Page 56 (1/2)

"I fought, I clie here

for love of a queen For love of a queen all my short life I lived For

love of a queen I died one better with her had she died as horribly"

Wogan had once seen the lonely castle of Ahlden where that queen was

i in the dusk

across the heath surrounded by her guards with their flashing swords

He sat chilled with apprehensions and forebodings They crowded in upon

his mind all the more terrible because he could not translate them into

definite perils which beyond this and that corner of his life ht

await him He was the victim of illusions, he assured hih But to-night the illusions

were real K&ous incorporate with him The voice which spoke and warned

and santo himself as he

crouched over the fire The Count carried a basin of water in his hand

and a sponge and soan's wounds and

dressing them in a simple way

"They are not deep," he said; "a few days' rest and a clever surgeon

will restore you" He went froht back a tray,