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Poverty had seized upon the place, flaunting poverty, seeking no concealment. Ellerey had passed through the Altstrasse before to-night, but the surroundings had had no particular interest for him then. Now they arrested his attention. What plots might not have birth and grow to dangerous maturity in such surroundings, among such people as these?
He was not the man to risk the work of years without some real hope of success. Then Ellerey's thoughts turned to the woman who had craved his help in the Altstrasse, the manner in which he had been searched for the token, the masked woman who had come to look upon him, and the warning she had given him.
Your elect of the city do not naturally visit in the Altstrasse, and I have rooms below bare enough to impress uninteresting people with the fact that I am a poor sort of fellow, and likely to be an unprofitable acquaintance. For my friends well, you see, I have other apartments." "I thank you for the preference shown me," said Ellerey, with a bow.
"The city is noisy," De Froilette said. "Yes, monsieur." "Where is the rioting chiefly?" "Toward the Southern Gate they say, monsieur; but the soldiers are everywhere." "What about the Northern Gate and the Bois?" "It is quieter that way, monsieur, I am told." De Froilette nodded and the servant went out. The Altstrasse became quieter presently.
He'll last until then. Well, then, to-morrow. Here's a key. Take it to the Altstrasse. Do you know the Altstrasse?" "Surely. I have a brother living there." "To the Altstrasse thirteen to the house of Monsieur De Froilette." "I have heard of him." "Then you will do him this service," said Stefan.
There will be specious promises, but small fulfilment. Beware of the lady who visited the Altstrasse to-night. Hesitate to do her bidding. Unless I mistake not, you will thank me for the warning one day," and then, turning to the men about her, she said, "Unloose him." They hesitated, and did not move. "Unloose him, I say," and she stamped her foot sharply.
Was this the Queen? Ellerey thought she must be, half-believing he recognized something familiar in her manner. Was this her method of proving his daring before she fully trusted him? "You have no token?" she said, addressing Ellerey. "No, madam." "Yet you went on a secret mission to the Altstrasse to-night?" "I went openly." "Openly! To visit whom?"
It had been easy, therefore, for Desmond to become a stranger to his native land; it was impossible for him to forget that he was an Englishman: that a peculiar code of honor was demanded of him by the fact. The Altstrasse was deserted as he passed through it; the lights were out in most of the houses, and silence was over the whole city.
De Froilette left the palace unnoticed as he had come, and returned quickly to the Altstrasse. Francois hastened to attend him. "There is nothing to report, monsieur," he said, in answer to his master's look of inquiry. "The city is quieting down. Is monsieur in any danger?" "Perhaps, Francois, but it does not trouble me. I have been in danger before.
"I am barely forgiven yet for the mysterious lady of the Altstrasse." "This is not an unknown woman, but a very famous one none other than Princess Maritza of Wallaria. You have heard of her?" "I have not only heard of her, but seen her and spoken to her." "And admired her?" she asked. "Yes, her beauty and her indomitable courage." "That is what I heard, that you admired her."
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