第5章

XVI

THERATTOTHERESCUE

Marcowalkedthroughthepassageandintothekitchenpartofthebasement。Thedoorswerealllocked，andtheyweresoliddoors。

Heranuptheflaggedstepsandfoundthedooratthetopshutandboltedalso，andthattoowasasoliddoor。Hisjailershadplainlymadesurethatitshouldtaketimeenoughforhimtomakehiswayintotheworld，evenafterhegotoutofthewine-cellar。

Thecathadrunawaytosomepartoftheplacewheremicewereplentiful。Marcowasbythistimerathergnawinglyhungryhimself。Ifhecouldgetintothekitchen，hemightfindsomefragmentsoffoodleftinacupboard；buttherewasnomovingthelockeddoor。Hetriedtheoutletintothearea，butthatwasimmov-able。Thenhesawnearitasmallerdoor。Itwasevidentlytheentrancetothecoal-cellarunderthepavement。

Thiswasprovedbythefactthattroddencoal-dustmarkedtheflagstones，andnearitstoodascuttlewithcoalinit。

Thiscoal-scuttlewasthethingwhichmighthelphim！Abovetheareadoorwasasmallwindowwhichwassupposedtolighttheentry。Hecouldnotreachit，and，ifhereachedit，hecouldnotopenit。Hecouldthrowpiecesofcoalattheglassandbreakit，andthenhecouldshoutforhelpwhenpeoplepassedby。

Theymightnotnoticeorunderstandwheretheshoutscamefromatfirst，but，ifhekeptthemup，someone\'sattentionwouldbeattractedintheend。

Hepickedalarge-sizedsolidpieceofcoaloutoftheheapinthescuttle，andthrewitwithallhisforceagainstthegrimyglass。Itsmashedthroughandleftabighole。Hethrewanother，andtheentirepanewassplinteredandfelloutsideintothearea。Thenhesawitwasbroaddaylight，andguessedthathehadbeenshutupagoodmanyhours。Therewasplentyofcoalinthescuttle，andhehadastrongarmandagoodaim。Hesmashedpaneafterpane，untilonlytheframeworkremained。Whenheshouted，therewouldbenothingbetweenhisvoiceandthestreet。

Noonecouldseehim，butifhecoulddosomethingwhichwouldmakepeopleslackentheirpacetolisten，thenhecouldcalloutthathewasinthebasementofthehousewiththebrokenwindow。

``Hallo！\'\'heshouted。``Hallo！Hallo！Hallo！Hallo！\'\'

Butvehicleswerepassinginthestreet，andthepassers-bywereabsorbedintheirownbusiness。Iftheyheardasound，theydidnotstoptoinquireintoit。

``Hallo！Hallo！Iamlockedin！\'\'yelledMarco，atthetopmostpowerofhislungs。``Hallo！Hallo！\'\'

Afterhalfanhour\'sshouting，hebegantothinkthathewaswastinghisstrength。

``Theyonlythinkitisaboyshouting，\'\'hesaid。``Someonewillnoticeintime。Atnight，whenthestreetsarequiet，I

mightmakeapolicemanhear。ButmyfatherdoesnotknowwhereIam。Hewillbetryingtofindme——sowillLazarus——sowillTheRat。Oneofthemmightpassthroughthisverystreet，asIdid。

WhatcanIdo！\'\'

Anewideaflashedlightuponhim。

``IwillbegintosingaSamaviansong，andIwillsingitveryloud。Peoplenearlyalwaysstopamomenttolistentomusicandfindoutwhereitcomesfrom。Andifanyofmyownpeoplecamenear，theywouldstopatonce——andnowandthenIwillshoutforhelp。\'\'

OncewhentheyhadstoppedtorestonHampsteadHeath，hehadsungavaliantSamaviansongforTheRat。TheRathadwantedtohearhowhewouldsingwhentheywentontheirsecretjourney。

HewantedhimtosingfortheSquadsomeday，tomakethethingseemreal。TheRathadbeengreatlyexcited，andhadbeggedforthesongoften。Itwasastirringmartialthingwithasortoftrumpetcallofachorus。ThousandsofSamavianshadsungittogetherontheirwaytothebattle-field，hundredsofyearsago。

Hedrewbackasteporso，and，puttinghishandsonhiships，begantosing，throwinghisvoiceupwardthatitmightpassthroughthebrokenwindow。Hehadasplendidandvibrantyoungvoice，thoughheknewnothingofitsfinequality。Justnowhewantedonlytomakeitloud。

Inthestreetoutsideveryfewpeoplewerepassing。Anirritableoldgentlemanwhowastakinganinvalidwalkquitejumpedwithannoyancewhenthesongsuddenlytrumpetedforth。Boyshadnorighttoyellinthatmanner。Hehurriedhissteptogetawayfromthesound。Twoorthreeotherpeopleglancedovertheirshoulders，buthadnottimetoloiter。Afewotherslistenedwithpleasureastheydrewnearandpassedon。

``There\'saboywithafinevoice，\'\'saidone。

``What\'shesinging？\'\'saidhiscompanion。``Itsoundsforeign。\'\'

``Don\'tknow，\'\'wasthereplyastheywentby。Butatlastayoungmanwhowasamusic-teacher，goingtogivealesson，hesitatedandlookedabouthim。Thesongwasveryloudandspiritedjustatthismoment。Themusic-teachercouldnotunderstandwhereitcamefrom，andpausedtofindout。Thefactthathestoppedattractedtheattentionofthenextcomer，whoalsopaused。

``Who\'ssinging？\'\'heasked。``Whereishesinging？\'\'

``Ican\'tmakeout，\'\'themusic-teacherlaughed。``Soundsasifitcameoutoftheground。\'\'

And，becauseitwasqueerthatasongshouldseemtobecomingoutoftheground，acostermongerstopped，andthenalittleboy，andthenaworkingwoman，andthenalady。

Therewasquitealittlegroupwhenanotherpersonturnedthecornerofthestreet。Hewasashabbyboyoncrutches，andhehadafranticlookonhisface。

AndMarcoactuallyheard，ashedrewneartothegroup，thetap-tap-tapofcrutches。

``Itmightbe，\'\'hethought。``Itmightbe！\'\'

Andhesangthetrumpet-callofthechorusasifitweremeanttoreachtheskies，andhesangitagainandagain。Andattheendofitshouted，``Hallo！Hallo！Hallo！Hallo！Hallo！\'\'

TheRatswunghimselfintothegroupandlookedasifhehadgonecrazy。Hehurledhimselfagainstthepeople。

``Whereishe！Whereishe！\'\'hecried，andhepouredoutsomebreathlesswords；itwasalmostasifhesobbedthemout。

``We\'vebeenlookingforhimallnight！\'\'heshouted。``Whereishe！Marco！Marco！Nooneelsesingsitbuthim。Marco！

Marco！\'\'Andoutofthearea，asitseemed，cameashoutofanswer。

``Rat！Rat！I\'mhereinthecellar——lockedin。I\'mhere！\'\'andabigpieceofcoalcamehurtlingthroughthebrokenwindowandfellcrashingontheareaflags。TheRatgotdownthestepsintotheareaasifhehadnotbeenoncrutchesbutonlegs，andbangedonthedoor，shoutingback：

``Marco！Marco！HereIam！Wholockedyouin？HowcanIgetthedooropen？\'\'

Marcowascloseagainstthedoorinside。ItwasTheRat！ItwasTheRat！Andhewouldbeinthestreetagaininafewminutes。

``Callapoliceman！\'\'heshoutedthroughthekeyhole。``Thepeoplelockedmeinonpurposeandtookawaythekeys。\'\'

Thenthegroupoflookers-onbegantogetexcitedandpressagainstthearearailingsandaskquestions。Theycouldnotunderstandwhathadhappenedtocausetheboywiththecrutchestolookasifhewerecrazywithterrorandreliefatthesametime。

Andthelittleboyrandelightedlytofetchapoliceman，andfoundoneinthenextstreet，and，withsomedifficulty，persuadedhimthatitwashisbusinesstocomeandgetadooropeninanemptyhousewhereaboywhowasastreetsingerhadgotlockedupinacellar。

XVII

``ITISAVERYBADSIGN\'\'

Thepolicemanwasnotsomuchexcitedasoutoftemper。HedidnotknowwhatMarcokneworwhatTheRatknew。Somecommonladhadgothimselflockedupinahouse，andsomeonewouldhavetogotothelandlordandgetakeyfromhim。Hehadnointentionoflayinghimselfopentothelawbybreakingintoaprivatehousewithhistruncheon，asTheRatexpectedhimtodo。

``Hegothimselfinthroughsomeofhislarks，andhe\'llhavetowaittillhe\'sgotoutwithoutsmashinglocks，\'\'hegrowled，shakingtheareadoor。``Howdidyougetinthere？\'\'heshouted。

ItwasnoteasyforMarcotoexplainthroughakeyholethathehadcomeintohelpaladywhohadmetwithanaccident。Thepolicemanthoughtthismereboy\'stalk。Astotherestofthestory，Marcoknewthatitcouldnotberelatedatallwithoutsayingthingswhichcouldnotbeexplainedtoanyonebuthisfather。Hequicklymadeuphismindthathemustletitbebelievedthathehadbeenlockedinbysomequeeraccident。Itmustbesupposedthatthepeoplehadnotremembered，intheirhaste，thathehadnotyetleftthehouse。

Whentheyoungclerkfromthehouseagencycamewiththekeys，hewasmuchdisturbedandbewilderedafterhegotinside。

``They\'vemadeaboltofit，\'\'hesaid。``Thathappensnowandthen，butthere\'ssomethingqueeraboutthis。Whatdidtheylockthesedoorsinthebasementfor，andtheoneonthestairs？Whatdidtheysaytoyou？\'\'heaskedMarco，staringathimsuspiciously。

``Theysaidtheywereobligedtogosuddenly，\'\'Marcoanswered。

``Whatwereyoudoinginthebasement？\'\'

``Themantookmedown。\'\'

``Andleftyouthereandbolted？Hemusthavebeeninahurry。\'\'

``Theladysaidtheyhadnotamoment\'stime。\'\'

``Heranklemusthavegotwellinshortorder，\'\'saidtheyoungman。

``Iknewnothingaboutthem，\'\'answeredMarco。``Ihadneverseenthembefore。\'\'

``Thepolicewereafterthem，\'\'theyoungmansaid。``That\'swhatIshouldsay。Theypaidthreemonths\'rentinadvance，andtheyhaveonlybeenheretwo。SomeoftheseforeignspieslurkingaboutLondon；that\'swhattheywere。\'\'

TheRathadnotwaiteduntilthekeysarrived。HehadswunghimselfathisswiftestpacebackthroughthestreetstoNo。7

PhilibertPlace。Peopleturnedandstaredathiswildpalefaceashealmostshotpastthem。

Hehadlefthimselfbarelybreathenoughtospeakwithwhenhereachedthehouseandbangedonthedoorwithhiscrutchtosavetime。

BothLoristanandLazaruscametoanswer。

TheRatleanedagainstthedoorgasping。

``He\'sfound！He\'sallright！\'\'hepanted。``Someonehadlockedhiminahouseandlefthim。They\'vesentforthekeys。

I\'mgoingback。BrandonTerrace，No。10。\'\'

LoristanandLazarusexchangedglances。BothofthemwereatthemomentaspaleasTheRat。

``Helphimintothehouse，\'\'saidLoristantoLazarus。``Hemuststayhereandrest。Wewillgo。\'\'TheRatknewitwasanorder。

Hedidnotlikeit，butheobeyed。

``Thisisabadsign，Master，\'\'saidLazarus，astheywentouttogether。

``Itisaverybadone，\'\'answeredLoristan。

``GodoftheRight，defendus！\'\'Lazarusgroaned。

``Amen！\'\'saidLoristan。``Amen！\'\'

ThegrouphadbecomeasmallcrowdbythetimetheyreachedBrandonTerrace。Marcohadnotfounditeasytoleavetheplacebecausehewasbeingquestioned。Neitherthepolicemannortheagent\'sclerkseemedwillingtorelinquishtheideathathecouldgivethemsomeinformationabouttheabscondingpair。

TheentranceofLoristanproduceditsusualeffect。Theagent\'sclerkliftedhishat，andthepolicemanstoodstraightandmadesalute。Neitherofthemrealizedthatthetallman\'sclotheswerewornandthreadbare。Theyfeltonlythatapersonagewasbeforethem，andthatitwasnotpossibletoquestionhisairofabsoluteandsereneauthority。HelaidhishandonMarco\'sshoulderandhelditthereashespoke。WhenMarcolookedupathimandfelttheclosenessofhistouch，itseemedasifitwereanembrace——asifhehadcaughthimtohisbreast。

``Myboyknewnothingofthesepeople，\'\'hesaid。``ThatIcanguarantee。Hehadseenneitherofthembefore。Hisenteringthehousewastheresultofnoboyishtrick。Hehasbeenshutupinthisplacefornearlytwenty-fourhoursandhashadnofood。I

musttakehimhome。Thisismyaddress。\'\'Hehandedtheyoungmanacard。

Thentheywenthometogether，andallthewaytoPhilibertPlaceLoristan\'sfirmhandheldcloselytohisboy\'sshoulderasifhecouldnotenduretolethimgo。Butonthewaytheysaidverylittle。

``Father，\'\'Marcosaid，ratherhoarsely，whentheyfirstgotawayfromthehouseintheterrace，``Ican\'ttalkwellinthestreet。

Foronething，Iamsogladtobewithyouagain。Itseemedasif——itmightturnoutbadly。\'\'

``Belovedone，\'\'LoristansaidthewordsintheirownSamavian，``untilyouarefedandatrest，youshallnottalkatall。\'\'

Afterward，whenhewashimselfagainandwasallowedtotellhisstrangestory，MarcofoundthatbothhisfatherandLazarushadatoncehadsuspicionswhenhehadnotreturned。Theyknewnoordinaryeventcouldhavekepthim。Theyweresurethathemusthavebeendetainedagainsthiswill，andtheywerealsosurethat，ifhehadbeensodetained，itcouldonlyhavebeenforreasonstheycouldguessat。

``Thiswasthecardthatshegaveme，\'\'Marcosaid，andhehandedittoLoristan。``Shesaidyouwouldrememberthename。\'\'

Loristanlookedattheletteringwithanironichalf-smile。

``Ineverhearditbefore，\'\'hereplied。``ShewouldnotsendmeanameIknew。ProbablyIhaveneverseeneitherofthem。ButI

knowtheworktheydo。TheyarespiesoftheMaranovitch，andsuspectthatIknowsomethingoftheLostPrince。Theybelievedtheycouldterrifyyouintosayingthingswhichwouldbeaclue。

Menandwomenoftheirclasswillusedesperatemeanstogaintheirend。\'\'

``Mightthey——haveleftmeastheythreatened？\'\'Marcoaskedhim。

``Theywouldscarcelyhavedared，Ithink。Toogreatahueandcrywouldhavebeenraisedbythediscoveryofsuchacrime。Toomanydetectiveswouldhavebeensetatworktotrackthem。\'\'

Butthelookinhisfather\'seyesashespoke，andthepressureofthehandhestretchedouttotouchhim，madeMarco\'sheartthrill。Hehadwonanewloveandtrustfromhisfather。Whentheysattogetherandtalkedthatnight，theywereclosertoeachother\'ssoulsthantheyhadeverbeenbefore。

Theysatinthefirelight，Marcouponthewornhearth-rug，andtheytalkedaboutSamavia——aboutthewaranditsheart-rendingstruggles，andabouthowtheymightend。

``Doyouthinkthatsometimewemightbeexilesnolonger？\'\'theboysaidwistfully。``Doyouthinkwemightgotheretogether——andseeit——youandI，Father？\'\'

Therewasasilenceforawhile。Loristanlookedintothesinkingbedofredcoal。

``Foryears——foryearsIhavemadeformysoulthatimage，\'\'hesaidslowly。``WhenIthinkofmyfriendonthesideoftheHimalayanMountains，Isay，`TheThoughtwhichThoughttheWorldmaygiveusthatalso！\'\'\'

XVIII

``CITIESANDFACES\'\'

ThehoursofMarco\'sunexplainedabsencehadbeenterribletoLoristanandtoLazarus。Theyhadreasonforfearswhichitwasnotpossibleforthemtoexpress。Asthenightdrewon，thefearstookstrongerform。TheyforgottheexistenceofTheRat，whosatbitinghisnailsinthebedroom，afraidtogooutlesthemightlosethechanceofbeinggivensomeerrandtodobutalsoafraidtoshowhimselflestheshouldseemintheway。

``I\'llstayupstairs，\'\'hehadsaidtoLazarus。``Ifyoujustwhistle，I\'llcome。\'\'

TheanguishhepassedthroughasthedaywentbyandLazaruswentoutandcameinandhehimselfreceivednoorders，couldnothavebeenexpressedinanyordinarywords。Hewrithedinhischair，hebithisnailstothequick，hewroughthimselfintoafrenzyofmiseryandterrorbyrecallingonebyoneallthecrimeshisknowledgeofLondonpolice-courtssuppliedhimwith。

Hewasdoingnothing，yethedarenotleavehispost。Itwashispostafterall，thoughtheyhadnotgivenittohim。Hemustdosomething。

InthemiddleofthenightLoristanopenedthedoorofthebacksitting-room，becauseheknewhemustatleastgoupstairsandthrowhimselfuponhisbedevenifhecouldnotsleep。

Hestartedbackasthedooropened。TheRatwassittinghuddledonthefloornearitwithhisbackagainstthewall。Hehadapieceofpaperinhishandandhistwistedfacewasaweirdthingtosee。

``Whyareyouhere？\'\'Loristanasked。

``I\'vebeenherethreehours，sir。Iknewyou\'dhavetocomeoutsometimeandIthoughtyou\'dletmespeaktoyou。Willyou——

willyou？\'\'

``Comeintotheroom，\'\'saidLoristan。``Iwilllistentoanythingyouwanttosay。Whathaveyoubeendrawingonthatpaper？\'\'asTheRatgotupinthewonderfulwayhehadtaughthimself。Thepaperwascoveredwithlineswhichshowedittobeanotherofhisplans。

``Pleaselookatit，\'\'hebegged。``Idaren\'tgooutlestyoumightwanttosendmesomewhere。Idaren\'tsitdoingnothing。I

beganrememberingandthinkingthingsout。IputdownallthestreetsandsquaresheMIGHThavewalkedthroughonhiswayhome。

I\'venotmissedone。Ifyou\'llletmestartoutandwalkthrougheveryoneofthemandtalktothepolicemenonthebeatandlookatthehouses——andthinkoutthingsandworkatthem——I\'llnotmissaninch——I\'llnotmissabrickoraflagstone——I\'ll——\'\'Hisvoicehadahardsoundbutitshook，andhehimselfshook。

Loristantouchedhisarmgently。

``Youareagoodcomrade，\'\'hesaid。``Itiswellforusthatyouarehere。Youhavethoughtofagoodthing。\'\'

``MayIgonow？\'\'saidTheRat。

``Thismoment，ifyouareready，\'\'wastheanswer。TheRatswunghimselftothedoor。

Loristansaidtohimathingwhichwaslikethesuddenlightingofagreatlightintheverycenterofhisbeing。

``Youareoneofus。NowthatIknowyouaredoingthisImayevensleep。Youareoneofus。\'\'AnditwasbecausehewasfollowingthisplanthatTheRathadturnedintoBrandonTerraceandheardtheSamaviansongringingoutfromthelockedbasementofNumber10。

``Yes，heisoneofus，\'\'Loristansaid，whenhetoldthispartofthestorytoMarcoastheysatbythefire。``Ihadnotbeensurebefore。Iwantedtobeverysure。LastnightIsawintothedepthsofhimandKNEW。Hemaybetrusted。\'\'

FromthatdayTheRatheldanewplace。Lazarushimself，strangelyenough，didnotresenthisholdingit。TheboywasallowedtobenearLoristanashehadneverdaredtohopetobenear。Itwasnotmerelythathewasallowedtoservehiminmanyways，buthewastakenintotheintimacywhichhadbeforeenclosedonlythethree。LoristantalkedtohimashetalkedtoMarco，drawinghimwithinthecirclewhichheldsomuchthatwascomprehendedwithoutspeech。TheRatknewthathewasbeingtrainedandobservedandherealizeditwithexaltation。Hisidolhadsaidthathewas``oneofthem\'\'andhewaswatchingandputtinghimtotestssothathemightfindouthowmuchhewasoneofthem。Andhewasdoingitforsomegravereasonofhisown。ThisthoughtpossessedTheRat\'swholemind。Perhapshewaswonderingifheshouldfindoutthathewastobetrusted，asarockistobetrusted。Thatheshouldeventhinkthatperhapshemightfindthathewaslikearock，wasinspirationenough。

``Sir，\'\'hesaidonenightwhentheywerealonetogether，becauseTheRathadbeencopyingaroad-map。Hisvoicewasverylow——

``doyouthinkthat——sometime——youcouldtrustmeasyoutrustMarco？Coulditeverbelikethat——ever？\'\'

``Thetimehascome，\'\'andLoristan\'svoicewasalmostaslowashisown，thoughstronganddeepfeelingunderlayitsquiet——

``thetimehascomewhenIcantrustyouwithMarco——tobehiscompanion——tocareforhim，tostandbyhissideatanymoment。

AndMarcois——Marcoismyson。\'\'ThatwasenoughtoupliftTheRattotheskies。Buttherewasmoretofollow。

``Itmaynotbelongbeforeitmaybehisparttodoworkinwhichhewillneedacomradewhocanbetrusted——asarockcanbetrusted。\'\'

HehadsaidtheverywordsTheRat\'sownmindhadgiventohim。

``ARock！ARock！\'\'theboybrokeout。``Letmeshowyou，sir。

Sendmewithhimforaservant。Thecrutchesarenothing。

You\'veseenthatthey\'reasgoodaslegs，haven\'tyou？I\'vetrainedmyself。\'\'

``Iknow，Iknow，dearlad。\'\'Marcohadtoldhimallofit。Hegavehimagracioussmilewhichseemedasifitheldasortoffinesecret。``Youshallgoashisaide-de-camp。Itshallbepartofthegame。\'\'

Hehadalwaysencouraged``thegame，\'\'andduringthelastweekshadevenfoundtimetohelpthemintheirplanningsforthemysteriousjourneyoftheSecretTwo。HehadbeensointerestedthatonceortwicehehadcalledonLazarusasanoldsoldierandSamaviantogivehisopinionsofcertainroutes——andofthecustomsandhabitsofpeopleintownsandvillagesbytheway。

Heretheywouldfindsimplepastoralfolkwhodanced，sangaftertheirday\'swork，andwhowouldtellalltheyknew；heretheywouldfindthosewhoservedorfearedtheMaranovitchandwhowouldnottalkatall。Inoneplacetheywouldmeetwithhospitality，inanotherwithunfriendlysuspicionofallstrangers。ThroughtalkandstoriesTheRatbegantoknowthecountryalmostasMarcoknewit。Thatwaspartofthegametoo——becauseitwasalways``thegame，\'\'theycalledit。AnotherpartwasTheRat\'strainingofhismemory，andbringinghomehisproofsofadvanceatnightwhenhereturnedfromhiswalkandcoulddescribe，orrecite，orroughlysketchallhehadseeninhispassagefromoneplacetoanother。Marco\'spartwastorecallandsketchfaces。Loristanonenightgavehimanumberofphotographsofpeopletocommittomemory。Undereachfacewaswrittenthenameofaplace。

``Learnthesefaces，\'\'hesaid，``untilyouwouldknoweachoneofthematoncewheresoeveryoumetit。Fixthemuponyourmind，sothatitwillbeimpossibleforyoutoforgetthem。Youmustbeabletosketchanyoneofthemandrecallthecityortownorneighborhoodconnectedwithit。\'\'

Eventhiswasstillcalled``thegame，\'\'butMarcobegantoknowinhissecretheartthatitwassomuchmore，thathishandsometimestrembledwithexcitementashemadehissketchesoverandoveragain。Tomakeeachonemanytimeswasthebestwaytoimbeditinhismemory。TheRatknew，too，thoughhehadnoreasonforknowing，butmereinstinct。HeusedtolieawakeinthenightandthinkitoverandrememberwhatLoristanhadsaidofthetimecomingwhenMarcomightneedacomradeinhiswork。

Whatwashisworktobe？Itwastobesomethinglike``thegame。\'\'Andtheywerebeingpreparedforit。AndthoughMarcooftenlayawakeonhisbedwhenTheRatlayawakeonhissofa，neitherboyspoketotheotherofthethinghisminddwelton。

AndMarcoworkedashehadneverworkedbefore。Thegamewasveryexcitingwhenhecouldprovehisprowess。Thefourgatheredtogetheratnightinthebacksitting-room。Lazaruswasobligedtobewiththembecauseasecondjudgewasneeded。Loristanwouldmentionthenameofaplace，perhapsastreetinParisorahotelinVienna，andMarcowouldatoncemakearapidsketchofthefaceunderwhosephotographthenameofthelocalityhadbeenwritten。Itwasnotlongbeforehecouldbeginhissketchwithoutmorethanamoment\'shesitation。Andyetevenwhenthishadbecomethecase，theystillplayedthegamenightafternight。TherewasagreathotelnearthePlacedelaConcordeinParis，ofwhichMarcofeltheshouldneverhearthenameduringallhislifewithouttherestartingupbeforehismentalvisionatallwomanwithfierceblackeyesandadelicatehigh-bridgednoseacrosswhichthestrongeyebrowsalmostmet。InViennatherewasapalacewhichwouldalwaysbringbackatonceapalecold-facedmanwithaheavyblondelockwhichfelloverhisforehead。AcertainstreetinMunichmeantastoutgenialoldaristocratwithaslysmile；avillageinBavaria，apeasantwithavacantandsimplecountenance。Acurledandsmoothedmanwholookedlikeahair-dresserbroughtupaplaceinanAustrianmountaintown。HeknewthemallasheknewhisownfaceandNo。

7PhilibertPlace。

Butstillnightafternightthegamewasplayed。

Thencameanightwhen，outofadeepsleep，hewasawakenedbyLazarustouchinghim。Hehadsolongbeensecretlyreadytoansweranycallthathesatupstraightinbedatthefirsttouch。

``Dressquicklyandcomedownstairs，\'\'Lazarussaid。``ThePrinceishereandwishestospeakwithyou。\'\'

Marcomadenoanswerbutgotoutofbedandbegantosliponhisclothes。

LazarustouchedTheRat。

TheRatwasasreadyasMarcoandsatuprightashehaddone。

``ComedownwiththeyoungMaster，\'\'hecommanded。``Itisnecessarythatyoushouldbeseenandspokento。\'\'Andhavinggiventheorderhewentaway。

Nooneheardtheshoelessfeetofthetwoboysastheystoledownthestairs。

Anelderlymaninordinaryclothes，butwithanunmistakableface，wassittingquietlytalkingtoLoristanwhowithagesturecalledbothforward。

``ThePrincehasbeenmuchinterestedinwhatIhavetoldhimofyourgame，\'\'hesaidinhislowestvoice。``Hewishestoseeyoumakeyoursketches，Marco。\'\'

MarcolookedverystraightintothePrince\'seyeswhichwerefixedintentlyonhimashemadehisbow。

``HisHighnessdoesmehonor，\'\'hesaid，ashisfathermighthavesaidit。Hewenttothetableatonceandtookfromadrawerhispencilsandpiecesofcardboard。

``IshouldknowhewasyoursonandaSamavian，\'\'thePrinceremarked。

Thenhiskeenanddeep-seteyesturnedthemselvesontheboywiththecrutches。

``This，\'\'saidLoristan，``istheonewhocallshimselfTheRat。

Heisoneofus。\'\'

TheRatsaluted。

``Pleasetellhim，sir，\'\'hewhispered，``thatthecrutchesdon\'tmatter。\'\'

``Hehastrainedhimselftoanextraordinaryactivity，\'\'Loristansaid。``Hecandoanything。\'\'

ThekeeneyeswerestilltakingTheRatin。

``Theyareanadvantage，\'\'saidthePrinceatlast。

Lazarushadnailedtogetheralight，rougheaselwhichMarcousedinmakinghissketcheswhenthegamewasplayed。Lazaruswasstandinginstateatthedoor，andhecameforward，broughttheeaselfromitscorner，andarrangedthenecessarydrawingmaterialsuponit。

Marcostoodnearitandwaitedthepleasureofhisfatherandhisvisitor。Theywerespeakingtogetherinlowtonesandhewaitedseveralminutes。WhatTheRatnoticedwaswhathehadnoticedbefore——thatthebigboycouldstandstillinperfecteaseandsilence。Itwasnotnecessaryforhimtosaythingsortoaskquestions——tolookatpeopleasifhefeltrestlessiftheydidnotspeaktoornoticehim。Hedidnotseemtorequirenotice，andTheRatfeltvaguelythat，youngashewas，thisveryfreedomfromanyanxietytobelookedatoraddressedmadehimsomehowlooklikeagreatgentleman。

LoristanandthePrinceadvancedtowherehestood。

``L\'HoteldeMarigny，\'\'Loristansaid。

Marcobegantosketchrapidly。Hebegantheportraitofthehandsomewomanwiththedelicatehigh-bridgednoseandtheblackbrowswhichalmostmet。Ashedidit，thePrincedrewnearerandwatchedtheworkoverhisshoulder。Itdidnottakeverylongand，whenitwasfinished，theinspectorturned，andaftergivingLoristanalongandstrangelook，noddedtwice。

``Itisaremarkablething，\'\'hesaid。``Inthatroughsketchsheisnottobemistaken。\'\'

Loristanbenthishead。

Thenhementionedthenameofanotherstreetinanotherplace——andMarcosketchedagain。Thistimeitwasthepeasantwiththesimpleface。ThePrincebowedagain。ThenLoristangaveanothername，andafterthatanotherandanother；andMarcodidhisworkuntilitwasatanend，andLazarusstoodnearwithahandfulofsketcheswhichhehadsilentlytakenchargeofaseachwaslaidaside。

``Youwouldknowthesefaceswheresoeveryousawthem？\'\'saidthePrince。``IfyoupassedoneinBondStreetorintheMaryleboneRoad，youwouldrecognizeitatonce？\'\'

``AsIknowyours，sir，\'\'Marcoanswered。

Thenfollowedanumberofquestions。Loristanaskedthemashehadoftenaskedthembefore。Theywerequestionsastotheheightandbuildoftheoriginalsofthepictures，ofthecoloroftheirhairandeyes，andtheorderoftheircomplexions。

Marcoansweredthemall。Heknewallbutthenamesofthesepeople，anditwasplainlynotnecessarythatheshouldknowthem，ashisfatherhadneverutteredthem。

AfterthisquestioningwasatanendthePrincepointedtoTheRatwhohadleanedonhiscrutchesagainstthewall，hiseyesfiercelyeagerlikeaferret\'s。

``Andhe？\'\'thePrincesaid。``Whatcanhedo？\'\'

``Letmetry，\'\'saidTheRat。``Marcoknows。\'\'

Marcolookedathisfather。

``MayIhelphimtoshowyou？\'\'heasked。

``Yes，\'\'Loristananswered，andthen，asheturnedtothePrince，hesaidagaininhislowvoice：``HEISONEOFUS。\'\'

ThenMarcobegananewformofthegame。HehelduponeofthepicturedfacesbeforeTheRat，andTheRatnamedatoncethecityandplaceconnectedwithit，hedetailedthecolorofeyesandhair，theheight，thebuild，allthepersonaldetailsasMarcohimselfhaddetailedthem。Totheseheaddeddescriptionsofthecities，andpointsconcerningthepolicesystem，thepalaces，thepeople。Hisfacetwisteditself，hiseyesburned，hisvoiceshook，buthewasamazinginhisreadinessofreplyandhisexactnessofmemory。

``Ican\'tdraw，\'\'hesaidattheend。``ButIcanremember。I

didn\'twantanyonetobebotheredwiththinkingIwastryingtolearnit。SoonlyMarcoknew。\'\'

ThishesaidtoLoristanwithappealinhisvoice。

``Itwashewhoinvented`thegame，\'\'\'saidLoristan。``I

showedyouhisstrangemapsandplans。\'\'

``Itisagoodgame，\'\'thePrinceansweredinthemannerofamanextraordinarilyinterestedandimpressed。``Theyknowitwell。

Theycanbetrusted。\'\'

``Nosuchthinghaseverbeendonebefore，\'\'Loristansaid。``Itisasnewasitisdaringandsimple。\'\'

``Thereinliesitssafety，\'\'thePrinceanswered。

``Perhapsonlyboyhood，\'\'saidLoristan，``couldhavedaredtoimagineit。\'\'

``ThePrincethanksyou，\'\'hesaidafterafewmorewordsspokenasidetohisvisitor。``Weboththankyou。Youmaygobacktoyourbeds。\'\'

Andtheboyswent。

XIX

``THATISONE！\'\'

AweekhadnotpassedbeforeMarcobroughttoTheRatintheirbedroomanenvelopecontaininganumberofslipsofpaperoneachofwhichwaswrittensomething。

``Thisisanotherpartofthegame，\'\'hesaidgravely。``Letussitdowntogetherbythetableandstudyit。\'\'

Theysatdownandexaminedwhatwaswrittenontheslips。AttheheadofeachwasthenameofoneoftheplaceswithwhichMarcohadconnectedafacehehadsketched。Belowwereclearandconcisedirectionsastohowitwastobereachedandthewordstobesaidwheneachindividualwasencountered。

``Thispersonistobefoundathisstallinthemarket，\'\'waswrittenofthevacant-facedpeasant。``Youwillfirstattracthisattentionbyaskingthepriceofsomething。Whenheislookingatyou，touchyourleftthumblightlywiththeforefingerofyourrighthand。Thenutterinalowdistincttonethewords`TheLampislighted。\'Thatisallyouaretodo。\'\'

Sometimesthedirectionswerenotquitesosimple，buttheywereallinstructionsofthesameorder。Theoriginalsofthesketchesweretobesoughtout——alwayswithprecautionwhichshouldconcealthattheywerebeingsoughtatall，andalwaysinsuchamanneraswouldcauseanencountertoappeartobemerechance。Thencertainwordsweretobeuttered，butalwayswithoutattractingtheattentionofanybystanderorpasser-by。

Theboysworkedattheirtaskthroughtheentireday。Theyconcentratedalltheirpowersuponit。Theywroteandre-wrote——theyrepeatedtoeachotherwhattheycommittedtomemoryasifitwerealesson。Marcoworkedwiththegreatereaseandmorerapidly，becauseexerciseofthisorderhadbeenhispracticeandentertainmentfromhisbabyhood。TheRat，however，almostkeptpacewithhim，ashehadbeenbornwithaphenomenalmemoryandhiseagernessanddesirewereafury。

Butthroughouttheentiredayneitherofthemoncereferredtowhattheyweredoingasanythingbut``thegame。\'\'

Atnight，itistrue，eachfoundhimselflyingawakeandthinking。ItwasTheRatwhobrokethesilencefromhissofa。

``ItiswhatthemessengersoftheSecretPartywouldbeorderedtodowhentheyweresentouttogivetheSignfortheRising，\'\'

hesaid。``ImadethatupthefirstdayIinventedtheparty，didn\'tI？\'\'

``Yes，\'\'answeredMarco。

Afterathirdday\'sconcentrationtheyknewbyhearteverythinggiventothemtolearn。ThatnightLoristanputthemthroughanexamination。

``Canyouwritethesethings？\'\'heasked，aftereachhadrepeatedthemandemergedsafelyfromallcross-questioning。

Eachboywrotethemcorrectlyfrommemory。

``WriteyoursinFrench——inGerman——inRussian——inSamavian，\'\'

LoristansaidtoMarco。

``Allyouhavetoldmetodoandtolearnispartofmyself，Father，\'\'Marcosaidintheend。``Itispartofme，asifitweremyhandormyeyes——ormyheart。\'\'

``Ibelievethatistrue，\'\'answeredLoristan。

Hewaspalethatnightandtherewasashadowonhisface。HiseyesheldagreatlongingastheyrestedonMarco。Itwasayearningwhichhadasortofdreadinit。

Lazarusalsodidnotseemquitehimself。Hewasredinsteadofpale，andhismovementswereuncertainandrestless。Heclearedhisthroatnervouslyatintervalsandmorethanoncelefthischairasiftolookforsomething。

ItwasalmostmidnightwhenLoristan，standingnearMarco，puthisarmroundhisshoulders。

``TheGame\'\'——hebegan，andthenwassilentafewmomentswhileMarcofelthisarmtightenitshold。BothMarcoandTheRatfeltahardquickbeatintheirbreasts，and，becauseofthisandbecausethepauseseemedlong，Marcospoke。

``TheGame——yes，Father？\'\'hesaid。

``TheGameisabouttogiveyouworktodo——bothofyou，\'\'

Loristananswered。

Lazarusclearedhisthroatandwalkedtotheeaselinthecorneroftheroom。Butheonlychangedthepositionofapieceofdrawing-paperonitandthencameback。

``IntwodaysyouaretogotoParis——asyou，\'\'toTheRat，``plannedinthegame。\'\'

``AsIplanned？\'\'TheRatbarelybreathedthewords。

``Yes，\'\'answeredLoristan。``Theinstructionsyouhavelearnedyouwillcarryout。Thereisnomoretobedonethantomanagetoapproachcertainpersonscloselyenoughtobeabletouttercertainwordstothem。\'\'

``Onlytwoyoungstrollerswhomnomancouldsuspect，\'\'putinLazarusinanastonishinglyroughandshakyvoice。``TheycouldpassneartheEmperorhimselfwithoutdanger。TheyoungMaster——\'\'hisvoicebecamesohoarsethathewasobligatedtoclearitloudly——``theyoungMastermustcarryhimselflessfinely。Itwouldbewelltoshufflealittleandslouchasifhewereofthecommonpeople。\'\'

``Yes，\'\'saidTheRathastily。``Hemustdothat。Icanteachhim。Heholdshisheadandhisshoulderslikeagentleman。Hemustlooklikeastreetlad。\'\'

``Iwilllooklikeone，\'\'saidMarco，withdetermination。

``Iwilltrustyoutoremindhim，\'\'LoristansaidtoTheRat，andhesaiditwithgravity。``Thatwillbeyourcharge。\'\'

Ashelayuponhispillowthatnight，itseemedtoMarcoasifaloadhadlifteditselffromhisheart。Itwastheloadofuncertaintyandlonging。Hehadsolongbornethepainoffeelingthathewastooyoungtobeallowedtoserveinanyway。

Hisdreamshadneverbeenwildones——theyhadinfactalwaysbeenboyishandmodest，howsoeverromantic。Butnownodreamwhichcouldhavepassedthroughhisbrainwouldhaveseemedsowonderfulasthis——thatthehourhadcome——thehourhadcome——andthathe，Marco，wastobeitsmessenger。Hewastodonodramaticdeedandbeannouncedbynoflourishofheralds。Noonewouldknowwhathedid。Whatheachievedcouldonlybeattainedifheremainedobscureandunknownandseemedtoeveryoneonlyacommonordinaryboywhoknewnothingwhateverofimportantthings。Buthisfatherhadgiventohimagiftsosplendidthathetrembledwithaweandjoyashethoughtofit。TheGamehadbecomereal。HeandTheRatweretocarrywiththemTheSign，anditwouldbelikecarryingatinylamptosetaflamelightswhichwouldblazefromonemountain-toptoanotheruntilhalftheworldseemedonfire。

AshehadawakenedoutofhissleepwhenLazarustouchedhim，soheawakenedinthemiddleofthenightagain。Buthewasnotarousedbyatouch。Whenheopenedhiseyesheknewitwasalookwhichhadpenetratedhissleep——alookintheeyesofhisfatherwhowasstandingbyhisside。IntheroadoutsidetherewastheuttersilencehehadnoticedthenightofthePrince\'sfirstvisit——theonlylightwasthatofthelampinthestreet，buthecouldseeLoristan\'sfaceclearlyenoughtoknowthatthemereintensityofhisgazehadawakenedhim。TheRatwassleepingprofoundly。LoristanspokeinSamavianandunderhisbreath。

``Belovedone，\'\'hesaid。``Youareveryyoung。BecauseIamyourfather——justatthishourIcanfeelnothingelse。Ihavetrainedyouforthisthroughalltheyearsofyourlife。Iamproudofyouryoungmaturityandstrengthbut——Beloved——youareachild！CanIdothisthing！\'\'

Forthemoment，hisfaceandhisvoicewerescarcelylikehisown。

Hekneeledbythebedside，and，ashedidit，Marcohalfsittingupcaughthishandandheldithardagainsthisbreast。

``Father，Iknow！\'\'hecriedunderhisbreathalso。``Itistrue。IamachildbutamInotamanalso？Youyourselfsaidit。Ialwaysknewthatyouwereteachingmetobeone——forsomereason。ItwasmysecretthatIknewit。IlearnedwellbecauseIneverforgotit。AndIlearned。DidInot？\'\'

Hewassoeagerthathelookedmorelikeaboythanever。Buthisyoungstrengthandcourageweresplendidtosee。Loristanknewhimthroughandthroughandreadeveryboyishthoughtofhis。

``Yes，\'\'heansweredslowly。``Youdidyourpart——andnowifI——

drewback——youwouldfeelthatIHADFAILEDYOU-FAILEDYOU。\'\'

``You！\'\'Marcobreatheditproudly。``YouCOULDnotfaileventheweakestthingintheworld。\'\'

Therewasamoment\'ssilenceinwhichthetwopairsofeyesdweltoneachotherwiththedeepestmeaning，andthenLoristanrosetohisfeet。

``Theendwillbeallthatourheartsmostwish，\'\'hesaid。

``To-morrowyoumaybeginthenewpartof`theGame。\'YoumaygotoParis。\'\'

WhenthetrainwhichwastomeettheboatthatcrossedfromDovertoCalaissteamedoutofthenoisyCharingCrossStation，itcarriedinathird-classcarriagetwoshabbyboys。Oneofthemwouldhavebeenahandsomeladifhehadnotcarriedhimselfslouchinglyandwalkedwithastreetlad\'scarelessshufflinggait。Theotherwasacripplewhomovedslowly，andapparentlywithdifficulty，oncrutches。Therewasnothingremarkableorpicturesqueenoughaboutthemtoattractattention。Theysatinthecornerofthecarriageandneithertalkedmuchnorseemedtobeparticularlyinterestedinthejourneyoreachother。Whentheywentonboardthesteamer，theyweresoonlostamongthecommonerpassengersandinfactfoundforthemselvesasecludedplacewhichwasnotadvantageousenoughtobewantedbyanyoneelse。

``Whatcansuchapoor-lookingpairofladsbegoingtoParisfor？\'\'someoneaskedhiscompanion。

``Notforpleasure，certainly；perhapstogetwork，\'\'wasthecasualanswer。

IntheeveningtheyreachedParis，andMarcoledthewaytoasmallcafeinaside-streetwheretheygotsomecheapfood。Inthesameside-streettheyfoundabedtheycouldshareforthenightinatinyroomoverabaker\'sshop。

TheRatwastoomuchexcitedtobereadytogotobedearly。HebeggedMarcotoguidehimaboutthebrilliantstreets。TheywentslowlyalongthebroadAvenuedesChampsElyseesunderthelightsglitteringamongthehorse-chestnuttrees。TheRat\'ssharpeyestookitallin——thelightofthecafesamongtheemboweringtrees，themanycarriagesrollingby，thepeoplewholoiteredandlaughedorsatatlittletablesdrinkingwineandlisteningtomusic，thebroadstreamoflifewhichflowedontotheArcdeTriompheandbackagain。

``It\'sbrighterandclearerthanLondon，\'\'hesaidtoMarco。

``ThepeoplelookasiftheywerehavingmorefunthantheydoinEngland。\'\'

ThePlacedelaConcordespreadingitsstatelyspaces——aworldofillumination，movement，andmajesticbeauty——heldhimasthoughbyafascination。Hewantedtostandandstareatit，firstfromonepointofviewandthenfromanother。ItwasbiggerandmorewonderfulthanhehadbeenabletopictureitwhenMarcohaddescribedittohimandtoldhimofthepartithadplayedinthedaysoftheFrenchRevolutionwhentheguillotinehadstoodinitandthetumbrilshademptiedthemselvesatthefootofitssteps。

HestoodneartheObeliskalongtimewithoutspeaking。

``Icanseeitallhappening，\'\'hesaidatlast，andhepulledMarcoaway。

Beforetheyreturnedhome，theyfoundtheirwaytoalargehousewhichstoodinacourtyard。Intheironworkofthehandsomegateswhichshutitinwaswroughtagildedcoronet。Thegateswereclosedandthehousewasnotbrightlylighted。

Theywalkedpastitandrounditwithoutspeaking，but，whentheynearedtheentranceforthesecondtime，TheRatsaidinalowtone：

``Sheisfivefeetseven，hasblackhair，anosewithahighbridge，hereyebrowsareblackandalmostmeetacrossit，shehasapaleoliveskinandholdsherheadproudly。\'\'

``Thatistheone，\'\'Marcoanswered。

TheywereaweekinParisandeachdaypassedthisbighouse。

Therewerecertainhourswhengreatladiesweremorelikelytogooutandcomeinthantheywereatothers。Marcoknewthis，andtheymanagedtobewithinsightofthehouseortopassitatthesehours。Fortwodaystheysawnosignofthepersontheywishedtosee，butonemorningthegateswerethrownopenandtheysawflowersandpalmsbeingtakenin。

``Shehasbeenawayandiscomingback，\'\'saidMarco。Thenextdaytheypassedthreetimes——onceatthehourwhenfashionablewomendriveouttodotheirshopping，onceatthetimewhenafternoonvisitingismostlikelytobegin，andoncewhenthestreetswerebrilliantwithlightsandthecarriageshadbeguntorollbytodinner-partiesandtheaters。

Then，astheystoodatalittledistancefromtheirongates，acarriagedrovethroughthemandstoppedbeforethebigopendoorwhichwasthrownopenbytwotallfootmeninsplendidlivery。

``Sheiscomingout，\'\'saidTheRat。

Theywouldbeabletoseeherplainlywhenshecame，becausethelightsovertheentranceweresobright。

Marcoslippedfromunderhiscoatsleeveacarefullymadesketch。

HelookedatitandTheRatlookedatit。

Afootmanstooderectoneachsideoftheopendoor。Thefootmanwhosatwiththecoachmanhadgotdownandwaswaitingbythecarriage。MarcoandTheRatglancedagainwithfurtivehasteatthesketch。Ahandsomewomanappeareduponthethreshold。Shepausedandgavesomeordertothefootmanwhostoodontheright。

Thenshecameoutinthefulllightandgotintothecarriagewhichdroveoutofthecourtyardandquiteneartheplacewherethetwoboyswaited。

Whenitwasgone，Marcodrewalongbreathashetorethesketchintoverysmallpiecesindeed。Hedidnotthrowthemawaybutputthemintohispocket。

TheRatdrewalongbreathalso。

``Yes，\'\'hesaidpositively。

``Yes，\'\'saidMarco。

Whentheyweresafelyshutupintheirroomoverthebaker\'sshop，theydiscussedthechancesoftheirbeingabletopassherinsuchawayaswouldseemaccidental。Twocommonboyscouldnotenterthecourtyard。Therewasabackentrancefortradespeopleandmessengers。Whenshedrove，shewouldalwaysenterhercarriagefromthesameplace。Unlessshesometimeswalked，theycouldnotapproachher。Whatshouldbedone？Thethingwasdifficult。Aftertheyhadtalkedsometime，TheRatsatandgnawedhisnails。

``To-morrowafternoon，\'\'hebrokeoutatlast，``we\'llwatchandseeifhercarriagedrivesinforher——then，whenshecomestothedoor，I\'llgoinandbegintobeg。TheservantwillthinkI\'maforeigneranddon\'tknowwhatI\'mdoing。Youcancomeaftermetotellmetocomeaway，becauseyouknowbetterthanI

dothatIshallbeorderedout。Shemaybeagood-naturedwomanandlistentous——andyoumightgetnearher。\'\'

``Wemighttryit，\'\'Marcoanswered。``Itmightwork。Wewilltryit。\'\'

TheRatneverfailedtotreathimashisleader。HehadbeggedLoristantolethimcomewithMarcoashisservant，andhisservanthehadbeenmorethanwillingtobe。WhenLoristanhadsaidheshouldbehisaide-de-camp，hehadfelthistrustliftedtoamilitarydignitywhichupliftedhimwithit。Ashisaide-de-camphemustservehim，watchhim，obeyhislightestwish，makeeverythingeasyforhim。Sometimes，Marcowastroubledbythewayinwhichheinsistedonservinghim，thisqueer，oncedictatorialandcantankerousladwhohadbegunbythrowingstonesathim。

``Youmustnotwaitonme，\'\'hesaidtohim。``Imustwaituponmyself。\'\'

TheRatratherflushed。

``Hetoldmethathewouldletmecomewithyouasyouraide-decamp，\'\'hesaid。``It——it\'spartofthegame。Itmakesthingseasierifwekeepupthegame。\'\'

Itwouldhaveattractedattentioniftheyhadspenttoomuchtimeinthevicinityofthebighouse。Soithappenedthatthenextafternoonthegreatladyevidentlydroveoutatanhourwhentheywerenotwatchingforher。Theywereontheirwaytotryiftheycouldcarryouttheirplan，when，astheywalkedtogetheralongtheRueRoyale，TheRatsuddenlytouchedMarco\'selbow。

``Thecarriagestandsbeforetheshopwithlaceinthewindows，\'\'

hewhisperedhurriedly。

Marcosawandrecognizeditatonce。Theownerhadevidentlygoneintotheshoptobuysomething。Thiswasabetterchancethantheyhadhopedfor，and，whentheyapproachedthecarriageitself，theysawthattherewasanotherpointintheirfavor。

InsidewerenolessthanthreebeautifullittlePekingesespanielsthatlookedexactlyalike。Theywerealltryingtolookoutofthewindowandwerepushingagainsteachother。Theyweresoperfectandsoprettythatfewpeoplepassedbywithoutlookingatthem。Whatbetterexcusecouldtwoboyshaveforlingeringaboutaplace？

Theystoppedand，standingalittledistanceaway，begantolookatanddiscussthemandlaughattheirexcitedlittleantics。

Throughtheshop-windowMarcocaughtaglimpseofthegreatlady。

``Shedoesnotlookmuchinterested。Shewon\'tstaylong，\'\'hewhispered，andaddedaloud，``thatlittleoneisthemaster。Seehowhepushestheothersaside！Heisstrongerthantheothertwo，thoughheissosmall。\'\'

``Hecansnap，too，\'\'saidTheRat。

``Sheiscomingnow，\'\'warnedMarco，andthenlaughedaloudasifatthePekingese，which，catchingsightoftheirmistressattheshop-door，begantoleapandyelpforjoy。

Theirmistressherselfsmiled，andwassmilingasMarcodrewnearher。

``Maywelookatthem，Madame？\'\'hesaidinFrench，and，asshemadeanamiablegestureofacquiescenceandmovedtowardthecarriagewithhim，hespokeafewwords，verylowbutverydistinctly，inRussian。

``TheLampislighted，\'\'hesaid。

TheRatwaslookingatherkeenly，buthedidnotseeherfacechangeatall。WhathenoticedmostthroughouttheirjourneywasthateachpersontowhomtheygavetheSignhadcompletecontroloverhisorhercountenance，iftherewerebystanders，andneverbetrayedbyanychangeofexpressionthatthewordsmeantanythingunusual。

Thegreatladymerelywentonsmiling，andspokeonlyofthedogs，allowingMarcoandhimselftolookatthemthroughthewindowofthecarriageasthefootmanopenedthedoorforhertoenter。

``Theyarebeautifullittlecreatures，\'\'Marcosaid，liftinghiscap，and，asthefootmanturnedaway，heutteredhisfewRussianwordsoncemoreandmovedoffwithoutevenglancingattheladyagain。

``ThatisONE！\'\'hesaidtoTheRatthatnightbeforetheywenttosleep，andwithamatchheburnedthescrapsofthesketchhehadtornandputintohispocket。

XX

MARCOGOESTOTHEOPERA

TheirnextjourneywastoMunich，butthenightbeforetheyleftParisanunexpectedthinghappened。

Toreachthenarrowstaircasewhichledtotheirbedroomitwasnecessarytopassthroughthebaker\'sshopitself。

Thebaker\'swifewasafriendlywomanwholikedthetwoboylodgerswhoweresoquietandgavenotrouble。Morethanonceshehadgiventhemahotrollorsoorafreshlybakedlittletartletwithfruitinthecenter。WhenMarcocameinthisevening，shegreetedhimwithanodandhandedhimasmallparcelashepassedthrough。

``Thiswasleftforyouthisafternoon，\'\'shesaid。``Iseeyouaremakingpurchasesforyourjourney。MymanandIareverysorryyouaregoing。\'\'

``Thankyou，Madame。Wealsoaresorry，\'\'Marcoanswered，takingtheparcel。``Theyarenotlargepurchases，yousee。\'\'

ButneitherhenorTheRathadboughtanythingatall，thoughtheordinary-lookinglittlepackagewasplainlyaddressedtohimandborethenameofoneofthebigcheapshops。Itfeltasifitcontainedsomethingsoft。

Whenhereachedtheirbedroom，TheRatwasgazingoutofthewindowwatchingeverylivingthingwhichpassedinthestreetbelow。HewhohadneverseenanythingbutLondonwasabsorbedbythespellofParisandwaslearningitbyheart。

``Somethinghasbeensenttous。Lookatthis，\'\'saidMarco。

TheRatwasathissideatonce。``Whatisit？Wherediditcomefrom？\'\'

Theyopenedthepackageandatfirstsightsawonlyseveralpairsofquitecommonwoolensocks。AsMarcotookupthesockinthemiddleoftheparcel，hefeltthattherewassomethinginsideit——somethinglaidflatandcarefully。Heputhishandinanddrewoutanumberoffive-francnotes——notnewones，becausenewoneswouldhavebetrayedthemselvesbycrackling。Thesewereoldenoughtobesoft。Buttherewereenoughofthemtoamounttoasubstantialsum。

``Itisinsmallnotesbecausepoorboyswouldhaveonlysmallones。Noonewillbesurprisedwhenwechangethese，\'\'TheRatsaid。

Eachofthembelievedthepackagehadbeensentbythegreatlady，butithadbeendonesocarefullythatnottheslightestcluewasfurnished。

ToTheRat，partofthedeepexcitementof``theGame\'\'wastheworkingoutoftheplansandmethodsofeachpersonconcerned。

Hecouldnothavesleptwithoutworkingoutsomeschemewhichmighthavebeenusedinthiscase。Itthrilledhimtocontemplatethedifficultiesthegreatladymighthavefoundherselfobligedtoovercome。

``Perhaps，\'\'hesaid，afterthinkingitoverforsometime，``shewenttoabigcommonshopdressedasifshewereanordinarywomanandboughtthesocksandpretendedshewasgoingtocarrythemhomeherself。Shewoulddothatsothatshecouldtakethemintosomecornerandslipthemoneyin。Then，asshewantedtohavethemsentfromtheshop，perhapssheboughtsomeotherthingsandaskedthepeopletodeliverthepackagestodifferentplaces。Thesocksweresenttousandtheotherthingstosomeoneelse。Shewouldgotoashopwherenooneknewherandnoonewouldexpecttoseeherandshewouldwearclotheswhichlookedneitherrichnortoopoor。\'\'

HecreatedthewholeepisodewithallitsdetailsandexplainedthemtoMarco。Itfascinatedhimfortheentireeveningandhefeltrelievedafteritandsleptwell。

EvenbeforetheyhadleftLondon，certainnewspapershadsweptoutofexistencethestoryofthedescendantoftheLostPrince。

Thishadbeendonebyderisionandlighthandling——bytreatingitasaromanticlegend。

Atfirst，TheRathadresentedthisbitterly，butonedayatameal，whenhehadbeenproducingargumentstoprovethatthestorymustbeatrueone，Loristansomehowcheckedhimbyhisownsilence。

``Ifthereissuchaman，\'\'hesaidafterapause，``itiswellforhimthathisexistenceshouldnotbebelievedin——forsometimeatleast。\'\'

TheRatcametoadeadstop。Hefelthotforamomentandthenfeltcold。Hesawanewideaallatonce。Hehadbeenmakingamistakeintactics。

Nomorewassaidbut，whentheywerealoneafterwards，hepouredhimselfforthtoMarco。

``Iwasafool！\'\'hecriedout。``Whycouldn\'tIseeitformyself！ShallItellyouwhatIbelievehasbeendone？ThereissomeonewhohasinfluenceinEnglandandwhoisafriendtoSamavia。They\'vegotthenewspaperstomakefunofthestorysothatitwon\'tbebelieved。Ifitwasbelieved，boththeIarovitchandtheMaranovitchwouldbeonthelookout，andtheSecretPartywouldlosetheirchances。WhatafoolIwasnottothinkofit！There\'ssomeonewatchingandworkingherewhoisafriendtoSamavia。\'\'

``ButthereissomeoneinSamaviawhohasbeguntosuspectthatitmightbetrue，\'\'Marcoanswered。``Iftherewerenot，I

shouldnothavebeenshutinthecellar。Someonethoughtmyfatherknewsomething。Thespieshadorderstofindoutwhatitwas。\'\'

``Yes。Yes。That\'strue，too！\'\'TheRatansweredanxiously。

``Weshallhavetobeverycareful。\'\'

IntheliningofthesleeveofMarco\'scoattherewasaslitintowhichhecouldslipanysmallthinghewishedtoconcealandalsowishedtobeabletoreachwithouttrouble。InthishehadcarriedthesketchoftheladywhichhehadtornupinParis。

WhentheywalkedinthestreetsofMunich，themorningaftertheirarrival，hecarriedstillanothersketch。Itwastheonepicturingthegenial-lookingoldaristocratwiththeslysmile。

Oneofthethingstheyhadlearnedaboutthisonewasthathischiefcharacteristicwashispassionformusic。HewasapatronofmusiciansandhespentmuchtimeinMunichbecauseheloveditsmusicalatmosphereandtheearnestnessofitsopera-goers。

``ThemilitarybandplaysintheFeldherrn-halleatmidday。Whensomethingverygoodisbeingplayed，sometimespeoplestoptheircarriagessothattheycanlisten。Wewillgothere，\'\'saidMarco。

``It\'sachance，\'\'saidTheRat。``Wemustn\'tloseanythinglikeachance。\'\'

Thedaywasbrilliantandsunny，thepeoplepassingthroughthestreetslookedcomfortableandhomely，themixtureofoldstreetsandmodernones，ofancientcornersandshopsandhousesofthedaywaspicturesqueandcheerful。TheRatswingingthroughthecrowdonhiscrutcheswasfullofinterestandexhilaration。Hehadbeguntogrow，andthechangeinhisfaceandexpressionwhichhadbeguninLondonhadbecomemorenoticeable。Hehadbeengivenhis``place，\'\'andaworktodowhichentitledhimtoholdit。

Noonecouldhavesuspectedthemofcarryingastrangeandvitalsecretwiththemastheystrolledalongtogether。Theyseemedonlytwoordinaryboyswholookedinatshopwindowsandtalkedovertheircontents，andwholoiteredwithupturnedfacesintheMarien-PlatzbeforetheornateGothicRathaustoheartheeleveno\'clockchimesplayandseethepaintedfiguresoftheKingandQueenwatchfromtheirbalconythepassingbeforethemoftheautomatictournamentprocessionwithitstrumpetersandtiltingknights。Whentheshowwasoverandtheautomaticcockbrokeforthintohislustyfarewellcrow，theylaughedjustasanyotherboyswouldhavelaughed。SometimesitwouldhavebeeneasyforTheRattoforgetthattherewasanythinggraverintheworldthanthenewplacesandnewwondershewasseeing，asifhewereawanderingminstrelinastory。

ButinSamaviabloodybattleswerebeingfought，andbloodyplanswerebeingwroughtout，andinanguishedanxietytheSecretPartyandtheForgersoftheSwordwaitedbreathlesslyfortheSignforwhichtheyhadwaitedsolong。AndinsidetheliningofMarco\'scoatwashiddenthesketchedface，asthetwounnoticedladsmadetheirwaytotheFeldherrn-halletohearthebandplayandseewhomightchancetobeamongtheaudience。

Becausethedaywassunny，andalsobecausethebandwasplayingaspeciallyfineprogramme，thecrowdinthesquarewaslargerthanusual。Severalvehicleshadstopped，andamongthemwereoneortwowhichwerenotmerelyhiredcabsbutwerethecarriagesofprivatepersons。

Oneofthemhadevidentlyarrivedearly，asitwasdrawnupinagoodpositionwhentheboysreachedthecorner。Itwasabigopencarriageandagrandone，luxuriouslyupholsteredingreen。

Thefootmanandcoachmanworegreenandsilverliveriesandseemedtoknowthatpeoplewerelookingatthemandtheirmaster。

Hewasastout，genial-lookingoldaristocratwithaslysmile，though，ashelistenedtothemusic，italmostforgottobesly。

Inthecarriagewithhimwereayoungofficerandalittleboy，andtheyalsolistenedattentively。Standingnearthecarriagedoorwereseveralpeoplewhowereplainlyfriendsoracquaintances，astheyoccasionallyspoketohim。MarcotouchedTheRat\'scoatsleeveasthetwoboysapproached。

``Itwouldnotbeeasytogetnearhim，\'\'hesaid。``Letusgoandstandasclosetothecarriageaswecangetwithoutpushing。

Perhapswemayhearsomeonesaysomethingaboutwhereheisgoingafterthemusicisover。\'\'

Yes，therewasnomistakinghim。Hewastherightman。Eachofthemknewbyheartthecreasesonhisstoutfaceandthesweepofhisgraymoustache。Buttherewasnothingnoticeableinaboylookingforamomentatapieceofpaper，andMarcosaunteredafewstepstoabitofspaceleftbarebythecrowdandtookalastglanceathissketch。Hisrulewastomakesureatthefinalmoment。Themusicwasverygoodandthegroupaboutthecarriagewasevidentlyenthusiastic。Therewastalkandpraiseandcomment，andtheoldaristocratnoddedhisheadrepeatedlyinapplause。

``TheChancellorismusicmad，\'\'alooker-onneartheboyssaidtoanother。``Attheoperaeverynightunlessseriousaffairskeephimaway！Thereyoumayseehimnoddinghisoldheadandburstinghisgloveswithapplaudingwhenagoodthingisdone。