Argosy, Vol. 120, No. 1 — page 117: what you’re looking at

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

THE GREAT “ Tortures,” the king cried. ‘“ Who would think of your loveliness subjected to the torture! Besides, you are daughter of our English ambassador. Such persons are not tortured, even when they withhold the hiding-place of traitors “ Arthur Lake is no traitor,’ Dona Mer- ton cried passionately. ‘‘ He is dangerous to no one but your royal secretary; why to him, I do not know. But what knowledge Arthur possesses does not endanger even him. I know!” ‘“‘ Just what do you know?” the monarch slyly inquired. “IT know that in Arthur’s veins tows good blood,” she cried, “‘ and that he has a miniature of a beautiful woman who looks very much like him, and whom we believe to be his mother. That is all! Is that suffi- cient reason for the secretary’s fear, and for my imprisonment ?” she demanded scath- ingly. ‘““ How do you know such precious blood flows in this sailor’s veins?” the king smiled. . She spoke up quickly: ‘ Because my father, when dying, declared to me that Arthur was better born than I, and he also - besought me, for my own good, to foreswear his love.” “And you dare to disobey a dying father’s commands?” Ferdinand inquired. “'Yes,”’ she responded firmly. “TI love Arthur Lake.’”’ She announced it simply, and looked squarely at the crafty monarch. The expression in her eyes was excuse enough for her conduct; it said as plainly ' as if she had spoken: “I can no more stop loving him than I can cease to be myself.”’ Before such unalterable affection the fickle king felt shamed; but his humiliation was short-lived. “Ts this all you know?” he inquired, “or, rather, is it all you intend to tell me?” “I know one other thing,” she confided: “In the miniature case was once a bit of parchment (now lost) which stated that Seseca could tell Arthur all that he wished to know concerning himself and his for- tune—”’ | ‘* Fortune?” cried the king. a fortune?” ‘“Fhere was some gold,’ Judith con- “ Was there DISCOVERY. 107 firmed, “ but it was stolen. I suspect there were papers, also, but they, too, disap- peared. All this was at the time when your secretary was in Dover! I believe he is im- plicated in those thefts. Call him in now, and we will question him.”’ King Ferdinand shook his head. Judith resumed. “ Arthur has questioned him, but with no success. This is all I know, your majesty. It is all that Arthur Lake knows, I think.” The king narrowed his eyes, and silently contemplated the young woman. “You give me food for thought,” he remarked. ‘“ But how can I know that you speak the truth—all the truth?” “JT do not lie!” she cried proudly. “Surely you must have realized that, when you asked where Arthur Lake was. I did not deny that I knew. I might easily have done so.” There was a short pause, and then Judith cried impetuously: “‘ Perhaps this will make you believe me.” She came closer, and lifting an ornament containing a bit of the true cross which the king always wore on a heavy chain about his neck, was about to swear upon this sacred talisman. But her nearness in- toxicated the impressionable monarch, and he caught her to him. ““ Let me go,” she cried. His majesty got to his feet, still striving to embrace her. She eluded him and, gain- ing the far end of the room, turned. “For shame,” she cried. “ This is un- worthy of you, and—off!”’ she cried, for the king, disregarding her words, was about to renew his attack. She drew her crucifix from her girdle and touching a spring, a thin, triangular blade of sharpest steel flashed into view. Firmly grasping the cross, which now formed the handle of this little poniard, she cried: “" Dare to take another step, and—” The king interrupted, smiling evilly: “And you bury that in my heart—eh?” “No, your majesty,” she corrected, “ in my own!” “How will that harm me?” he mur- mured, blinking. . . have long foreseen such a thing as ,” Judith spoke rapidly, “ and I am pre- GOMIIG OOO S CO@