Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 3 — page 44: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

326 stand aside. I am here to serve your mis- tress, if you and she but knew it.” I think he more than half believed that, for he made no further move to obstruct my entrance, although his knees shook and his face was the color of a dead man’s. I was in the hall, and he had closed the door behind me before he spoke again: “Yes sir. I am sure of that, sir. But —but what message do you bring to her? I can take it to her at once.” ‘‘ None, Falconer,” said I, while my eyes settled on a closed door from the keyhole of which a ray of bright light streamed into the hall. ‘“ And I must tell you, old man, that you would do well not to alarm her by word of my presence even. My business is with the king.” “The king!” he gasped. what do you say? The king? There is no king here!”’ “Well, Master Richard Eveleigh,” I said, moving toward that door with the bright-lighted keyhole. ‘“ Mistress Joyce’s uncle, if you will.” My hand closed on the. door-knob. In- stantly old Falconer was at my side. ‘¢ Sir—in the name of God—do not. enter there! Sir—” _ Then I knew I was at the right door. I was sorry for the old serving-man, but it was no time for minor sentiment. I turned the pistol toward him again and said: ‘“‘T understand and respect your loyalty, Falconer, but you can do no more than you have done. You are an old man and I young. You will not force me to meas- ures that go against the grain? You will best serve your mistress by keeping still.” With that, leaving the old man to do as he saw fit, I turned the door-handle and stepped inside, the pistol leveled before me. It saw the picture within at a glance, even before the man by the fireplace stirred and rose to his feet. It was a large, high-ceiled room, with a big, open hearth on which a log-fire burned. I do not know how it was furnished, but I got an impression of good taste and rich simplicity. To my left a couple of win- dows looked out (I suppose) on the gar- dens before the manor. In the wall to my right was a second door leading to some “ But, sir—_ * pleasure, to be sure. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. other part of the house. The fireplace was directly before me, and behind me was the door by which I had entered. But it was the only occupant of the chamber who claimed my direct attention. At my entrance he was seated in a deep. comfortable chair, his outstretched legs crossed before the blaze, his head thrown back, and his hands clasped behind it. The whole attitude of the man in that moment was of one whose state of physical comfort is conducive to reverie. For a few moments he did not stir, no doubt thinking I was Falconer. But as I did not move again, or speak, he turned his head sharply and saw a roundhead in the room, and with a pistol leveled at his head. At that he sprang to his feet and faced me—bravely, I must say, and with a flash of fire in his eye; and there was that ghost of a humorous smile about his mouth. ‘‘ Aha!” he exclaimed. ‘“ An unexpected Be seated! ‘I could have laughed at that familiar in- vitation, but to laugh would have robbed me of half my advantage. ‘“‘ Charles Stuart,” I said, trying hard to remember that a king was just a man after all; “I am here less to apprehend you than to spare the lady of this house a worse embarrassment. I will ask you to walk out of that door—before me!” The king elevated his eyebrows in an in- terrogating way, and cocked his head slightly to one side, as if he considered some interesting conundrum put to him. “Less to apprehend me than to spdre a lady—I do not understand,” he said. ‘“And I ha’ no time to explain.” And I repeated: ‘“‘ You will walk out—before me, sir!” Perhaps he fancied some advantage in the suggested move toward the door, for he went in that direction without protest. I edged around in a half circle, still keeping him covered with the pistol, until our posi- tions were reversed—I by the fireplace, the king by the door. There he turned and sald: ‘‘ Before we proceed further, young sir —your face is familiar!” I knew it was only a speech to gain time, but I was beginning to have less apprehen- Original+# AO) vali mG) O 410 S [A TE