The All-Story, March 1914 — page 159: what you’re looking at

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

632 THe waiting guards that he was ready for them to take him away. CHAPTER I. TILE YOUNG PRISONER, Count FrLorexz was assigned to the Mollersdorf carcer, a few leagues outside of the city, and court influence made life far from unbearable for him there. He was given a suite of apartments on the second floor, furnished comfort- ably, if plainly, and with neat chintz curtains concealing the heavy bars that guarded his windows. Through them he had an entrancing view of shimmering green fields with the Dan- ube winding lazily tawny through them. All sights and sounds of the great city were absent here. leace. the fresliness and quietude of nature— those were what the prospect offered the prisoner in place of the hectic, ar- tificial life and turmoil to which he had always been accustomed. He saw cows and sheep browsing over the sweet-smelling meadowland ; listened to the twitter of orioles nest- ing; watched the flashing blue way of a swallow winging across a sky that was blue as porcelain. ‘The odors of dewy earth and wild flowers were sub- stituted for strong perfumes in his nos- trils; a little game of baccarat now and then with the kindly governor of the prison was made suffice for past thrills of the Roulettehalle. This governor was a genial soul aid was much impressed by the rank of his noble charge. Never before, as he phrased it, had “so distingttshed a guest honored lis poor root.” He ad- mired milord’s sang-froid, his elegance of manners, and emulated them in pri- vate. He kept assuring himselt: “It is best to be courteous to this fine gentleman. There is no telling when influential friends there at court may get a pardon for him. and then he will not forget how I, Oscar Leib- ALL-STORY MAGAZINE. mitz, w as good in the time of his ad-. versity.” So the governor favored Count Flo- renz in many little ways. He gave or- ders that dour old Johann, the jailer, should wait upon milord as a body- servant, and oftentimes would invite the prisoner down to evening dinner with him in the assembly-roomi, where, with candles lighted and long pipes slowing fragrantly, they would lounge over the coftee-cups and chat as if they were merely congenial acquaintances spending a few hours together. One night the governor dered up four bottles of his cobwebbed Burgundy and, fluence, confided to his “ guest ” satiate craving to hear intimately of high life im the city. “Tell me of how you fine gentle- men carry on and turn things topsy- turvy there o' nights. Is it true that you have tipped a waiter as much asa gold florin for handing you your cape? \What about all those gay ladies whom they say— Milord raised his hands, palins out- ward, in chilly protest. . You will excuse ine in that regard, I am sure,”” said he in a thin, even voice, the coldness of which penetrated even the governor’s thick skull. The governor bowed awkwardly. In truth, he could do little else, puzzled as he was. Later, he told old Johann, the turnkey : “A queer fish, that young noble- man—so close-mouthed and all that, you know! We must take care not to offend him, prisoner or no prisoner, Johann. Better give him the freedom of the walled gardens in the afternoon. The air in the open will do hira good and a bit of exercise may improve his temper. I would like to know all about those scrapes of his, wouldn't vou, Johann? ” | The old jailer shook his head. “A wild young blade, sir; but, no doubt, with some good in him yet. I will see that he gets free run of the gardens as you Say, Smichoo “SAGO even Of. under its warming in-— an In- .