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The older man, small, slight, gray haired, and swarthy, but surprisingly active in his movements for one of his apparent age, raced up to Prince Michael. He fell on his knees, caught that nerveless right hand, and pressed it to his lips. "Thank Heaven, sire, that I have been spared to see this day!" he exclaimed. The Greek, less demonstrative, nevertheless knelt by Stampoff's side.
Beaumanoir, discreetly peeping through the window over Poluski's shoulder, saw something that perplexed him. "I say, Alec," he exclaimed, "I thought you told me that Stampoff's man Bosko was a thoroughly reliable sort of chap." "I have always found him so." "Well, just at present he looks jolly like a deserter. He is making a speech to the mob and tearing off his uniform obligato.
Some of them may come within measurable distance of my manly chest; but even that is improbable, for I have always noticed that vulgar assassins are cowards." Stampoff's bushy eyebrows had been spared, and they formed a hairy seam now straight across eyes and nose. "You forget, perhaps you do not know, that these men alone have actually declared for you for a Delgrado," he growled.
She was brought here by some one hostile to your son. If she came in obedience to Alec's wishes, he is his own worst enemy." The distressed Princess could hardly falter a question in response to Stampoff's vehement outburst. "Why do you tell me these things?" she said brokenly. "I I dare not interfere, even though I approved of what you say, which I do not."
Having secured a compartment for his mother and Beaumanoir, Alec made for the station master's office, meaning to obtain a messenger who might be trusted to deliver Stampoff's letter, and he happened to notice a policeman standing near a carriage door. A white face peered out through the window. It was Sobieski. The King and the waiter were quitting Delgratz by the same train!
The scornful disbelief expressed by Prince Michael had discomfited him at the beginning, and now he was practically under arrest until his connection with the outrage was investigated officially. One of Stampoff's messengers had already announced the King's safety, or by this time Sobieski must have become the lunatic Prince Michael took him to be.
Stampoff's commands had been obeyed, and the place reeked of the shambles; but the girl was happily as heedless of its nightmare horrors as the thirty-one men who lay there dead or dying. Alec bore her out into the street.
By that means you salve your conscience; whereas I hope still to retain the friendship of Kosnovia's most faithful son by refusing to accept your resignation." A shout of applause drowned Stampoff's vehement protest, and Alec seized the opportunity to hurry from the Council chamber.
Stampoff's harsh accents broke in roughly on a discussion which had hitherto been marked by polite deference on the part of its originator. "What! are you too against me, General?" cried Alec, wheeling round and meeting the fierce eyes of the old patriot who sat glaring at him across the Council table. "Yes, in that matter," was the uncompromising answer.
The panic stricken mother, scarce crediting the assurance given her by the President's family that there were no grounds for the disquieting rumors that arose from Sobieski's appeal for help, was in an agony of dread when the first undoubted version of the true occurrence was brought by Stampoff's courier.
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