The Argosy, March 27, 1920 — page 64: what you’re looking at

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

214 THE ARGOSY. As he spoke he moved his hand in a brave attempt to wave this lackey aside. Suddenly the servant’s whole manner changed. He almost groveled as he bowing- ly besought the shabby youth to come within. “The Count de Sansito will see you instantly.” In the greatest bewilderment, Arthur Lake entered the tapestry-hung hall. The strange Moorish lamps suspended from the richly ornamented ceiling made little light when, suddenly, the glare of the sunny street was shut out—the iron-studded door behind him had closed noiselessly! CHAPTER XII. THE INTERVIEW. TH magnificent corridor brought him to a more magnificent loggia that ran around all four sides of a large courtyard. Over this enclosure billowed a gorgeous tawny-pink canopy in wide stripes of alter- nate thick and thin silk. Into the mysterious rosy gloom of this flower-planted court, the lackey hastened, and Arthur followed. The center of the courtyard, toward which they advanced, was occupied by a small marble pool from which rose a single thin jet of crystalline water, flashing like a keen rapier toward the silken roof, and then returning upon itself with a sleepy tinkle. Beside the fountain was a richly sculp- tured bench of green, semitransparent stone, upon which lolled a man elegantly dressed in black velvet with touches of gold. He looked up from watching the water circles of the fountain. He was the Spanish grandee, former pas- senger of the Hopeful! Before Arthur could recover from his sur- prise, the servant spoke: “Your Grace of Sansito, a messenger from His Majesty the King!”’ The grandee started to his feet and then, his astonishment overcofing him at sight of the young Englishman, he fell back upon the bench. As Arthur, stepping past the lackey, came rapidly forward, Sansito’s hand flew to his belt. A look of dismay came into his eyes as he realized that he was unarmed. Arthur saw both the movement and the look. In amazement, he asked himself: Why does this man fear me? Aloud he inquired: “ Are you Don Juan de Seseca, Count of Sansito?” The Spaniard jerked his head in affirma- tion, while with his hand he motioned to the servant. The lackey moved promptly backward until he was beyond range of their voices, but still within view. “You come from the king?” Sansito al- most whispered. “TI do not!” Arthur rapped out. “ But my servant said—” Arthur interrupted: ‘‘ I was as much sur- prised by that as you. I—” He got no further, for Sansito had spied the ring. He sprang upon it, and, catch- ing the hand, attempted to tear the jewel from it. But the brawny sailor was too quick. With little apparent effort he forced the count back upon the bench and held him there. ‘Now what's all this? What’s the mat- ter?” he asked. Sansito calmed suddenly. “ Will you be seated?” he inquired graciously. Arthur hesitated for a moment, and then sat down. “ The ring you wear,” the count pointed, “is the property of His Majesty the King of Aragon.” “Holy saints above!” Arthur cried. “I found it on the floor of the cobbler’s room.” “That sounds probable!” Sansito. sar- castically remarked, and then he laughed. As the young man eyed his mysterious trinket with growing awe, he remarked simply: “It’s true.” “ The ring is the property of my master, the king. Give it to me. I will see that it reaches him, J—” Arthur interrupted: “I will not give it to you. Why should I?” “T could take it from you,” Sansito quietly addressed a dark-red carnation that he was caressing, “Tt is not so easy to take things from me, as your grace has just discovered.” The Spaniard smiled cruelly. “ My ser- comicbooksscom