The Lighted Match

Von Ritz, struggling desperately with a broken blade in his hand was

slowly overwhelmed by seeming swarms of men. Like a tiger caught in a

net, his ferocity gradually waned until, bleeding from scratch-wounds

in a half-dozen places, he felt himself sinking into a haze. His useless

sword-hilt fell with a clatter to the tiles. As his arms were pinioned

by several of his captors, he was dreamily aware that music still

floated up from the Botanical Gardens and the German man-of-war. Nearer

at hand, Von Ritz heard--or perhaps dreamed through his stupor that he

heard--a voice exclaiming: "Long live King Louis!"

There had been no noise which could have penetrated beyond the King's

suite. Less than ten minutes had elapsed since the sentinel had been

pacing below. Jusseret, passing unostentatiously out through the Palace

gate, glanced at his watch and smiled. It had been excellently managed.

Later, Karyl recovered consciousness to find things little changed. He

was lying on a leather couch in his own rooms. The windows on the small

garden still stood open and the moon, riding farther down the west,

bathed the outer world in shimmer of silver, but at each door stood a

sentinel.

Karyl remembered that during Louis Delgado's recent captivity he had

fared in precisely the same manner, neither better nor worse.

The King rose, still a trifle unsteady from the blow he had received,

and went out into the garden. There was no effort on the part of the

saluting soldier to halt him, and once outside he realized why this

latitude was allowed him. In addition to the man at the door, a second

walked back and forth by the outer wall. As Karyl stepped into the

moonlight this man, himself in the shadow, saluted as his fellow had

done.

"I have the honor to command the guard, Your Grace," said the man in a

respectful voice. "It is by the order of His Majesty, King Louis."

Something in the enunciation puzzled Karyl with a hint of the familiar.

"Why do you remain outside?" he asked.

"Over this wall, any comparatively agile man might make his way to the

beach, if he succeeded in passing the muskets of the sentry-boxes--and

there are boats at the water's edge," explained the soldier with a short

laugh. "I am responsible for the guard, so I keep this post myself. I

believe myself incorruptible and men with thrones at stake might make

tempting offers."

Karyl smiled. "What would you regard as a tempting offer?" he suggested.

For answer the man came into the light and lifted his cap. The King

looked into the dark eyes of Manuel Blanco. "I won into their confidence

by the hardest," he explained in a lowered tone, "but after that, I had

no opportunity to leave them or communicate with you. This was all I

could do. As it is, I shall be recognized as soon as the Duke arrives."