi de Varaville. who were, next to j j Count Guv uf Marmorcl, the foremost I soldiers of the kingdom. They spoke | i with one another in a low voice, and I j I tried in vain to glean from iheir impas- I 1 s-ive faces how they looked upon this 'desperate move. 1 could not doubt that ' ihr\ viewed it with some degree of I Livoui;. Count Guy was too keen a ' dinlotn.it and too wary a soldier 1o have j made v false step ft seemed phiin to j ; mc thai he had already sounded, the most. ! inllucntial men uround him, and was i [unlikely to say anything which would ' bring the sword of every loyal subject | i to 1 is breast. This was but the lina! j I move in a long-premeditated and 'thought-out game. The knights would ! be on Ids side. For the common soldiers j , he would care little, in a kingdom | where internecine wars were so fierce; i and so constant as to have kept down j the population tor eight centuries, they 1 j would tare little what master they served so long ns they saw their way " ! to victory and a certainty of being paid - theii wages. It would rest with the i • knights, their feudal lords, to direct their wills and energies. j Then a sudden hush came over the 1 whole assembly, and the murmurs died 1 away like falling echoes. I looked at the I dais' and saw an open door behind the chairs, and beyond it the bright light from some lamp, and silhouetted against the light the tail figure of a man. He i paused but for one second, and then 1 stepped forward a pace, closing the door send advancing towards us. It was Count Guy of Marmorcl, clad from head I to foot in complete armour, with his ' blazoned shield on his left arm, and his right hand upon his sword. He gave one keen glance round the whole room. as though estimating the exact attitude of every man's mind, and spoke to the point without beating about the bush. "Knights of Asturnia," he said, and his voice had the ring of confidence in every word, "knights of Asturaia, and you my faithful followers, who have been with mc through years of battle, I have that to tell you aloud which most men wotdd whisper in the council chamber. T have to-day resolved to take a step which may plunge this unhappy country more deep in blood than it has ever stood before yet which shall purge it from much evil." lie paused, and watched the fa-ces of his listeners. I may do them a wrong, bnt it seemed that tho prospect of hard fighting illuminated their features with the light of fierce joy. "With my own hand." he continued,' "I net your king upon his throne—with :

my own hand and by your help. It seenled that the good of the nation required it, and that much wrong would be righted theruby. 1 was mistaken, as bettor men have been mistaken before mc. The land has groaivd under lhe hand of a tyrant. The people cry oui te lieavcn, and God has answered them. Tc-day I give myself for an instrument of vengeance into His hands." He paused again, and among the soldiers, every man looked at his neighbour with a grim face and questioning eyes. The knights alone, as i expected, gave vent to no expression of surprise, but I heard the faint shivering rattle of steel itin through their ranks, and I fancy more than one of them loosed his sword from its scabbard. Then a io'.v murmur ran through the assembly, end it swelled into loud question-, and the clank of weapons en tbe stone Hour. Then a single voice cried "Traitor!" above the tumult, and a moment Inter f heard the groans of a dying man drowned in the swell of a great acclamation. The men had spoken. They themselves had sprung from the masse.? and knew the burden laid upon them. They had only watched for a leader, and now

he stood before their eye*, a man tri- j uinphant in war, the first soldier of the] kingdom. They knew not wbither he! lead them, but they were re-1 solved to follow. Count Guy raised his hand, the noise died away like a passing .storm, and the room was still ouce. more. "There is in our midst,"' he continued, "a lady, by the fortune of war a captive, by birtli one of the highest in the land, f. myself in my mistaken zeal thrust her from her inheritance. She and her followers have fought lor the crown against surpassing odds. She lias the welfare of the nation at heart, She has sacrificed much to return lv it. She would follow in tbe footsteps of her father. To whom should the crown go but to this lady to whom it rightfully belongs?" A loud murmur of approval ran through tire assembly, and it gradually swelled into a roar of applause. The knights alone preserved a dignified silence, and some of them frowned. "I will bring her before you." said tiie Count, "and you shall tell her your answer to my question." and with these words be passed through the door, closing it beli—d him. When he had gone a loud buzz of conversation filled the hall. The knights gathered themselves into littie group.', and appeared to be engaged in warm disputes \viih one another. Thru the door was llunp open, aud followed by Count Guy there appeared si vision <o glorious that I hi; vri'.'k' multitude stricken with tilenee. It was the Pr.in cvss herself. .-'he- swept across the dais before their astonished eyes as 1 had one;' seen her before. a glory of cloth of gold and jewelled crown. A- 1 looked upon her tweet fac-e, white as death, ber, niacinflce.nt in its pride and umrnlin—<s, there Hon ted b"fore my ryes a darkened room, with lows of musty books, and piles of suauce and curious objects hcap-d upon the Iloor. I could almost hear ibe voice of John Silver saying. "The L'niic'ss! My Princess! and perhaps one day— j yours." ...

' I looked around mc with blinking eyes, and it flashed across mc tluu 1 was looking on a familiar scene. The knights in armour, the hall of a. great fortress, the solid mass of men-at-arms; I had seen all these before in the darkened room at Silent Square. But the scene was real enough now, and in the -midst of it, like some golden star, stood the Queeu of Afclurma, a woman who had conquered tin- hearts of every man who had ever seen her. and who now Had | uicunplied over hc-r own heart a- well. My memories wue swept, from mc by a terrific burst of cheering, by the loud clamour of trump*—, by the clang and clash of arms, and lor the space oi quite three minutes the air glittered with waving swords and spear.-, and pennons. My dear lady looked on the scene with j y gracious smile. She had a pari \o j play and a popularity to win, and only I two men in the hall knew the. culd pain ! that gripped her heart. Sho bowed | and moved a little forward, leaning on j the arm of fount Guy of Marmorel. Then she opened i-er lips as though to -peak, and the tumult died into silence. ! "My people," the said, in a clear voice, '"my people, 1 thank you. I ha\c only lived that ,>uok a day a-; ihis might come.'' Then her strength forsook her. Sim buried her face in her hands and shook with cmo'.ion. Count i Guy led hc-r to one of the chair?, and. j uheu slic was scaled, he stood by her I side with drawn sword ai;d a fteice | proud loede on his face that boded ill | for any who should dispute his lignt to 1 stand there.

"Knights and men of Asturnia." he said. "1 would have you know that the throne of this kingdom is no place for an unprotected woman. She needs by her side one with a grave nnd subtle mind to advise her, and with a strong right arm to enforce her This gracious lady has been pleased t.o choose one who. though far too unworthy to kiss her hand, has in some small measure the qualities which will ensure the strength of her government. She has done mc the honour to consent to he my wife, and I am prepared to uphold her position against all-comers." He advanced a step, and loosing his gauntlet from his left hand, flung it with a crash on the stone steps of the dais.

For a moment no one in the hall stirred or spoke. Then Lord Fulk, of Bmbancon, a grizzled noble of the Northern Province, moved a little forward from his place.

'Surely, Count Guy of Marmorel," lie said sternly, "this act is unnecessary. You are among friends, and, if what you have told us be the lady's free and unbiassed will, we are prepared to uuhold her choice. I think I express the thoughts of my comrades and their followers."

J Every man thundered out a tumultuous "Aye." and the air once more ran? j with shouts of approval and greeting". i Count Guy smiled and stepped forward to pick up his glove. But before he reached the step on which it lay, I saw him stop, and it seemtrd as ihough lie were listening to something. The cheers ceased, and the eyes" of everyone in the hall wei* on him.' They, too, were wondering \«Ay he did not pick up his gauntlet from the stone. And in the silence which ensued they heard a sound which had never been heard in the land before. Someone was playing a violin.

But though the instrument was strange to them, the music itself must have spoken very plainly to their minds, for I never saw so great a look of horror and consternation shadow the faces of a multitude. Men's countenances grew dark, their lips parted, end their eyes stared at Count Guy of Marmorel, who still paused at the edge cr? the steps and listened.

<- By the saints, what music!" whispered D'Arev to mc.

And music it was, Cordeaux, of such a high order that I felt the wail of its notes in my eara like a song of despair

irrd death. And, as I listened, I realised :hat I had heard the tune before, and I shuddered at the recollection. Count Guy stepped forward, livid with fury. "What folly is this?" he cried. "Rievaulv. take a hundred men and srareii the castle; lock the gates, and do not come back to mc until you have hung the musician from the highest lower." The men began to leave the room, aud ior a few minutes the music was drowned by the clatter of steel as they pushed their way out of the throng. But when they had disappeared, there was nothing to be heard but the wail of the violin. Everyone in the room listened to it in silence, and I could not understand why the sound had so great an effect ou them. The Lady Thora alone stood with a wrapt expression on her face, as though she were listening to some nuisie of the

spheres. Xow that the men had departed, there was a grim smile on the Count's lips, but the sword in his hand quivered

as though it would fain be buried in some one's heart. Then he abruptly moved forward to his gauntlet and picked it up from the floor. And, as he did so, the music ceased.

"Men of Asturnia." lie cried, '"my challenge lias remained unanswered. You .".'.re. soldiers, and uot to be frightened by tne. pranks of a juggling minstrel. You know mc for your leader, and with you behind ute, I will ring out such music with this sword that the whole land will dance to it." Ke was indeed a leader of iron. His words acted like a spell on the assemblage, and they broke once more into a tumult of acclamation. Then he and the Lady Thora disappeared through the doorway, aud the meeting broke up. As we left the room I asked lVArcy why the tune had produced so extraordinary an effect on the soldiers. "It is the death song of the First Lord of Argenteuil," he answered, '"the great wizard and prophet of our country. It is only played at the death of a member of the Royal House." Tivt 1 remembered whom I had last heard p'av the nielodv. aud wondered for whose ears John Silver had sent this ghostly message from the grave, and whether it were meant for Count Guy of Marmorrl. for Charles the Red. for Sir Tattle de Brie, or for the Lady Thora of Astr.rnia. (To be continued Wednesday next.)