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Updated: June 9, 2025
Karyl had held out his left hand. The right was bound down in a sling. But these things were all vague to Benton because it seemed that the pilgrim's tom-toms were beating inside his brain, and beating out of time. He could see that Karyl's eyes also were weary and lusterless. Turning with an excuse for travel-stain to be removed, Karyl halted. "Benton," he said. There he fell silent.
Any matters of interest to France will receive His Majesty's attention when they reach him through France's properly accredited ambassador." Yet five minutes later, Jusseret, escorted by several officers in the Galavian uniform, entered the garden through the door of the King's private suite. At the monstrous insolence of this forbidden invasion of Karyl's privacy, Von Ritz stepped forward.
For a moment the older man studied the younger with an expression of surprise, then the sphinx-like gravity returned to his face. "Your Majesty, may I inquire why the cap failed to explode?" he asked, with pardonable curiosity. "Because" Karyl's cheeks flushed hotly "an American gentleman, who had been here a few hours, intercepted the signal and reversed it."
"They may take me back if they wish to, now," she said, with a suddenly upflaring defiance. "But they shall find me like this!" And she flung her arms about his neck and kissed him. The coldness of the moonlight killed the pallor of Karyl's face, but added a note of stark accentuation to his set chin and labored self-containment.
"Purple," she said again, "is the color of mourning and royalty." Blanco noted the coming of evening and realized that it would be well to reach the level of the city before dark. He knew that if Lapas was to be turned over to Karyl's authorities, steps to that end should be taken before he was discovered and released by those of his own faction. He accordingly made his way back to the gate.
"The matches may not flare, Señor," he said, "but it would appear it was planned. Now Martin and Borttorff cannot go to Puntal. Since the brief visit of Von Ritz they are branded men. The others are already known to Karyl's government." Benton sat with his brows knitted intently listening. "Now," went on Blanco, "there is one thing more. They await the man for whom they hold the empty chair."
That done, his patriotism will prove our ally. We have only to convince him that no member of Karyl's house can reign and live and that it must be himself or an alien." "It would have been as easy," demurred the Portuguese delegate, "to have persuaded Von Ritz that Karyl himself should abdicate." Jusseret felt the hostility of the other members.
The sentinels failed to respond at roll-call. As the King and the Colonel listened to the report of the escape, Karyl's face paled a little and the features of Von Ritz hardened. Orders were given for an instant dispatch in cipher, demanding from a secret agent in Algiers all information obtainable as to the movements of the Countess Astaride.
Blanco hurriedly gave his cap and cape to the King, donning himself the blouse of Karyl's undress uniform. Then the two crept cautiously down the rifted face of the cliff, holding the shadow of the crevices. One sentry-box they passed safely, and finally they edged by the second unnoticed.
"I have come," said Von Ritz, "to stand for an implacable Nemesis to you, and yet I should wish to be identified only with happiness in your thoughts. To me one thing always comes first. The House of Galavia is my gospel; has been my gospel since Karyl's father mounted its throne." He paused and added gravely: "Louis Delgado has reaped his reward he is dead."
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