SERIAL STORY

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 365, 16 April 1910, Page 6

SERIAL STORY

A ROYAL WARD. By PERCY BREBNER. (Published by arrangement with Casse-ll *nd Company, Ltd., publishers, of London and Melbourne, the proprietors of the copyright). CHAPTER XXI. (continued). All except Lighterwood rushed along the pas-age. The cellar door was locked, and no Jacob was to be found, nor did he_ answer to their call. In consternation liiey came back into the lung room again, to find Lighterwood loading a pistol, and to hear'"the soldiers liam° at the door. "Open, in the King's name!" cried a voice without. No one answered, and then, either because the man in his haste had not shot the bolts home, or because they had grown rotten with age, the door was burst open, and Evertsen entered, followed by half a dozen soldiers. ''You arc all under arrest," he said. "On what charge?" asked Lighterwood.

''Conspiracy to assassinate the Prince Regent. That locked door half convicts you, and if you have anything to say, this is not the time or place. Fire on any 111011 who moves," Evertsen went on. turning to the soldiers. ''An innocent, man does not move when ordered to stand in the King's name," whined the bully. ''Which of you is the landlord?" asked Evertsen.

"I think he's in the cellar," said one man.

"Perhaps you can also tel] me where a man called Dubuisson has hidden himself?" said Evertsen. <r You seem inclined to turn King's evidence, and may save your skin that way." They had all waited for Dubuisson that morning, had arranged that it lie did not come forth on his own account, he was to be frightened from the house by the river by a mock Bow Street officer. It may be .that the braver men who frequented the Brazen Serpent had not chosen it as a place of safety today: but all who were there, except Lighterwood, clamored to be allowed to turn King's evidence, the bully loudest ■of all.

"One is enough," said Evertsen scornfully. "and the first speaker has the advantage—if it is an advantage." "That's wisely said," shouted Lightcr>wood. "I'm too good for this company of cowards." and he put the pistol to his mouth and pulled the trigger. "Surely, sir. that was the man who fired ill Whitehall," said one of the soldiers.

'"At any rate, he's the only man amongst the lot," Evertsen answered. "Look to him, and secure the others. Some of yon bring this King's evidence fellow along to show us where the landlord is."

In the cellar. Jacob Pinfold stood looking into the hole. He had raised the trap-door, he had lighted the Inntern. he had let. the rope down. "I'll g/i now." he guiwled, taking hold of the rope: and then the scuttling o-f the rats below made him-pause. "No; there is time yet. Perhaps there will be no need to n;o." He waited, his ears strained to catch the faintest sound. He had locked himself in. and the key was in his pocket. The cellar door was stout; there would he time enough to go even when they began hammering, upon it,

There was the sound of swift feet in the passage without, voices calling for him. and hands upon the door. Jacob neither moved nor spoke. To have qjie man with him might ma.ke the journev less dreadful, but they could not all escape that wav. He must go alone when the time came, if it did come; the others, who by coming there had brought ruin upon him, must look after themselves, curse tlieni! The footsteps retreated, and then came a confusion of sound from the long room. The cellar door was too thick and fitted too closelv for Jacob to distinguish words or voices, but it must he the soldiers. He went, and listened at the keyhole, and, had he been less agitated, might have heard something of what was passing, but it was all confused noise to him. Then came the simp crack of a pistol.

Jacob sprang haclc' from the door as though the bullet had struck him. "T mu=t go." he moaned piteouslv. "Curse them all for making it necessary. I'm getting an old man. I wonder how deep it is." The rats scuttled again. "If I can't find the way," he said. taking the rnne in his hand; "but I must go. at least "

There was a silence after the shot. What had happened?. they would not look for him, and, if they did look, tliev could hardly think of this cellar. They might easily pass the low door in the passage without taking any notice of it. He might not have to 20. after all.

There were footsteus in the passage again, which stopped suddenly. "Tn here?" came the question in a strange voice: and then there .was a Kina's name. open!"

"T shall have to go." murmured Jacob; hut the silence which followed the command was another hope to him. He did not answer. They would think the ■place wa« empty; and.then, rememberin or the kevhole, he put out the lantern, lost it might betray him.

"In the Kind's name. open!" came tlie command again. Jacob hold his breath. "Would they pass on. satisfied? Tin* wish i:i hi? craven soul was tlic nearest approach to a prayer he was eanable of. "Batter it in," came the order. "Tf tliis fellow has misled lis, he shall pay for it." Then someone had betrayed him! The thought seemed to rob Jacob Pinfold of all rea-nnins' power. Everything about him was pitch blackness; the hole was

of immense size and depth: the rope was not long enough, and would not stand his weight; the staple was insecure; and the sound of the scuttling j rats seemed like the distant roar of an infuriated crowd. Yet he must go. Tile! door was stout, but the blows upon it] were heavy. Something splintered them, I one of tlie hinges giving: and the lock ' cracked. In a moment it would burst t inwards. | "I must go." wailed the coward, "and [ I can't see. Curse them! T can't see!"j He made one more step forward, bend-j ing to grasp the rope. Tlis foot trod j upon nothing, his finders clutched only | air. His head pitched forward as he j shrieked aloud, striking the edcre of j the hole. Onlv one shriek, which told | Evertsen. as the donr was burst ill. that ( lie had come too late—one shriek, terror \ and asronv in it. then silence. | Jacob Pinfold hod often talked of the j rats' banquet. They were to have it .at last! CHAPTER XXIT. AT ALMACKS'. To be received at Court was one thing, it was quite another matter to have the entree to Alnmcks', the meeting pla.ee ;

for that exclusive inner circle of an exelusive fashionable world. Stories were current of notable persons who had failed to gain admittance, tales which were discredited and yet which were absolutely true, for the -power wielded by the small committee of ladies who ruled

these Wednesday gathering was unique. If 'admittance were refused, no reason was given for the refusal, and silent hatred and malice often resulted. live<y 'diplomatic art wasi resorted to in order to obtain the coveted card of entree, and while personal enmity undoubtedly closed the doors sometimes to those who had every right to walk in this charmed circle, there were others far less eligible '■wlhio only found their way there by means of' delicate intrigue -and secret negotiation. Few places exist to which there is not a back door of favoritism. At Almacks', perhaps, it was unlocked less often.than elsewhere, and it is quite certain that my Lady Castlereagh or' my Lady Cowper, or any one of their four or five companions upon the com-] mittee, would have denied that it was ever opened at all. . I These powerful ladies not only select- ( ed the company, but demanded obedience to the laws and regulations which they laid down. It was hopeless to attempt to enter the rooms after midnight, the very best excuse for sO tardy! an arrival would not serve; and the doors were shut to any man who was not habited in the regulation knee breeches, white cravat, and chapeau

bras. Surrounded by so many regulations, so much etiquette, in spite of the brilliant appearance of the ballroom with its pilasters, classic medallions, blazing with light from its hanging chandeliers, in spite of the beauty and fashion of the company, it is possible that some people would have found the evenings dull there occasionally but for the proud consciousness that the' were a part of the most exclusive gathering In the world. To-night, for instance, a few* of the bolder spirits, who had mastered the intricate step or the German waltz, lately introduced into this conntry, and had become fascinated with it, would probably have liked to swing j round the ballroom to such seductive music, but the waltz was not yet' tolerated at Almacks'; it was not con-1 sidered a proper dance for such high personages to indulge in, and Scotch I reels and country dances of various: kinds were the. rule in this high temple I of fashion. • | The rooms filled early On this parti- ] cular Wednesday evening, and there i was a certain air of excitement in the i company, possibly accounted for by the fact that the Prince Regent had been, shot at that day. The attempt on his i life in Whitehall was the chief topic of conversation, but there was no general, belief that any serious political signifi- j cance was to be attached to the affair. "J .heard that a large gang of conspirators had been run to earth," said one gentleman, delighted to impart in-1 formation to the little group 'about him, even if the truth of it were doubtful. "I heard the same at White's." returned .another, "and also that the chief scoundrel got clear away." "Has anyone seen Lady Lannesley l ?" asked a man who crossed the room to join them. "No, I am waiting for her," was the ■answer. "She is-bringing Lady Betty Walmisley with her, as the Duc-hoss of Petersham is not coming. I heard the arrangement made while we were waiting for the procession to-day." "And Ladv Betty told me that she might not here to-night," said the first speaker. "I shouldn't be surprised if she did not come; she was quite frightened iwhen the Prince was fired at this morning. I would willingly have fired at myself if it would have aroused such an interest in her for me." "It wouldn't," laughed his companions.

t For some minutes Lady Betty was the sole topic of conversation; half a dozen men had each some exclusive information to impart concerning her, or a bon mot of 'hers to repeat, or some other triviality to relate of which he alone knew. They all, it would appear, expected some special favor from lier tonight; and while they waited and talked about her, she came in Lady Lanneslev's company. Lady Betty had returned to Pall Mall as soon as possible after the procession had passed. Onlv for ftn instant had she seen Victor Dubuisson's face in the crowd, but she was certain that it was not his hand which held the pistol* she could swear to that. She recognised that it was Evertsen who rode Into the crowd, and felt instinctively that he had seen Dubnisson, too, that it was against him his chief effort was made. She had almost cried out in her excitement to set such a mistake right, when it became evident that, in the confusion, Dubuisson had succeeded. in getting away. Could .he <possibly manage to escape altogether? The soldiers were in pursuit, the whole town 1 would be ringing with the news; Dubuisson's enemies must be legion to-day.

During the afternoon she sent out several times to learn the latest items of information. She heard the rumor that several men had been captured, that ;i dangerous gang of malcontents' had been unearthed; it was persistently declared, however, that the arch-traitor had not been found, but that the lodging where he had been in hiding was known, and that his capture could only be a question of a-few hours. Lady Betty had also heard of Finley Baxter's visit that morning to Alary, ami of the letter Dubuisson had written to her before going to fight a duel. She knew by what had passed between them that that duel had been fought chiefly on her behalf, but she did not know with whom, nor had Baxter mentioned the name. All Mary knew was that no damage had been done, and that Mr. Dubuisson appeared to have found a valuable friend in his opponent. "1 wish I had been at home to see Mr. Baxter," said Betty; "lie probablv had some message for me which he could not leave with you, Mary." Mary was convinced that lie had been the bearer of no such message, but she did not choose to explain the real reason of Baxter's visit. His impudence was best kept to herself, and. besides, it

! would hardly be fair to him to talk about it. Mary was unable to be as angry with Finley Baxter as she felt she ought to he. After considerable deliberation Lady Betty decided to go to Almacks' that | night for two reasons. She was con-

■ I scious that her agitation when the 11 .Prince was shot at had surprised her > | fellow guests. There had seemed to bo i such a personal interest in it, as indeed there was, but not for the Prince; and i! since some of the people there might ' j know she was a. royal ward and draw 11 wrong/ conclusions from the fact, she I was desirous of showing how little the 1 ' incident had really affected her. She ' would have plenty of opportunity to- -; night for laughing at her own foolish1, ness. Also, she would be certain to heat ■ j definitely what had happened, might | learn something which would suggest 'l a way in which she could -help Victor Dubuisson. She had not realised how I much she had looked forward to this I night until now, now that this man ■; could not possibly remc to claim the I dance she had promised him. I There were many otl:hcv.vver. to Iclaim her, and since she was there to play a part, to show how really unconcerned she was, except, of course, that she rejoiced as others did that the attempt had proved futile, she played her part thoroughly. None of her partners had ever found her so gracious, and could not guess that at heart she was troubled -and disappointed.

| She had expected to see Walter Evertj sen there, but he did not come. His absence troubled her, and she presently enquired about him of one of her partners. I "Too busy, no doubt, Lady Betty," he j answered. "They are still searching for I this French spy, and Evertscn is on , duty." | "T.hey are sure to catch him, I suppose?" "I don't know. The longer they are, the more chance there is for him. I ought not to say so, but I cannot help sympathising with a hunted man and j wishing him luck. The odds against him are so tremendous." "I feel like that, too," said Betty. "I shall not be sorry if he gets awav." "I think he has a chance," her comi panion returned. "At first, you see, not I only the soldiers, but every man in the J streets is on the look-out for him; toI morrow the public will have grown tired of the excitement, and go about its busiI ness. If he is not caught to-night he J has a real chance." i This man's opinion did Bettv good, j and she thanked him by giving him anj other dance. I Then others claimed her. She had | promised, they declared; sometimes she j gave way, remembering she had not deI finitely refused, sometimes she dfcnied | the promise and would not have her favors cheapened in this fashion. Then | she pleaded fatigue, and some importune suitor would look so disbelieving that she laughed. Vl ls it not just possible that I may have promised a dance to someone wno has not yet arrived?" she asked lightly. "He merits disappointment for being so late," was the answer. "He must come ouicklv, or the twelve o'clock rule .will keep him out," said another. "May I claim the dance when the hour strikes?" "You are so'persistent, sir," she said, "that in self-defence I must punish you by promising to give you a dance this day fortnight, if at this time precisely you come to claim it." "I accept the punishment, and nothing ( shall prevent my being here to receive pardon." He moved away, but two or three men . were still hoverincr aTtout Ladv Hetty 1 when a man, standing apart and unnoticed, came forward nuieklv. "Am I too late to claim your promise, Ladv Betty?" He bowed a silent apology to the i other men as he spoke, and since Lady i Betty rose, since this must be the part- ■ ner' she had mentioned, they could' do nothing but retire at once. ( "This is madness," she whispered. "If love be madness, yes. We will ■ dance; afterwards give me a few minutes, and then " "It is madness. Victor. I will not ' help you to your destruction. Bv dancincr with me you court attention." "No one who knows me will connect '[Victor Dubuisson with the French spv. They are tyuntmcr for that spy in all the holes valid corners they can think of; they would never look for him at Almacks'." (To be continued on Wednesday).