THE HEIR TO THE THRONE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15552, 9 March 1914, Page 3

THE HEIR TO THE THRONE .

BY ARTHUR W. MARCHMQNT, Author of "By Right of Sword." " A Dash for a Throne," " For Love or Crown,'* "When I was Czar/ "la the Name of the People." "The Man Who was Deaa." " The Queen's . Advocate." "In the Name of a Woman," " A Courier of Fortune," etc.

COPYRIGHT. CHAPTER XIH. CRISIS. I took out my cheque-book therefore. "If your Highness will' honour me by allowing me to repeat what I did on a former occasion," I murmured. " That was not for a moment in my thoughts," he declared with a protesting wave of the hand; but his look of relief at the sight of my cheque-book contradicted both words and gesture, and he made w»y for me to use his desk.

It was then that I learnt the reason I for the angry impatience he had shown at the commencement of the interview. 1 wrote the cheque for £600 and was rising with it in my hand when the door was opened quickly and Evala entered. A flush spread over her face at the sight of me, and for an instant she paused and drew herself up. But the colour ebbed ' as she saw the cheque and she crossed the jroom quickly. "What is that?" she asked, pointing to ■ it.

Her father was intensely disconcerted, and fumbled hopelessly for the words to answeT her. " You should —I—really, Evala—-I am engaged and—you must not —not interfere."

" Sir lan, you will tell me?" Her eyes were shining with anger as she turned upon me. - I was scarcely less disconcerted than the prince. "It is—a cheque," I murmured, fatuously. " Allow me to see it,!' and she held' out her hand.

"Really, Evala, I—" But a glance from'her silenced him. Prince though he was, head of her house and her father, he was as running water in her firm young hands.

" You will show me that cheque, Sir lan," she said, very quietly, but with iron resolve in her tone and manner.

" I must ask your Excellency to excuse, me," I replied, however. "I insist, Sir lan." she said, her glorious eyes fixed angrily on mine. "With all respect.'l must decline." Then she did a very feminine thing. She just took it. % "I was sure of it," she cried, flashing round in hot anger upon the discomfited prince. " Sir lan Calmadale is the man who killed Olaf, and we cannot accept his help nor take what is nothing less than blood-money.'' And she tore it up and handed the pieces back to me. She was magnificent in her anger, and 1. admired her more than eve* at that moment. But there was only one thing for me to doto go- So I murmured an excuse to the prince and bowed myself out.

She was too indignant to take the slightest notice of my departure. But I was content to go thus unacknowledged. I knew that my time would come—-when I took her brother back to her—and I could wait for that moment of revenge. A real lover's revenge.' When I reached my flat Dragb had arrived, and in order that ,he might see Simmons we went for a short spin. in the park, and I told him my suspicions. i" I have never seen the man before," r ; he' declared positively- "I do not easily forget a "face," Sir lan—one bf the four gifts I share with if I had ever seen him I should know him instantly." " ; , c '"' : | '*•-'•' When we got back I told him some of my experiences at Alton the difficulties that had to be i overcome; my idea of! passing a night in the house; arid my alternative—to fall back upon a forcible; rescue of Count Olaf. . * :

"I can help you in that, if you wish it. Sir lan. I fan put my hand on three or four men who can be absolutely trusted to do what is wanted and hold their tongues afterwards. If you fail to-morrow —and Hammond is a difficult man to trick —wire, me and' I'll bring .them down by the next train. I'll be prepared in any case. And now would yon care to % Hear the news "at the Chase, or has the prince told you this afternoon?" " . I could not refrain my surprise.. "How do you know I have ! seen him?" He smiled with the same enjoyment he had shown before when astonishing me; " Is it quite fair to ask me to explain how it is done?" , ' , " "Fair or unfair, you have amazed me." "Yet it is so simple. The prince is a most careless man; For- one thing, he never posts his own letteri; for another, he writes in such a bold flowing hand that his blotting-paper tells tales. The ■ rest is inference. Your appointment was for four o'clock; you left here soon afterwarjils?your man told me that—and you have returned just.when you would have had time for the interview. You see,""'and" he Spread his hands arid smiled again, "Tell me about the Chase matters, then." ■■' \'-'V,"-""■• : .',-;\'-:'

"Von Bergstein is determined to separate you and His Highness. He has therefore threatened to cut off supplies. He has labelled you as dangerous,: Sir lain; and if he can help it you will rievet again set foot in the Chase. The countess is at daggers drawn with him on account of the suppression of your letters—which, by the way, he explained as the work of a secretary who has been packed off back to Buda, and she did not : believe him. result is that he is hastening other plans/ and you must be careful of those about you and hasten things on your side- Til find but everything about this man; Simmons, and let you know. I am, however, convinced that there is nothing in your suspicions. You are sure of your valet?"

" Richards? I'd answer for him as for myself." . ' '/.''■''/•" '%:-■/.' r_.', "Good- He looks a' stupid /feGow': enough to be honest.' But I am altogether at sea if there is not a crisis in the affairs at the Chase, and for that reason /wouldurge you to let me know instantly if yon' fail to-morrow, and we will act together the next day. > I promise you we shall not fail then." •

I With the feeling of confidence that success, in one way or the other, was only a matter of hours, I returned to Alton on ! the following day, and on the run down I I explained to Simmons the arrangements I had made in regard to Branch. He did not like it, and suggested that if he had known I needed a second man he could have found one very easily. But his objection was nothing to me, so I dismissed the subject with a curt reminder that there must be.no friction. I had far more important matters to occupy my thoughts. I was on the eve of a really vital development, and Evala's attitude when she had intervened so dramatically in the meeting with Prince Osca had emphasised how completely the situation would bs altered by the liberation of her brother.

The fact that Count. Olaf was alive must involve drastic changes in the political cause which she had at heart. She would no longer be the heir in succession to the prince, and how that vital fact would affect the whole 6cfeeme it was difficult to foresee.

But my interest in the development was personal; its effect upon the relations Between Evala and myself. She had been splendid that afternoon in her indignant protest against taking " blood-money" from me and in repudiating the offer of any services of mine. 1 could afford to smile at her scornful anger, because i knew that within a few hours I should be able to show how unfounded that anger was. —

How would she act when she learnt that there was no barrier between us that there never had been one; arid that instead of it, the fact that it was I -who restored the count to her was ill reality a link to unite us? / //5/.v.;/v

my revenge wonia u« complete; suet I indulged in glowing; anticipations of the , ' moment when I should take the count to the Chase and tell her the whole story. Soon after I reached Moorside Ham-' mond called: "On his way.to the WychL. . from the town," he explained. I wait:; pleased by the incident, as, with one as." / ception, it was the first time he had been in the house,, • '■■ '"."' His object was soon clear. " Have you " thought any more about our little . chat I- ' ".. yesterday morning?" he asked, opening •• >\ •he fell., : ' ' ;' ", "',"~ ~...,. "I'm afraid not. My time was very r much occupied." *"" " Oh, then, never mindonly it's get- ' ting rather urgent." •''«■,' ; "Tell me now over a cigar," I sug».." gested. :; He was almost as discursive as the:... prince had been over his "own few per- £ sonal needs," and spoke with a voluble en- * thusiasm about his research work, quite ■ surprising in view of his usual taciturnity. "1 expect my enthusiasm astonishes you; ' Mr. Seymour," he said as I'wrote the cheque; " but the fact is, I haven't a soul about me to whom I can ever speak of it. Vigor and Crossley are good fellows, but,. in the first place, they are patients and,' in the second, neither of them cares a but- ■ ton for science." "I have been very much interested," I " said ; untruthfully, so far as my scientific ' . interest was concerned. " . . " You're the only man I have ever. - breathed a word to about it. And I suppose that, when one gets on the subject * of a hobby one can't help rambling on and on almost without end. You'll be. with us this evening, I hope? " "Certainly. .After my dry business in town, it'll be a relief to let myself go," I replied, to prepare him " for my "drunkenness." ".By the way, you won't mention the matter of research to the others. They don't understand it and—it only bores them, you know." " I don't expect there'll be much chance, doctor. Cards and whisky will be the main thing to-night, probably." " Well, that's true. They're much more , in their way. I needn't say how much 1 ; am obliged to you, I am sure." " Don t mention it," I replied; and I might have added that he would not have "■. been had he known my motive. I was indeed extremely glad that he had chosen just that time to get a further loan from me, and as he could not cash my cheque ■ until the following day, he would be all ' the more unwilling to risk a ouarrel with , me that night, lest 1 should stop payment. *: I had very few preparations to make. : My intention was to have both my cars iin waiting; Simmons with one at the I front and Branch with the other .at the? > j back; but not to Jet the two men know.",, ! flhe arrangement? After what. I : had i learnt in London about Simmons I ' : thought it prudent to trust him as little * . j as possible and to rely mainly on Branch, ." ! and as he had not been to the Wycli I ran i over the ground with him. *" ' ;'' " V r "I shall give you a chance to-night of I completely regaining my confidence,. i Branch," 1 told him. "Can T trust' I you?" '/ - ;•. .-".- i:, -..,;. | "I hope so, sir. TU do my best.' ■*-?*■£*> [ "Now, I want you to .take partieulaf--j notice of this place, the Wych. The,*: j house stands' in the middle of ■ that clump.i.: - jof trees you see there, and there in a KSa'd~" • j running right around it at much about this ! distance. There are two gates— one, ; leading to the front of the house',' and the" ] other, which I'll show you - directly,- to-: - the back. Turn up here to the right." '.''" ' . j We ran at a slow nace along "the road " . j until we came to the second gate. :<-<•"*<- ■<*■*: , ' Now you have got to know every,inch7„ ' I of that road perfectly,; for the Whole:oi'>* •mv purpose may depend upon your know- - : >: ) ledge. lhere are two gates, on'it this A>> '-" one opening upon the lane and the farther'' one which you can see yonder. That is.7 atrTtt forty or fifty yards from the belt" * - of. trees. .7°? will bring the car there- ; '."- at two o clock in the morning and waitfor'me. You will riot' take' the car back* " • home now) but drop me somewhere and;, ■ Tiin_ on mto Alton. I shaU tell Simmons : that something'* gone wrong with- it ahd' -, S5 ssJsSd^* ifc there^ i »^ pS. yes ' "'" * «^-«M««*» „^ YI)U i m9?t $. m come over"b^re : OTlioot : - ! - •Vw up s ba^ and- a t ttd y. lfe , for there , a f e ;^ m ; , ngly bits; and a myshap. c any; sort may ' be. extremely; serious. % en £, , *'W- ~*<* b*ye .the .ear ;e at .'the £*ppt :'*W pointed ont to. you by, two '/ must be careful to steal along aV noise- — lesuly . as* possible, without iK „?". •. ; Agates aiSfeepi ; '^ m everything clear for us.to rush awav ?L ', . the instant I arrive. And mindV theT^ «9nt gate at two o'clock and to wait for ' me 1 told km to have a full supplVof petrol as.we might nave a long night run. , ~ *^o uu - When I reached the house the doctor-. came lip with; a more than usually worried ' m* Q : lie gff* te fegfc with, ah apology, ■ Mr. Seymour. I'm sorry, to say,'.' slud - as we _ shook hanas. " I really "felt at first -' . that I ought to have put you off, but Vigor said he was 'sure you wouldn't-', mind. • - ,„ - ' » » " Something ■ gone ' wrong, ' then •' ■<• very much gone/ wrong..- 'When 1 -v" got back; just.now, I found that my ser- - vants—l. have a man and his wife, you ''i - know—had had a wire that their daughter > ? - • was dying and had rushed off "thin, arid - ' £**"*-. ~X can tdo much in the way of " .hospitality at• the • best of time!?,l'm ' afraid, but this'll be worse rbttehine it.: than ever." " -, -v' ™ .■- -: •";-'" j "Don't worry .on my , account. It won t trouble ine in the least," T said/. secretly delighted that the -servants would ; ' be out of the : way. • ' " : ~' ■ . x ,''; lt 's^ er ,y ■ good of; take i it'like t V" '"" : ,that. but all, we shall be able to manage will be some chops, and, as..Vigor, and'. Crossley are 'cooking them and don't know i ' much about it," I can't answer 'for the-re-: -'/ . suits. ' ... ■.-,,. //:'< '■"; ; .;,'-. " They won't have to cook the whisky/ • at any rate, that's a blessing; and:Jt?s / • more thirst,than hunger thai troubles me- - . Let's go.and see the chefs at work," andi."' I laughed as we went into the kitchen;-"f" ' I was glad. to' notice, that both Vigor,. .. and Crossley had. already been "pegging" ' pretty stiffly, and when Hammond left ns ** & they produced a bottle of and bad.- ' some more. '- '-■■"*';■,■:■ i "';'.'":.'. The cooking was anything.but a" sue/"cess, and Hammond was so put v out about/" it that he scarcely spoke a' word during'; ;'' ' the meali But we three made up"-for - : him. Although I was. able to "drink •-" deeply without being iri the least affectod, I soon began to.pretend .that -it was get-- '•■'• ting into my'head. ' I declared.that very" """ little affected-me, and thus had very small doses of whisky and large ones of : soda .water. ■//.//':.:..... ' I became very .laughed up* „ / roariously at the silliest jokes, grew" con- i?.* ' fidentially reminiscent about my. ,imag/■■"•" mary past, boasted of things I had neve* done— a word, was as unlike niyself as possible. • r■. Then we had cards. Bridge at first, in which Hammond joined, and afterwards ■■■' flap; and all the time I became more'arid - ; more intoxicated, until at length. I pre-, tended that I could not distinguish, the .„,. cards, playing clubs for spades and dia- ;;_■; morids for hearts, and grinning like a fool - when the blunders were pointed"out to me. • •" ■ ■ .; ■•-;._ ? / .«, Soon after "midnight I collapsed'. The '' two men. first. tried to shake some sense; into me, and then one df them, fetched Hammond. ' ■ ■- - ■-» <■'', ~__. r , " He's dead drunk," said Crossley: '"V"t? "And you two are not much betterw he retorted, very sharply. " Yon .ought/.« I to be ashamed of yourselves for having* I let him get like this. You'd better go jto bed and leave him to me." "Has his car come?" asked Vigor. " * - "Go and see. If it has, I'll take him * I home," said Hammond. '.;'. , ; ;*'* "Better let him sleep it off here," mar«i r ." mured Crossley. 1 ' * "* -" Go and see if it's here, I tell ? you,*';-' exclaimed the doctor, angrily. *:. ; , T ." - ' Thev went out, and he tried to rouse - without effect, of course;.: and'they _ • > came back to say there wasn't a sign of . . " the car. "Mr. Seymour! Mr.- Sej'mourr' called the doctor, loudly, giving -mt a vigorous shake. "Ha'ie you ordered your car?"' I ; murmumed some fatuous iiicoherei cy. •" liemmegotbsleep," I added, running iN words into one another in a, thick, cuttnral tone; and-after one or two further attempts to ron* me they gave ft up.. . ' tto be conthiued dulr