THE PURPLE DIAMOND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21114, 23 February 1932, Page 14

THE PURPLE DIAMOND.

By RALPH TREVOR. Author of " Under Suspicion,"* " Tho Deputy Avenger," etc.

I A STORY OF THRILLING ADVENTURE.

CHAPTER XXV.—(Continued.) r A silence fell between them for a moinent. " Have you ever been in love ?'- asked Pis Majesty, suddenly. His Highness was surprised at the question. '* "What a strange question to ask/' he fenced, smilingly. " Why should it be strange ?" I don't know —well, yes, I have been in love, I don't know if I am now or not." " And her name ?" " Really, Your Majesty, I should prefer not to answer that question." And I insist." " She was someone whom I considered fickle. I thought she loved me, but when she realised that there was little chance of my becoming King she deserted me for my brother. Her name is Alys Vriganfcua." 4 * Alys Vrigantua!" exclaimed the King. "Well, Prince, you're wrong. She never deserted you. She was virtually a spy in your brother's camp. I know that because it was she who helped me to escape from him." "Do you think she still loves me ?" His; Highness asked, leaning forward, eagerly. " I haven't set eyes on her since my return to Kasana." " I don't think she has ever stopped loving you," His Majesty told him, suddenly rising, and searching in the pocket of his jacket for his matches. " But listen, I've been thinking about what you have just said, and I'd like a little time to consider it more carefully. 1 want you to come here to-morrow night at nine o'clock, and I want you to promise me that you will make no attempt either to see or communicate with Alys until then. If she tries to get intp touch with you, let her be told that you- have left Kasana and that it is uncertain when you will return."' "X' don't pretend to know what your idea is-, Your Majesty," smiled the bewildered young man, " but I'll give you niy word on that." AVhen the door had closed behind him His Majesty sighed and looked at his watch. The sun was still shining across the Palace gardens, but it was nearly seven o'clock. His Majesty turned into his retiring room to dress for dinner.

CHAPTER XXVI. his majesty's decision. 'Alys Vrigantua was puzzled. She had tried all day to find Prince Charlmagne. The knowledge that he had returned to Karonia had thrilled her. Also she was extremely anxious to know why he had sought an audience with the new King. But she drew a double blank everywhere. IAII that was known was that His Highness had left Kasana late the previous night and had not said where he was going nor when he was likely to return. To her mind such a departure seemed to indicate that the interview between the [Prince and His Majesty had not ended any too well, and that, feeling that nothing further could be done, he had once pgain deserted the country. v Promptly at seven o'clock she was driven to the Palace and received by the Royal. Chamberlain, who conducted her (Ceremoniously to the Royal apartments. Antiss was in evening dress and wearing the ribbon of the Royal Order of the Eagle across the gleaming starched facade of his dress shirt. Alys curtsied prettily. To-night, she told herself, would probably seal her fate. If she failed now she might just as well desert Karonia as Charlmagne had done.

/His Majesty greeted her curtly, and during the meal she said to herself: ".Something has happened. He's quite different to-night. Not a bit like he was yesterday, or even when we were in London. He looks depressed. Surely the cares of State are not beginning to oppress him already."

As for Antiss he was saying to himself: " Yes, she's very beautiful, but does a man of my age really find any consolation in ''a woman's beauty ? It may possibly thrill me for a few hours, but after that it might grow irksome." Still, they chatted merrily on a dozen topics as the waiters carried in the courses and removed the wreckage. When it was all over and they had drunk their toasts in 1915 Ilcidsieck, they withdrew to the Royal drawing room. Alys looked exquisite in her flowing evening, frock of jade green. Her eyes were flashing merrily, her cheeks were delicately flushed, and her lips were like • crimson flame.

Ht> Majesty conducted her to a deep divan.

I've been thinking over what you fold me yesterday,", he smiled, " when I asked you to be my friend, and I have been wondering since .whether the experiment might not be a trifle dangerous. You set*, my dear, I, am an old man, and I don't think it good for old men to compete with much less competent and younger men ior their affections. The competition is grossly unfair because the old men have all the advantage of greater experience to guide them, and I should certainlv not like to feel that my friendship with you was going to interfere with your marriage prospects." He was smiling into thosa dark, lustrous eyes that shone so brilliantly. Alys was dumbfounded. What a silly old egotist he was, to be sure. And how odd to talk to her like that. Yet all the same she was disappointed. Iler world had ceased to spin. She had hoped that lie would make violent, unrestrained love to her, and here he was lecturing her as if she were a schoolgirl launching on her first grande passion. For answer she laughed. " I'm serious, Alys, deadly serious," he told her, " but I'm also something of • prophet." He paused, still smiling. l! " How would you like to become Queen of Karonia?" he asked, with a surprising suddenness. The girl's heart leapt. What did he mean ? In one breath he was repulsing her with a lecture and in the next he was offering her the comfortable half of his throne. He was certainly inexplicable to-night. Perhaps lie was mad. .She had heard that insane people were often extraordinarily logical and illogical at one and the same time. " Do you think I am fit to be—Queen of . Karonia?" she parried, the blush in her cheeks deepening. /"I know of belter fitted," he told her, quietly. Then lie changed his tactics. " But there is one vital condition; you must be in love. Are you in love ?" / What next would * this amazing man ask ? '' That all depends," she countered. " I have been in and out of love like a Mr. and Mrs. Noah barometer. Do you want .to know whether I'm in love with you ?" He nodded. "The answer is—l'm not," she told him, frankly. " You're not hurt, are you ? I Should hate to hurt you."

(COFY RIGHT.)

" As a matter of fact you've lifted quite a load from me," he smiled. " But you needn't tell me the young man's name. I know that already." " What an extraordinary person you are!" she exclaimed. " I'm not even extraordinary," he said, simply. " And it's not guesswork either. He told me himself." Alys stared at His Majesty with eyes wide open. " You mean Prince Charlmagne?" He nodded. " Did you ask him?" He nodded again, and noticed that the girl's eyes were moist." " And now for my secret," he whispered, leaning toward her. " I've decided that I'd be much better looking after my wife than staying here as a King. Don't you agree with me?" " Your wife ? But where is she ? Who is she? I didn't know you had a wife." " You'd better ask Charlmagne; he knows her tjuite well," smiled His Majesty. Alys passed a small white hand across her eyes. She was uncertain whether this was a nightmare or just the champagne. " But how. . . I don't understand," she faltered. " What shall we do without a King ? The people will be furious. And who will be King?" " Prince Charlmagne, I hope." ■ ' But he's left Karonia," Blie protested. For answer His Majesty touched an electric bell on the wall beside the divan. A stately footman answered the summons. " Tell Prince Charlmagne to come here," he commanded, his eyes on the gold clock on the mantel. A moment later His Highness was announced. Alys sprang from the divan, her face white, but her eyes told their own story. "Charlmagne!' she cried, "I thought I should never see you." His Highness was standing just within the room, staring at them, bewildered. " May I ask the meaning of this ?" he said unsteadily. " Certainly," replied His Majesty. " I . want you to meet the future Queen of Karonia—Mademoiselle Alys Vrigantua." Prince Charlmagne's face drained of colour like wine from a glass. " I still don't quite see. . he protested, with dignity. Alys ran toward him, the colour back again in her face. " You silly boy," she chided, clutching his arm. "*lt means that you're to be our King, and I. . ." " Don't you think you ought to kiss your Queen?" laughed Antiss. " Or would you prefer to be left alone?" Together the pair came toward him, and Prince Charlmagne held out his free hand. " Thank you, sir," he cried, excitedly. " I knew you'd turn up trumps." ■ Before either His Highness or Alys could say another word there came the sound of a commotion on the other side of the closed door. " Sounds like a fight," smiled the King. " I thought I'd put a stop to all that." The next moment the door opened and a figure broke into the room. "Mabel!" cried Mr. Antiss, his eyes popping out of his flushed face. "Clement! Thank God!" The next moment they were in each other's arms. His Highness led Alys from the room and in the ante-chamber found a perspiring Kendrick Towers, to whom, after introducing his betrothed, he gave a resume of the situation. The following day another surprise awaited the Karonians. M. Dialog had been hastily summoned to the Palace the previous night and found himself writing swiftly under the dictation of Mr. Kendrick Towers. The result of that dictation was read by thousands in " The Royalist." It li'as a masterly piece of work, and Mr. Towers felt that if the worst came to the worst he could always take up journalism. The loyal Karonians were amazed to find that between the hours of ten p.m. and dawn the Throne of Karonia had changed hands. King Clement, was said had willingly come to Karonia's aid to destroy the republican plot, and, having succeeded in his mission, had handed over the Thronce and sceptre to Prince Charlmagne, younger son of the late King Michael. His mission ended, the Englishman had left Kasaria at midnight and was now on his way back to England. It mentioned that Karonia was deeply indebted to the public-spirited Englishman who had so heroically come to tneir aid. Not only had he saved the Purple Diamond from destruction, but he had been the means of establishing the line of succession to the Throne of Karonia.

M. Dialog, on his oWn initiative, mentioned that there was under consideration the granting of a certain sum from the royal exchequer to Clement Antiss for his patriotism. And the Karonians, whose history was chequered with surprises, sent up cheers for the new King and demonstrated before the Palace just as though nothing of international importance had happened.

On their way back to England Mr. Towers gave certain flowery interviews with prominent newspaper representatives whom he had wired to meet them at Pavensa, and once again his nimble braitt sent out a story flush with the romantic side of Clement Antiss' adventure to save the little Kingdom of Karonia from obliteration as a royalist state. And long before Clement Antiss and Mabel reached London the newspapers throughout Britain were spreading the news of how a humble Englishman, suddenly possessed of the Purple Diamond, had leapt into the breach in the face of grave danger to pour the oil of his opportunism on the troubled waters of Karonia, until such time as he was able to hand over the Throne to the natural successor. „ _u The story read incredibly well. Ihe newspaper men had embroidered the story well and truly. An obscure London cashier had solved a delicate and difficult international situation, and having done his work had quietly disappeared and would shortly return to London. ,

A month later, in their' snug little house in that suburb of Greater London, Mr. and Mrs. Clement Antiss found a new peace and a new happiness together. Mabel was still proud of her Clement anc l he—Mr. Antiss—reflected that life without Mabel would be intolerable, just as he found that.,, though there was no need for him to continue to serve Messrs. Petti pre w and Richards —thanks to tna munificence of the JCaronian Government and King Charlmagne—he would miss his daily walk to the station and the return home again in the evenings from his ledgers. THE END.