Andtheydidturntheirbacksandlookedthroughtherailingsoftheoldchurchyard。Marcosawthattheywereobeyinganorderwhichwasnotnewtothem。TheRathadthrownhisarmupoverhiseyesandcoveredthem。Hehelditthereforseveralmoments，asifhedidnotwanttobeseen。Marcoturnedhisbackastheresthaddone。Allatonceheunderstoodthat，thoughTheRatwasnotcrying，yethewasfeelingsomethingwhichanotherboywouldpossiblyhavebrokendownunder。
``Allright！\'\'heshoutedpresently，anddroppedhisragged-sleevedarmandsatupstraightagain。
``Iwanttogotowar！\'\'hesaidhoarsely。``Iwanttofight！I
wanttoleadalotofmenintobattle！AndIhaven\'tgotanylegs。Sometimesittakesthepluckoutofme。\'\'
``You\'venotgrownupyet！\'\'saidMarco。``Youmightgetstrong。
Nooneknowswhatisgoingtohappen。Howdidyoulearntodrilltheclub？\'\'
``Ihangaboutbarracks。Iwatchandlisten。Ifollowsoldiers。
IfIcouldgetbooks，I\'dreadaboutwars。Ican\'tgotolibrariesasyoucan。Icandonothingbutscuffleaboutlikearat。\'\'
``Icantakeyoutosomelibraries，\'\'saidMarco。``Thereareplaceswhereboyscangetin。AndIcangetsomepapersfrommyfather。\'\'
``Canyou？\'\'saidTheRat。``Doyouwanttojointheclub？\'\'
``Yes！\'\'Marcoanswered。``I\'llspeaktomyfatheraboutit。\'\'
HesaiditbecausethehungrylongingforcompanionshipinhisownmindhadfoundasortofresponseinthequeerhungrylookinTheRat\'seyes。Hewantedtoseehimagain。Strangecreatureashewas，therewasattractioninhim。Scufflingaboutonhislowwheeledplatform，hehaddrawnthisgroupofroughladstohimandmadehimselftheircommander。Theyobeyedhim；theylistenedtohisstoriesandharanguesaboutwarandsoldiering；theylethimdrillthemandgivethemorders。Marcoknewthat，whenhetoldhisfatherabouthim，hewouldbeinterested。TheboywantedtohearwhatLoristanwouldsay。
``I\'mgoinghomenow，\'\'hesaid。``Ifyou\'regoingtobehereto-morrow，Iwilltrytocome。\'\'
``Weshallbehere，\'\'TheRatanswered。``It\'sourbarracks。\'\'
Marcodrewhimselfupsmartlyandmadehissaluteasiftoasuperiorofficer。Thenhewheeledaboutandmarchedthroughthebrickarchway，andthesoundofhisboyishtreadwasasregularanddecidedasifhehadbeenamankeepingtimewithhisregiment。
``He\'sbeendrilledhimself，\'\'saidTheRat。``HeknowsasmuchasIdo。\'\'
Andhesatupandstareddownthepassagewithnewinterest。
V
``SILENCEISSTILLTHEORDER\'\'
Theywereevenpoorerthanusualjustnow，andthesupperMarcoandhisfathersatdowntowasscantenough。Lazarusstooduprightbehindhismaster\'schairandservedhimwithstrictestceremony。Theirpoorlodgingswerealwayskeptwithasoldierlycleanlinessandorder。Whenanobjectcouldbepolisheditwasforcedtoshine，nograinofdustwasallowedtolieundisturbed，andthisperfectionwasnotattainedthroughtheministrationsofalodginghouseslavey。Lazarusmadehimselfextremelypopularbytakingtheworkofcaringforhismaster\'sroomsentirelyoutofthehandsoftheoverburdenedmaidsofallwork。Hehadlearnedtodomanythingsinhisyoungdaysinbarracks。Hecarriedaboutwithhimcoarsebitsoftable-clothsandtowels，whichhelaunderedasiftheyhadbeenthefinestlinen。Hemended，hepatched，hedarned，andinthehardestfightthepoormustface——thefightwithdirtanddinginess——healwaysheldhisown。Theyhadnothingbutdrybreadandcoffeethisevening，butLazarushadmadethecoffeeandthebreadwasgood。
AsMarcoate，hetoldhisfatherthestoryofTheRatandhisfollowers。Loristanlistened，astheboyhadknownhewould，withthefar-off，intently-thinkingsmileinhisdarkeyes。ItwasalookwhichalwaysfascinatedMarcobecauseitmeantthathewasthinkingsomanythings。Perhapshewouldtellsomeofthemandperhapshewouldnot。Hisspellovertheboylayinthefactthattohimheseemedlikeawonderfulbookofwhichonehadonlyglimpses。Itwasfullofpicturesandadventureswhichweretrue，andonecouldnothelpcontinuallymakingguessesaboutthem。Yes，thefeelingthatMarcohadwasthathisfather\'sattractionforhimwasasortofspell，andthatothersfeltthesamething。Whenhestoodandtalkedtocommonerpeople，heheldhistallbodywithsingularquietgracewhichwaslikepower。Heneverstirredormovedhimselfasifhewerenervousoruncertain。Hecouldholdhishandshehadbeautifulslenderandstronghandsquitestill；hecouldstandonhisfinearchedfeetwithoutshufflingthem。Hecouldsitwithoutanyungraceorrestlessness。Hismindknewwhathisbodyshoulddo，andgaveitorderswithoutspeaking，andhisfinelimbsandmusclesandnervesobeyed。Sohecouldstandstillandateaseandlookatthepeoplehewastalkingto，andtheyalwayslookedathimandlistenedtowhathesaid，andsomehow，courteousanduncondescendingashismannerunfailinglywas，itusedalwaystoseemtoMarcoasifhewere``givinganaudience\'\'askingsgavethem。
Hehadoftenseenpeoplebowverylowwhentheywentawayfromhim，andmorethanonceithadhappenedthatsomehumblepersonhadsteppedoutofhispresencebackward，aspeopledowhenretiringbeforeasovereign。Andyethisbearingwasthequietestandleastassumingintheworld。
``AndtheyweretalkingaboutSamavia？AndheknewthestoryoftheLostPrince？\'\'hesaidponderingly。``Eveninthatplace！\'\'
``Hewantstohearaboutwars——hewantstotalkaboutthem，\'\'
Marcoanswered。``Ifhecouldstandandwereoldenough，hewouldgoandfightforSamaviahimself。\'\'
``Itisablood-drenchedandsadplacenow！\'\'saidLoristan。
``Thepeoplearemadwhentheyarenotheartbrokenandterrified。\'\'
SuddenlyMarcostruckthetablewithasoundingslapofhisboy\'shand。Hediditbeforeherealizedanyintentioninhisownmind。
``WhyshouldeitheroneoftheIarovitchoroneoftheMaranovitchbeking！\'\'hecried。``Theywereonlysavagepeasantswhentheyfirstfoughtforthecrownhundredsofyearsago。Themostsavageonegotit，andtheyhavebeenfightingeversince。OnlytheFedorovitchwerebornkings。Thereisonlyonemanintheworldwhohastherighttothethrone——andIdon\'tknowwhetherheisintheworldornot。ButIbelieveheis！I
do！\'\'
Loristanlookedathishottwelve-year-oldfacewithareflectivecuriousness。Hesawthattheflamewhichhadleapedupinhimhadleapedwithoutwarning——justasafierceheart-beatmighthaveshakenhim。
``Youmean——？\'\'hesuggestedsoftly。
``IvorFedorovitch。KingIvorheoughttobe。Andthepeoplewouldobeyhim，andthegooddayswouldcomeagain。\'\'
``ItisfivehundredyearssinceIvorFedorovitchleftthegoodmonks。\'\'Loristanstillspokesoftly。
``But，Father，\'\'Marcoprotested，``evenTheRatsaidwhatyousaid——thathewastooyoungtobeabletocomebackwhiletheMaranovitchwereinpower。Andhewouldhavetoworkandhaveahome，andperhapsheisaspoorasweare。ButwhenhehadasonhewouldcallhimIvorandTELLhim——andhissonwouldcallHIS
sonIvorandtellHIM——anditwouldgoonandon。TheycouldnevercalltheireldestsonsanythingbutIvor。Andwhatyousaidaboutthetrainingwouldbetrue。TherewouldalwaysbeakingbeingtrainedforSamavia，andreadytobecalled。\'\'Inthefireofhisfeelingshesprangfromhischairandstoodupright。
``Why！TheremaybeakingofSamaviainsomecitynowwhoknowsheisking，and，whenhereadsaboutthefightingamonghispeople，hisbloodgetsred-hot。They\'rehisownpeople——hisveryown！Heoughttogotothem——heoughttogoandtellthemwhoheis！Don\'tyouthinkheought，Father？\'\'
``Itwouldnotbeaseasyasitseemstoaboy，\'\'Loristananswered。``Therearemanycountrieswhichwouldhavesomethingtosay——Russiawouldhaveherword，andAustria，andGermany；
andEnglandneverissilent。But，ifhewereastrongmanandknewhowtomakestrongfriendsinsilence，hemightsometimebeabletodeclarehimselfopenly。\'\'
``Butifheisanywhere，someone——someSamavian——oughttogoandlookforhim。ItoughttobeaSamavianwhoisverycleverandapatriot——\'\'Hestoppedataflashofrecognition。``Father！\'\'
hecriedout。``Father！You——youaretheonewhocouldfindhimifanyoneintheworldcould。Butperhaps——\'\'andhestoppedamomentagainbecausenewthoughtsrushedthroughhismind。
``HaveYOUeverlookedforhim？\'\'heaskedhesitating。
Perhapshehadaskedastupidquestion——perhapshisfatherhadalwaysbeenlookingforhim，perhapsthatwashissecretandhiswork。
ButLoristandidnotlookasifhethoughthimstupid。Quitethecontrary。Hekepthishandsomeeyesfixedonhimstillinthatcuriousway，asifhewerestudyinghim——asifheweremuchmorethantwelveyearsold，andheweredecidingtotellhimsomething。
``Comradeatarms，\'\'hesaid，withthesmilewhichalwaysgladdenedMarco\'sheart，``youhavekeptyouroathofallegiancelikeaman。Youwerenotsevenyearsoldwhenyoutookit。Youaregrowingolder。Silenceisstilltheorder，butyouaremanenoughtobetoldmore。\'\'Hepausedandlookeddown，andthenlookedupagain，speakinginalowtone。``Ihavenotlookedforhim，\'\'hesaid，``because——IbelieveIknowwhereheis。\'\'
Marcocaughthisbreath。
``Father！\'\'Hesaidonlythatword。Hecouldsaynomore。Heknewhemustnotaskquestions。``Silenceisstilltheorder。\'\'
Butastheyfacedeachotherintheirdingyroomatthebackoftheshabbyhouseonthesideoftheroaringcommonroad——asLazarusstoodstock-stillbehindhisfather\'schairandkepthiseyesfixedontheemptycoffeecupsandthedrybreadplate，andeverythinglookedaspoorasthingsalwaysdid——therewasakingofSamavia——anIvorFedorovitchwiththebloodoftheLostPrinceinhisveins——aliveinsometownorcitythismoment！AndMarco\'sownfatherknewwherehewas！
HeglancedatLazarus，but，thoughtheoldsoldier\'sfacelookedasexpressionlessasifitwerecutoutofwood，Marcorealizedthatheknewthisthingandhadalwaysknownit。Hehadbeenacomradeatarmsallhislife。Hecontinuedtostareatthebreadplate。
Loristanspokeagainandinanevenlowervoice。``TheSamavianswhoarepatriotsandthinkers，\'\'hesaid，``formedthemselvesintoasecretpartyabouteightyyearsago。Theyformeditwhentheyhadnoreasonforhope，buttheyformeditbecauseoneofthemdiscoveredthatanIvorFedorovitchwasliving。HewasheadforesteronagreatestateintheAustrianAlps。Thenoblemanheservedhadalwaysthoughthimamysterybecausehehadthebearingandspeechofamanwhohadnotbeenbornaservant，andhismethodsincaringfortheforestsandgamewerethoseofamanwhowaseducatedandhadstudiedhissubject。Butheneverwasfamiliarorassuming，andneverprofessedsuperiorityoveranyofhisfellows。Hewasamanofgreatstature，andwasextraordinarilybraveandsilent。Thenoblemanwhowashismastermadeasortofcompanionofhimwhentheyhuntedtogether。
OncehetookhimwithhimwhenhetraveledtoSamaviatohuntwildhorses。Hefoundthatheknewthecountrystrangelywell，andthathewasfamiliarwithSamavianhuntingandcustoms。
BeforehereturnedtoAustria，themanobtainedpermissiontogotothemountainsalone。Hewentamongtheshepherdsandmadefriendsamongthem，askingmanyquestions。
OnenightaroundaforestfireheheardthesongsabouttheLostPrincewhichhadnotbeenforgottenevenafternearlyfivehundredyearshadpassed。TheshepherdsandherdsmentalkedaboutPrinceIvor，andtoldoldstoriesabouthim，andrelatedtheprophecythathewouldcomebackandbringagainSamavia\'sgooddays。Hemightcomeonlyinthebodyofoneofhisdescendants，butitwouldbehisspiritwhichcame，becausehisspiritwouldneverceasetoloveSamavia。Oneveryoldshepherdtotteredtohisfeetandliftedhisfacetothemyriadstarsbestrewnlikejewelsintheblueskyabovetheforesttrees，andheweptandprayedaloudthatthegreatGodwouldsendtheirkingtothem。Andthestrangerhuntsmanstooduprightalsoandliftedhisfacetothestars。And，thoughhesaidnoword，theherdsmannearesttohimsawtearsonhischeeks——great，heavytears。Thenextday，thestrangerwenttothemonasterywheretheorderofgoodmonkslivedwhohadtakencareoftheLostPrince。WhenhehadleftSamavia，thesecretsocietywasformed，andthemembersofitknewthatanIvorFedorovitchhadpassedthroughhisancestors\'countryastheservantofanotherman。Butthesecretsocietywasonlyasmallone，and，thoughithasbeengrowingeversinceandithasdonegooddeedsandgoodworkinsecret，thehuntsmandiedanoldmanbeforeitwasstrongenougheventodaretotellSamaviawhatitknew。\'\'
``Hadheason？\'\'criedMarco。``Hadheason？\'\'
``Yes。Hehadason。HisnamewasIvor。AndhewastrainedasItoldyou。ThatpartIknewtobetrue，thoughIshouldhavebelieveditwastrueevenifIhadnotknown。TherehasALWAYS
beenakingreadyforSamavia——evenwhenhehaslaboredwithhishandsandservedothers。Eachonetooktheoathofallegiance。\'\'
``AsIdid？\'\'saidMarco，breathlesswithexcitement。Whenoneistwelveyearsold，tobesonearaLostPrincewhomightendwarsisathrillingthing。
``Thesame，\'\'answeredLoristan。
Marcothrewuphishandinsalute。
```HeregrowsamanforSamavia！Godbethanked！\'\'\'hequoted。
``AndHEissomewhere？Andyouknow？\'\'
Loristanbenthisheadinacquiescence。
``Foryearsmuchsecretworkhasbeendone，andtheFedorovitchpartyhasgrownuntilitismuchgreaterandmorepowerfulthantheotherpartiesdream。ThelargercountriesaretiredoftheconstantwaranddisorderinSamavia。Theirinterestsaredisturbedbythem，andtheyaredecidingthattheymusthavepeaceandlawswhichcanbecountedon。TherehavebeenSamavianpatriotswhohavespenttheirlivesintryingtobringthisaboutbymakingfriendsinthemostpowerfulcapitals，andworkingsecretlyforthefuturegoodoftheirownland。BecauseSamaviaissosmallanduninfluential，ithastakenalongtimebutwhenKingMaranandhisfamilywereassassinatedandthewarbrokeout，thereweregreatpowerswhichbegantosaythatifsomekingofgoodbloodandreliablecharacteristicsweregiventhecrown，heshouldbeupheld。\'\'
``HISblood，\'\'——Marco\'sintensitymadehisvoicedropalmosttoawhisper，——``HISbloodhasbeentrainedforfivehundredyears，Father！Ifitcomestrue——\'\'thoughhelaughedalittle，hewasobligedtowinkhiseyeshardbecausesuddenlyhefelttearsrushintothem，whichnoboylikes——``theshepherdswillhavetomakeanewsong——itwillhavetobeashoutingoneaboutaprincegoingawayandakingcomingback！\'\'
``Theyareadevoutpeopleandobservemanyanancientriteandceremony。Theywillchantprayersandburnaltar-firesontheirmountainsides，\'\'Loristansaid。``Buttheendisnotyet——theendisnotyet。Sometimesitseemsthatperhapsitisnear——butGodknows！\'\'
ThenthereleapedbackuponMarcothestoryhehadtotell，butwhichhehadheldbackforthelast——thestoryofthemanwhospokeSamaviananddroveinthecarriagewiththeKing。Heknewnowthatitmightmeansomeimportantthingwhichhecouldnothavebeforesuspected。
``ThereissomethingImusttellyou，\'\'hesaid。
Hehadlearnedtorelateincidentsinfewbutclearwordswhenherelatedthemtohisfather。Ithadbeenpartofhistraining。
Loristanhadsaidthathemightsometimehaveastorytotellwhenhehadbutfewmomentstotellitin——somestorywhichmeantlifeordeathtosomeone。Hetoldthisonequicklyandwell。
HemadeLoristanseethewell-dressedmanwiththedeliberatemannerandthekeeneyes，andhemadehimhearhisvoicewhenhesaid，``Tellyourfatherthatyouareaverywell-trainedlad。\'\'
``Iamgladhesaidthat。Heisamanwhoknowswhattrainingis，\'\'saidLoristan。``HeisapersonwhoknowswhatallEuropeisdoing，andalmostallthatitwilldo。Heisanambassadorfromapowerfulandgreatcountry。Ifhesawthatyouareawell-trainedandfinelad，itmight——itmightevenbegoodforSamavia。\'\'
``Woulditmatterthat_I_waswell-trained？COULDitmattertoSamavia？\'\'Marcocriedout。
Loristanpausedforamoment——watchinghimgravely——lookinghimover——hisbig，well-builtboy\'sframe，hisshabbyclothes，andhiseagerlyburningeyes。
Hesmiledoneofhisslowwonderfulsmiles。
``Yes。ItmightevenmattertoSamavia！\'\'heanswered。
VI
THEDRILLANDTHESECRETPARTY
LoristandidnotforbidMarcotopursuehisacquaintancewithTheRatandhisfollowers。
``Youwillfindoutforyourselfwhethertheyarefriendsforyouornot，\'\'hesaid。``Youwillknowinafewdays，andthenyoucanmakeyourowndecision。Youhaveknownladsinvariouscountries，andyouareagoodjudgeofthem，Ithink。YouwillsoonseewhethertheyaregoingtobeMENormererabble。TheRatnow——howdoeshestrikeyou？\'\'
Andthehandsomeeyesheldtheirkeenlookofquestioning。
``He\'dbeabravesoldierifhecouldstand，\'\'saidMarco，thinkinghimover。``Buthemightbecruel。\'\'
``Aladwhomightmakeabravesoldiercannotbedisdained，butamanwhoiscruelisafool。Tellhimthatfromme，\'\'Loristananswered。``Hewastesforce——hisownandtheforceoftheonehetreatscruelly。Onlyafoolwastesforce。\'\'
``MayIspeakofyousometimes？\'\'askedMarco。
``Yes。Youwillknowhow。Youwillrememberthethingsaboutwhichsilenceistheorder。\'\'
``Ineverforgetthem，\'\'saidMarco。``Ihavebeentryingnotto，forsuchalongtime。\'\'
``Youhavesucceededwell，Comrade！\'\'returnedLoristan，fromhiswriting-table，towhichhehadgoneandwherehewasturningoverpapers。
Astrongimpulseoverpoweredtheboy。Hemarchedovertothetableandstoodverystraight，makinghissoldierlyyoungsalute，hiswholebodyglowing。
``Father！\'\'hesaid，``youdon\'tknowhowIloveyou！IwishyouwereageneralandImightdieinbattleforyou。WhenIlookatyou，Ilongandlongtodosomethingforyouaboycouldnotdo。
Iwoulddieofathousandwoundsratherthandisobeyyou——orSamavia！\'\'
HeseizedLoristan\'shand，andkneltononekneeandkissedit。
AnEnglishorAmericanboycouldnothavedonesuchathingfromunaffectednaturalimpulse。ButhewasofwarmSouthernblood。
``Itookmyoathofallegiancetoyou，Father，whenItookittoSamavia。ItseemsasifyouwereSamavia，too，\'\'hesaid，andkissedhishandagain。
Loristanhadturnedtowardhimwithoneofthemovementswhichwerefullofdignityandgrace。Marco，lookingupathim，feltthattherewasalwaysacertainremotestatelinessinhimwhichmadeitseemquitenaturalthatanyoneshouldbendthekneeandkisshishand。
Asuddengreattendernessglowedinhisfather\'sfaceasheraisedtheboyandputhishandonhisshoulder。
``Comrade，\'\'hesaid，``youdon\'tknowhowmuchIloveyou——andwhatreasonthereisthatweshouldloveeachother！Youdon\'tknowhowIhavebeenwatchingyou，andthankingGodeachyearthatheregrewamanforSamavia。ThatIknowyouare——aMAN，thoughyouhavelivedbuttwelveyears。Twelveyearsmaygrowaman——orprovethatamanwillnevergrow，thoughahumanthinghemayremainforninetyyears。Thisyearmaybefullofstrangethingsforbothofus。WecannotknowWHATImayhavetoaskyoutodoforme——andforSamavia。Perhapssuchathingasnotwelve-year-oldboyhaseverdonebefore。\'\'
``Everynightandeverymorning，\'\'saidMarco，``IshallpraythatImaybecalledtodoit，andthatImaydoitwell。\'\'
``Youwilldoitwell，Comrade，ifyouarecalled。ThatIcouldmakeoath，\'\'Loristanansweredhim。
TheSquadhadcollectedintheinclosurebehindthechurchwhenMarcoappearedatthearchedendofthepassage。Theboysweredrawnupwiththeirrifles，buttheyallworearatherdoggedandsullenlook。TheexplanationwhichdartedintoMarco\'smindwasthatthiswasbecauseTheRatwasinabadhumor。Hesatcrouchedtogetheronhisplatformbitinghisnailsfiercely，hiselbowsonhisupdrawnknees，hisfacetwistedintoahideousscowl。Hedidnotlookaround，orevenlookupfromthecrackedflagstoneofthepavementonwhichhiseyeswerefixed。
Marcowentforwardwithmilitarystepandstoppedoppositetohimwithpromptsalute。
``Sorrytobelate，sir，\'\'hesaid，asifhehadbeenaprivatespeakingtohiscolonel。
``It\'s\'im，Rat！\'E\'scome，Rat！\'\'theSquadshouted。``Lookat\'im！\'\'
ButTheRatwouldnotlook，anddidnotevenmove。
``What\'sthematter？\'\'saidMarco，withlessceremonythanaprivatewouldhaveshown。``There\'snouseinmycominghereifyoudon\'twantme。\'\'
``\'E\'sgotagrouchon\'cosyou\'relate！\'\'calledouttheheadoftheline。``Nodoin\'nothin\'when\'e\'sgotagrouchon。\'\'
``Isha\'n\'ttrytodoanything，\'\'saidMarco，hisboy-facesettingitselfintogoodstubbornlines。``That\'snotwhatI
cameherefor。Icametodrill。I\'vebeenwithmyfather。Hecomesfirst。Ican\'tjointheSquadifhedoesn\'tcomefirst。
We\'renotonactiveservice，andwe\'renotinbarracks。\'\'
ThenTheRatmovedsharplyandturnedtolookathim。
``Ithoughtyouweren\'tcomingatall！\'\'hesnappedandgrowledatonce。``Myfathersaidyouwouldn\'t。Hesaidyouwereayoungswellforallyourpatchedclothes。Hesaidyourfatherwouldthinkhewasaswell，evenifhewasonlyapenny-a-lineronnewspapers，andhewouldn\'tletyouhaveanythingtodowithavagabondandanuisance。Nobodybeggedyoutojoin。Yourfathercangotoblazes！\'\'
``Don\'tyouspeakinthatwayaboutmyfather，\'\'saidMarco，quitequietly，``becauseIcan\'tknockyoudown。\'\'
``I\'llgetupandletyou！\'\'beganTheRat，immediatelywhiteandraging。``Icanstandupwithtwosticks。I\'llgetupandletyou！\'\'
``No，youwon\'t，\'\'saidMarco。``Ifyouwanttoknowwhatmyfathersaid，Icantellyou。HesaidIcouldcomeasoftenasI
liked——tillIfoundoutwhetherweshouldbefriendsornot。HesaysIshallfindthatoutformyself。\'\'
ItwasastrangethingTheRatdid。Itmustalwaysberememberedofhimthathiswretchedfather，whohadeachyearsunklowerandlowerintheunder-world，hadbeenagentlemanonce，amanwhohadbeenfamiliarwithgoodmannersandhadbeeneducatedinthecustomsofgoodbreeding。Sometimeswhenhewasdrunk，andsometimeswhenhewaspartlysober，hetalkedtoTheRatofmanythingstheboywouldotherwiseneverhaveheardof。Thatwaswhytheladwasdifferentfromtheothervagabonds。This，also，waswhyhesuddenlyalteredthewholesituationbydoingthisstrangeandunexpectedthing。Heutterlychangedhisexpressionandvoice，fixinghissharpeyesshrewdlyonMarco\'s。Itwasalmostasifhewereaskinghimaconundrum。Heknewitwouldhavebeenonetomostboysoftheclassheappearedoutwardlytobelongto。
Hewouldeitherknowtheanswerorhewouldn\'t。
``Ibegyourpardon，\'\'TheRatsaid。
Thatwastheconundrum。Itwaswhatagentlemanandanofficerwouldhavesaid，ifhefelthehadbeenmistakenorrude。Hehadheardthatfromhisdrunkenfather。
``Ibegyours——forbeinglate，\'\'saidMarco。
Thatwastherightanswer。Itwastheoneanotherofficerandgentlemanwouldhavemade。Itsettledthematteratonce，anditsettledmorethanwasapparentatthemoment。ItdecidedthatMarcowasoneofthosewhoknewthethingsTheRat\'sfatherhadonceknown——thethingsgentlemendoandsayandthink。Notanotherwordwassaid。Itwasallright。MarcoslippedintolinewiththeSquad，andTheRatsaterectwithhismilitarybearingandbeganhisdrill：
``Squad！
``\'Tention！
``Number！
``Slopearms！
``Formfours！
``Right！
``Quickmarch！
``Halt！
``Leftturn！
``Orderarms！
``Standatease！
``Standeasy！\'\'
Theydiditsowellthatitwasquitewonderfulwhenoneconsideredthelimitedspaceattheirdisposal。Theyhadevidentlydoneitoften，andTheRathadbeennotonlyasmart，butasevere，officer。Thismorningtheyrepeatedtheexerciseanumberoftimes，andevenvarieditwithReviewDrill，withwhichtheyseemedjustasfamiliar。
``Wheredidyoulearnit？\'\'TheRatasked，whenthearmswerestackedagainandMarcowassittingbyhimashehadsatthepreviousday。
``Fromanoldsoldier。AndIliketowatchit，asyoudo。\'\'
``IfyouwereayoungswellintheGuards，youcouldn\'tbesmarteratit，\'\'TheRatsaid。``Thewayyouholdyourself！Thewayyoustand！You\'vegotit！WishIwasyou！Itcomesnaturaltoyou。\'\'
``I\'vealwayslikedtowatchitandtrytodoitmyself。IdidwhenIwasalittlefellow，\'\'answeredMarco。
``I\'vebeentryingtokickitintothesechapsformorethanayear，\'\'saidTheRat。``AnicejobIhadofit！Itnearlymademesickatfirst。\'\'
Thesemicircleinfrontofhimonlygiggledorlaughedoutright。
Themembersofitseemedtotakeverylittleoffenseathiscavaliertreatmentofthem。Hehadevidentlysomethingtogivethemwhichwasentertainingenoughtomakeupforhistyrannyandindifference。Hethrusthishandintooneofthepocketsofhisraggedcoat，anddrewoutapieceofnewspaper。
``Myfatherbroughthomethis，wrappedroundaloafofbread，\'\'
hesaid。``Seewhatitsaysthere！\'\'
HehandedittoMarco，pointingtosomewordsprintedinlargelettersattheheadofacolumn。Marcolookedatitandsatverystill。
Thewordshereadwere：``TheLostPrince。\'\'
``Silenceisstilltheorder，\'\'wasthefirstthoughtwhichflashedthroughhismind。``Silenceisstilltheorder。\'\'
``Whatdoesitmean？\'\'hesaidaloud。
``Thereisn\'tmuchofit。Iwishtherewasmore，\'\'TheRatsaidfretfully。``Readandsee。Ofcoursetheysayitmayn\'tbetrue——butIbelieveitis。Theysaythatpeoplethinksomeoneknowswhereheis——atleastwhereoneofhisdescendantsis。
It\'dbethesamething。He\'dbetherealking。Ifhe\'djustshowhimself，itmightstopallthefighting。Justread。\'\'
Marcoread，andhisskinprickledasthebloodwentracingthroughhisbody。Buthisfacedidnotchange。TherewasasketchofthestoryoftheLostPrincetobeginwith。Ithadbeenregardedbymostpeople，thearticlesaid，asasortoflegend。Nowtherewasadefiniterumorthatitwasnotalegendatall，butapartofthelongpasthistoryofSamavia。ItwassaidthatthroughthecenturiestherehadalwaysbeenapartysecretlyloyaltothememoryofthisworshipedandlostFedorovitch。Itwasevensaidthatfromfathertoson，generationaftergenerationaftergeneration，haddescendedtheoathoffealtytohimandhisdescendants。Thepeoplehadmadeagodofhim，andnow，romanticasitseemed，itwasbeginningtobeanopensecretthatsomepersonsbelievedthatadescendanthadbeenfound——aFedorovitchworthyofhisyoungancestor——andthatacertainSecretPartyalsoheldthat，ifhewerecalledbacktothethroneofSamavia，theinterminablewarsandbloodshedwouldreachanend。
TheRathadbeguntobitehisnailsfast。
``Doyoubelievehe\'sfound？\'\'heaskedfeverishly。``DON\'TYOU？
Ido！\'\'
``Iwonderwhereheis，ifit\'strue？Iwonder！Where？\'\'
exclaimedMarco。Hecouldsaythat，andhemightseemaseagerashefelt。
TheSquadallbegantojabberatonce。``Yus，wherewos\'e？
Thereisnoknowin\'。It\'dbelikelytobeinsomeo\'thesefurrinplaces。England\'dbetoofarfromSamavia。\'OwfaroffwosSamavia？WositinRoosha，orwheretheFrenchieswere，ortheGermans？Butwherever\'ewos，\'e\'dbetherightsort，an\'
\'e\'dbethesortachap\'dturnandlookatinthestreet。\'\'
TheRatcontinuedtobitehisnails。
``Hemightbeanywhere，\'\'hesaid，hissmallfiercefaceglowing。
``That\'swhatIliketothinkabout。Hemightbepassinginthestreetoutsidethere；hemightbeupinoneofthosehouses，\'\'
jerkinghisheadoverhisshouldertowardthebacksoftheinclosingdwellings。``Perhapsheknowshe\'saking，andperhapshedoesn\'t。He\'dknowifwhatyousaidyesterdaywastrue——aboutthekingalwaysbeingmadereadyforSamavia。\'\'
``Yes，he\'dknow，\'\'putinMarco。
``Well，it\'dbefinerifhedid，\'\'wentonTheRat。``Howeverpoorandshabbyhewas，he\'dknowthesecretallthetime。Andifpeoplesneeredathim，he\'dsneeratthemandlaughtohimself。Idaresayhe\'dwalktremendouslystraightandholdhisheadup。IfIwashim，I\'dliketomakepeoplesuspectabitthatIwasn\'tlikethecommonloto\'them。\'\'HeputouthishandandpushedMarcoexcitedly。``Let\'sworkoutplotsforhim！\'\'hesaid。``That\'dbeasplendidgame！Let\'spretendwe\'retheSecretParty！\'\'
Hewastremendouslyexcited。Outoftheraggedpockethefishedapieceofchalk。Thenheleanedforwardandbegantodrawsomethingquicklyontheflagstonesclosesttohisplatform。TheSquadleanedforwardalso，quitebreathlessly，andMarcoleanedforward。Thechalkwassketchingaroughlyoutlinedmap，andheknewwhatmapitwas，beforeTheRatspoke。
``That\'samapofSamavia，\'\'hesaid。``ItwasinthatpieceofmagazineItoldyouabout——theonewhereIreadaboutPrinceIvor。Istudiedituntilitfelltopieces。ButIcoulddrawitmyselfbythattime，soitdidn\'tmatter。Icoulddrawitwithmyeyesshut。That\'sthecapitalcity，\'\'pointingtoaspot。
``It\'scalledMelzarr。Thepalaceisthere。It\'stheplacewherethefirstoftheMaranovitchkilledthelastoftheFedorovitch——thebadchapthatwasIvor\'sfather。It\'sthepalaceIvorwanderedoutofsingingtheshepherds\'songthatearlymorning。It\'swherethethroneisthathisdescendantwouldsitupontobecrowned——thathe\'sGOINGtositupon。I
believeheis！Let\'sswearheshall！\'\'Heflungdownhispieceofchalkandsatup。``Givemetwosticks。Helpmetogetup。\'\'
TwooftheSquadsprangtotheirfeetandcametohim。Eachsnatchedoneofthesticksfromthestackedrifles，evidentlyknowingwhathewanted。Marcorosetoo，andwatchedwithsudden，keencuriosity。HehadthoughtthatTheRatcouldnotstandup，butitseemedthathecould，inafashionofhisown，andhewasgoingtodoit。Theboysliftedhimbyhisarms，sethimagainstthestonecopingoftheironrailingsofthechurchyard，andputastickineachofhishands。Theystoodathisside，buthesupportedhimself。
``\'Ecouldgetaboutif\'e\'adthemoneytobuycrutches！\'\'saidonewhosenamewasCad，andhesaiditquiteproudly。ThequeerthingthatMarcohadnoticedwasthattheragamuffinswereproudofTheRat，andregardedhimastheirlordandmaster。``——\'E
couldgetaboutan\'standaswellasanyone，\'\'addedtheother，andhesaiditinthetoneofonewhoboasts。HisnamewasBen。
``I\'mgoingtostandnow，andsoaretherestofyou，\'\'saidTheRat。``Squad！\'Tention！Youattheheadoftheline，\'\'toMarco。Theywereinlineinamoment——straight，shouldersback，chinsup。AndMarcostoodatthehead。
``We\'regoingtotakeanoath，\'\'saidTheRat。``It\'sanoathofallegiance。Allegiancemeansfaithfulnesstoathing——akingoracountry。OursmeansallegiancetotheKingofSamavia。Wedon\'tknowwhereheis，butwesweartobefaithfultohim，tofightforhim，toplotforhim，toDIEforhim，andtobringhimbacktohisthrone！\'\'Thewayinwhichheflunguphisheadwhenhesaidtheword``die\'\'wasveryfineindeed。``WearetheSecretParty。Wewillworkinthedarkandfindoutthings——andrunrisks——andcollectanarmynoonewillknowanythingaboutuntilitisstrongenoughtosuddenlyriseatasecretsignal，andoverwhelmtheMaranovitchandIarovitch，andseizetheirfortsandcitadels。Nooneevenknowswearealive。Weareasilent，secretthingthatneverspeaksaloud！\'\'
Silentandsecretastheywere，however，theyspokealoudatthisjuncture。Itwassuchagrandideaforagame，andsofullofpossiblelarks，thattheSquadbrokeintoahowlofanexultantcheer。
``Hooray！\'\'theyyelled。``Hoorayfortheoathof\'legiance！
\'Ray！\'ray！\'ray！\'\'
``Shutup，youswine！\'\'shoutedTheRat。``Isthatthewayyoukeepyourselfsecret？You\'llcallthepolicein，youfools！
LookatHIM！\'\'pointingtoMarco。``He\'sgotsomesense。\'\'
Marco，infact，hadnotmadeanysound。
``Comehere，youCadandBen，andputmebackonmywheels，\'\'
ragedtheSquad\'scommander。``I\'llnotmakeupthegameatall。
It\'snousewithalotoffat-head，rawrecruitslikeyou。\'\'
Thelinebrokeandsurroundedhiminamoment，pleadingandurging。
``Aw，Rat！Weforgot。It\'stheprimestgameyou\'veeverthoughtout！Rat！Rat！Don\'tgetagrouchon！We\'llkeepstill，Rat！
Primestlarkofall\'llbethesneakin\'aboutan\'keepin\'quiet。
Aw，Rat！Keepitup！\'\'
``Keepitupyourselves！\'\'snarledTheRat。
``Notanothercoveofuscoulddoitbutyou！Notone！There\'snoothercovecouldthinkitout。You\'retheonlychapthatcanthinkoutthings。YouthoughtouttheSquad！That\'swhyyou\'recaptain！\'\'
Thiswastrue。Hewastheonewhocouldinvententertainmentforthem，thesestreetladswhohadnothing。Outofthatnothinghecouldcreatewhatexcitedthem，andgivethemsomethingtofillempty，useless，oftencoldorwetorfoggy，hours。Thatmadehimtheircaptainandtheirpride。
TheRatbegantoyield，thoughgrudgingly。HepointedagaintoMarco，whohadnotmoved，butstoodstillatattention。
``LookatHIM！\'\'hesaid。``Heknowsenoughtostandwherehe\'sputuntilhe\'sorderedtobreakline。He\'sasoldier，heis——notarawrecruitthatdon\'tknowthegoose-step。He\'sbeeninbarracksbefore。\'\'
Butafterthisoutburst，hedeignedtogoon。
``Here\'stheoath，\'\'hesaid。``Wesweartostandanytortureandsubmitinsilencetoanydeathratherthanbetrayoursecretandourking。Wewillobeyinsilenceandinsecret。Wewillswimthroughseasofbloodandfightourwaythroughlakesoffire，ifweareordered。Nothingshallbarourway。Allwedoandsayandthinkisforourcountryandourking。Ifanyofyouhaveanythingtosay，speakoutbeforeyoutaketheoath。\'\'
HesawMarcomovealittle，andhemadeasigntohim。
``You，\'\'hesaid。``Haveyousomethingtosay？\'\'
Marcoturnedtohimandsaluted。
``HerestandtenmenforSamavia。Godbethanked！\'\'hesaid。Hedaredsaythatmuch，andhefeltasifhisfatherhimselfwouldhavetoldhimthattheyweretherightwords。
TheRatthoughttheywere。Somehowhefeltthattheystruckhome。Hereddenedwithasuddenemotion。
``Squad！\'\'hesaid。``I\'llletyougivethreecheersonthat。
It\'sforthelasttime。We\'llbegintobequietafterward。\'\'
AndtotheSquad\'sexultantreliefheledthecheer，andtheywereallowedtomakeasmuchuproarastheyliked。Theylikedtomakeagreatdeal，andwhenitwasatanend，ithaddonethemgoodandmadethemreadyforbusiness。
TheRatopenedthedramaatonce。Neversurelyhadthereeverbeforebeenheardaconspirator\'swhisperashollowashis。
``SecretOnes，\'\'hesaid，``itismidnight。Wemeetinthedepthsofdarkness。Wedarenotmeetbyday。Whenwemeetinthedaytime，wepretendnottoknoweachother。WearemeetingnowinaSamaviancitywherethereisafortress。Weshallhavetotakeitwhenthesecretsignisgivenandwemakeourrising。
Wearegettingeverythingready，sothat，whenwefindtheking，thesecretsigncanbegiven。\'\'
``Whatisthenameofthecitywearein？\'\'whisperedCad。
``ItiscalledLarrina。Itisanimportantseaport。Wemusttakeitassoonaswerise。ThenexttimewemeetIwillbringadarklanternanddrawamapandshowittoyou。\'\'
ItwouldhavebeenagreatadvantagetothegameifMarcocouldhavedrawnforthemthemaphecouldhavemade，amapwhichwouldhaveshowneveryfortress——everystrongholdandeveryweakplace。
Beingaboy，heknewwhatexcitementwouldhavethrilledeachbreast，howtheywouldleanforwardandpilequestiononquestion，pointingtothisplaceandtothat。Hehadlearnedtodrawthemapbeforehewasten，andhehaddrawnitagainandagainbecausetherehadbeentimeswhenhisfatherhadtoldhimthatchangeshadtakenplace。Oh，yes！hecouldhavedrawnamapwhichwouldhavemovedthemtoafrenzyofjoy。Buthesatsilentandlistened，onlyspeakingwhenheaskedaquestion，asifheknewnothingmoreaboutSamaviathanTheRatdid。WhataSecretPartytheywere！Theydrewthemselvestogetherintheclosestofcircles；theyspokeinunearthlywhispers。
``Asentineloughttobepostedattheendofthepassage，\'\'
Marcowhispered。
``Ben，takeyourgun！\'\'commandedTheRat。
Benrosestealthily，and，shoulderinghisweapon，creptontiptoetotheopening。Therehestoodonguard。
``Myfathersaysthere\'sbeenaSecretPartyinSamaviaforahundredyears，\'\'TheRatwhispered。
``Whotoldhim？\'\'askedMarco。
``AmanwhohasbeeninSamavia，\'\'answeredTheRat。``HesaiditwasthemostwonderfulSecretPartyintheworld，becauseithasworkedandwaitedsolong，andnevergivenup，thoughithashadnoreasonforhoping。Itbeganamongsomeshepherdsandcharcoal-burnerswhoboundthemselvesbyanoathtofindtheLostPrinceandbringhimbacktothethrone。ThereweretoofewofthemtodoanythingagainsttheMaranovitch，andwhenthefirstlotfoundtheyweregrowingold，theymadetheirsonstakethesameoath。Ithasbeenpassedonfromgenerationtogeneration，andineachgenerationthebandhasgrown。Noonereallyknowshowlargeitisnow，buttheysaythattherearepeopleinnearlyallthecountriesinEuropewhobelongtoitindeadsecret，andaresworntohelpitwhentheyarecalled。Theyareonlywaiting。Somearerichpeoplewhowillgivemoney，andsomearepooroneswhowillslipacrossthefrontiertofightortohelptosmuggleinarms。Theyevensaythatforalltheseyearstherehavebeenarmsmadeincavesinthemountains，andhiddenthereyearafteryear。TherearemenwhoarecalledForgersoftheSword，andthey，andtheirfathers，andgrandfathers，andgreat-grandfathershavealwaysmadeswordsandstoredthemincavernsnooneknowsof，hiddencavernsunderground。\'\'
Marcospokealoudthethoughtwhichhadcomeintohismindashelistened，athoughtwhichbroughtfeartohim。``Ifthepeopleinthestreetstalkaboutit，theywon\'tbehiddenlong。\'\'
``Itisn\'tcommontalk，myfathersays。Onlyveryfewhaveguessed，andmostofthemthinkitispartoftheLostPrincelegend，\'\'saidTheRat。``TheMaranovitchandIarovitchlaughatit。Theyhavealwaysbeengreatfools。They\'retoofulloftheirownswaggertothinkanythingcaninterferewiththem。\'\'
``Doyoutalkmuchtoyourfather？\'\'Marcoaskedhim。
TheRatshowedhissharpwhiteteethinagrin。
``Iknowwhatyou\'rethinkingof，\'\'hesaid。``You\'rerememberingthatIsaidhewasalwaysdrunk。Soheis，exceptwhenhe\'sonlyHALFdrunk。Andwhenhe\'sHALFdrunk，he\'sthemostsplendidtalkerinLondon。Herememberseverythinghehaseverlearnedorreadorheardsincehewasborn。Igethimgoingandlisten。HewantstotalkandIwanttohear。IfoundoutalmosteverythingIknowinthatway。Hedidn\'tknowhewasteachingme，buthewas。Hegoesbackintobeingagentlemanwhenhe\'shalfdrunk。\'\'
``If——ifyoucareabouttheSamavians，you\'dbetteraskhimnottotellpeopleabouttheSecretPartyandtheForgersoftheSword，\'\'suggestedMarco。
TheRatstartedalittle。
``That\'strue！\'\'hesaid。``You\'resharperthanIam。Itoughtn\'ttobeblabbedabout，ortheMaranovitchmighthearenoughtomakethemstopandlisten。I\'llgethimtopromise。
There\'sonequeerthingabouthim，\'\'headdedveryslowly，asifhewerethinkingitover，``Isupposeit\'spartofthegentlemanthat\'sleftinhim。Ifhemakesapromise，heneverbreaksit，drunkorsober。\'\'
``Askhimtomakeone，\'\'saidMarco。Thenextmomenthechangedthesubjectbecauseitseemedthebestthingtodo。``GoonandtelluswhatourownSecretPartyistodo。We\'reforgetting，\'\'
hewhispered。
TheRattookuphisgamewithrenewedkeenness。Itwasagamewhichattractedhimimmenselybecauseitcalleduponhisimaginationandheldhisaudiencespellbound，besidesplunginghimintowarandstrategy。
``We\'repreparingfortherising，\'\'hesaid。``Itmustcomesoon。We\'vewaitedsolong。Thecavernsarestackedwitharms。
TheMaranovitchandtheIarovitcharefightingandusingalltheirsoldiers，andnowisourtime。\'\'Hestoppedandthought，hiselbowsonhisknees。Hebegantobitehisnailsagain。
``TheSecretSignalmustbegiven，\'\'hesaid。Thenhestoppedagain，andtheSquadhelditsbreathandpressednearerwithasoftlyshufflingsound。``TwooftheSecretOnesmustbechosenbylotandsentforth，\'\'hewenton；andtheSquadalmostbroughtruinanddisgraceuponitselfbywantingtocheeragain，andonlyjuststoppingitselfintime。``MustbechosenBYLOT，\'\'TheRatrepeated，lookingfromonefacetoanother。``Eachonewilltakehislifeinhishandwhenhegoesforth。Hemayhavetodieathousanddeaths，buthemustgo。Hemuststealinsilenceanddisguisefromonecountrytoanother。WhereverthereisoneoftheSecretParty，whetherheisinahoveloronathrone，themessengersmustgotohimindarknessandstealthandgivehimthesign。Itwillmean，`Thehourhascome。GodsaveSamavia！\'
\'\'
``GodsaveSamavia！\'\'whisperedtheSquad，excitedly。And，becausetheysawMarcoraisehishandtohisforehead，everyoneofthemsaluted。
Theyallbegantowhisperatonce。
``Let\'sdrawlotsnow。Let\'sdrawlots，Rat。Don\'tlet\'s\'avenowaitin\'。\'\'
TheRatbegantolookabouthimwithdreadanxiety。Heseemedtobeexaminingthesky。
``Thedarknessisnotasthickasitwas，\'\'hewhispered。
``Midnighthaspassed。Thedawnofdaywillbeuponus。Ifanyonehasapieceofpaperorastring，wewilldrawthelotsbeforewepart。\'\'
Cadhadapieceofstring，andMarcohadaknifewhichcouldbeusedtocutitintolengths。ThisTheRatdidhimself。Then，aftershuttinghiseyesandmixingthem，heheldtheminhishandreadyforthedrawing。
``TheSecretOnewhodrawsthelongestlotischosen。TheSecretOnewhodrawstheshortestischosen，\'\'hesaidsolemnly。
Thedrawingwasassolemnashistone。Eachboywantedtodraweithertheshortestlotorthelongestone。Theheartofeachthumpedsomewhatashedrewhispieceofstring。
Whenthedrawingwasatanend，eachshowedhislot。TheRathaddrawntheshortestpieceofstring，andMarcohaddrawnthelongestone。
``Comrade！\'\'saidTheRat，takinghishand。``Wewillfacedeathanddangertogether！\'\'
``GodsaveSamavia！\'\'answeredMarco。
Andthegamewasatanendfortheday。Theprimestthing，theSquadsaid，TheRathadevermadeupforthem。``\'Ewosawonder，hewos！\'\'
VII
``THELAMPISLIGHTED！\'\'
Onhiswayhome，Marcothoughtofnothingbutthestoryhemusttellhisfather，thestorythestrangerwhohadbeentoSamaviahadtoldTheRat\'sfather。Hefeltthatitmustbeatruestoryandnotmerelyaninvention。TheForgersoftheSwordmustberealmen，andthehiddensubterraneancavernsstackedthroughthecenturieswitharmsmustbereal，too。Andiftheywerereal，surelyhisfatherwasoneofthosewhoknewthesecret。Histhoughtsranveryfast。TheRat\'sboyishinventionoftherisingwasonlypartofagame，buthownaturalitwouldbethatsometime——perhapsbeforelong——therewouldbearealrising！
SurelytherewouldbeoneiftheSecretPartyhadgrownsostrong，andifmanyweaponsandsecretfriendsinothercountrieswerereadyandwaiting。Duringalltheseyears，hiddenworkandpreparationwouldhavebeengoingoncontinually，eventhoughitwaspreparationforanunknownday。Apartywhichhadlastedsolong——whichpasseditsoathonfromgenerationtogeneration——mustbeofadeadlydetermination。
Whatmightitnothavemadereadyinitscavernsandsecretmeeting-places！Helongedtoreachhomeandtellhisfather，atonce，allhehadheard。Herecalledtomind，wordforword，allthatTheRathadbeentold，andevenallhehadaddedinhisgame，because——well，becausethatseemedsorealtoo，sorealthatitactuallymightbeuseful。
ButwhenhereachedNo。7PhilibertPlace，hefoundLoristanandLazarusverymuchabsorbedinwork。Thedoorofthebacksitting-roomwaslockedwhenhefirstknockedonit，andlockedagainassoonashehadentered。Thereweremanypapersonthetable，andtheywereevidentlystudyingthem。Severalofthemweremaps。Somewereroadmaps，somemapsoftownsandcities，andsomeoffortifications；buttheywereallmapsofplacesinSamavia。Theywereusuallykeptinastrongbox，andwhentheyweretakenouttobestudied，thedoorwasalwayskeptlocked。
Beforetheyhadtheireveningmeal，thesewereallreturnedtothestrongbox，whichwaspushedintoacornerandhadnewspaperspileduponit。
``Whenhearrives，\'\'MarcoheardLoristansaytoLazarus，``wecanshowhimclearlywhathasbeenplanned。Hecanseeforhimself。\'\'
Hisfatherspokescarcelyatallduringthemeal，and，thoughitwasnotthehabitofLazarustospeakatsuchtimesunlessspokento，thiseveningitseemedtoMarcothatheLOOKEDmoresilentthanhehadeverseenhimlookbefore。Theywereplainlyboththinkinganxiouslyofdeeplyseriousthings。ThestoryofthestrangerwhohadbeentoSamaviamustnotbetoldyet。Butitwasonewhichwouldkeep。
LoristandidnotsayanythinguntilLazarushadremovedthethingsfromthetableandmadetheroomasneataspossible。
Whilethatwasbeingdone，hesatwithhisforeheadrestingonhishand，asifabsorbedinthought。ThenhemadeagesturetoMarco。
``Comehere，Comrade，\'\'hesaid。
Marcowenttohim。
``To-nightsomeonemaycometotalkwithmeaboutgravethings，\'\'hesaid。``Ithinkhewillcome，butIcannotbequitesure。Itisimportantthatheshouldknowthat，whenhecomes，hewillfindmequitealone。Hewillcomeatalatehour，andLazaruswillopenthedoorquietlythatnoonemayhear。Itisimportantthatnooneshouldseehim。Someonemustgoandwalkontheoppositesideofthestreetuntilheappears。Thentheonewhogoestogivewarningmustcrossthepavementbeforehimandsayinalowvoice，`TheLampislighted！\'andatonceturnquietlyaway。\'\'
Whatboy\'sheartwouldnothaveleapedwithjoyatthemysteryofit！EvenacommonanddullboywhoknewnothingofSamaviawouldhavefeltjerky。Marco\'svoicealmostshookwiththethrillofhisfeeling。
``HowshallIknowhim？\'\'hesaidatonce。Withoutaskingatall，heknewhewasthe``someone\'\'whowastogo。
``Youhaveseenhimbefore，\'\'Loristananswered。``HeisthemanwhodroveinthecarriagewiththeKing。\'\'
``Ishallknowhim，\'\'saidMarco。``WhenshallIgo？\'\'
``Notuntilitishalf-pastoneo\'clock。GotobedandsleepuntilLazaruscallsyou。\'\'Thenheadded，``Lookwellathisfacebeforeyouspeak。Hewillprobablynotbedressedaswellashewaswhenyousawhimfirst。\'\'
Marcowentup-stairstohisroomandwenttobedashewastold，butitwashardtogotosleep。Therattleandroaringoftheroaddidnotusuallykeephimawake，becausehehadlivedinthepoorerquarteroftoomanybigcapitalcitiesnottobeaccustomedtonoise。Butto-nightitseemedtohimthat，ashelayandlookedoutatthelamplight，heheardeverybusandcabwhichwentpast。Hecouldnothelpthinkingofthepeoplewhowereinthem，andontopofthem，andofthepeoplewhowerehurryingalongonthepavementoutsidethebrokenironrailings。
Hewaswonderingwhattheywouldthinkiftheyknewthatthingsconnectedwiththebattlestheyreadofinthedailypapersweregoingoninoneoftheshabbyhousestheyscarcelygaveaglancetoastheywentbythem。Itmustbesomethingconnectedwiththewar，ifamanwhowasagreatdiplomatandthecompanionofkingscameinsecrettotalkalonewithapatriotwhowasaSamavian。
WhateverhisfatherwasdoingwasforthegoodofSamavia，andperhapstheSecretPartyknewhewasdoingit。Hisheartalmostbeataloudunderhisshirtashelayonthelumpymattressthinkingitover。Hemustindeedlookwellatthestrangerbeforeheevenmovedtowardhim。Hemustbesurehewastherightman。Thegamehehadamusedhimselfwithsolong——thegameoftryingtorememberpicturesandpeopleandplacesclearlyandindetail——hadbeenawonderfultraining。Ifhecoulddraw，heknewhecouldhavemadeasketchofthekeen-eyed，clever，aquilinefacewiththewell-cutanddelicatelyclosemouth，whichlookedasifithadbeenshutuponsecretsalways——always。Ifhecoulddraw，hefoundhimselfsayingagain。HeCOULDdraw，thoughperhapsonlyroughly。Hehadoftenamusedhimselfbymakingsketchesofthingshewantedtoaskquestionsabout。Hehadevendrawnpeople\'sfacesinhisuntrainedway，andhisfatherhadsaidthathehadacrudegiftforcatchingalikeness。Perhapshecouldmakeasketchofthisfacewhichwouldshowhisfatherthatheknewandwouldrecognizeit。
Hejumpedoutofbedandwenttoatablenearthewindow。Therewaspaperandapencillyingonit。Astreetlampexactlyoppositethrewintotheroomquitelightenoughforhimtoseeby。Hehalfkneltbythetableandbegantodraw。Heworkedforabouttwentyminutessteadily，andhetoreuptwoorthreeunsatisfactorysketches。Thepoordrawingwouldnotmatterifhecouldcatchthatsubtlelookwhichwasnotslynessbutsomethingmoredignifiedandimportant。Itwasnotdifficulttogetthemarked，aristocraticoutlineofthefeatures。Acommon-lookingmanwithlesspronouncedprofilewouldhavebeenlesseasytodrawinonesense。Hegavehismindwhollytotherecallingofeverydetailwhichhadphotographeditselfonhismemorythroughitstrainedhabit。Graduallyhesawthatthelikenesswasbecomingclearer。Itwasnotlongbeforeitwasclearenoughtobeastrikingone。Anyonewhoknewthemanwouldrecognizeit。
Hegotup，drawingalongandjoyfulbreath。
Hedidnotputonhisshoes，butcrossedhisroomasnoiselesslyaspossible，andasnoiselesslyopenedthedoor。Hemadenoghostofasoundwhenhewentdownthestairs。Thewomanwhokeptthelodging-househadgonetobed，andsohadtheotherlodgersandthemaidofallwork。Allthelightswereoutexcepttheonehesawaglimmerofunderthedoorofhisfather\'sroom。
Whenhehadbeenamerebaby，hehadbeentaughttomakeaspecialsignonthedoorwhenhewishedtospeaktoLoristan。Hestoodstilloutsidethebacksitting-roomandmadeitnow。Itwasalowscratchingsound——twoscratchesandasofttap。
Lazarusopenedthedoorandlookedtroubled。
``Itisnotyettime，sir，\'\'hesaidverylow。
``Iknow，\'\'Marcoanswered。``ButImustshowsomethingtomyfather。\'\'Lazaruslethimin，andLoristanturnedroundfromhiswriting-tablequestioningly。
Marcowentforwardandlaidthesketchdownbeforehim。
``Lookatit，\'\'hesaid。``Irememberhimwellenoughtodrawthat。Ithoughtofitallatonce——thatIcouldmakeasortofpicture。Doyouthinkitislikehim？\'\'Loristanexamineditclosely。
``Itisverylikehim，\'\'heanswered。``Youhavemademefeelentirelysafe。Thanks，Comrade。Itwasagoodidea。\'\'
Therewasreliefinthegriphegavetheboy\'shand，andMarcoturnedawaywithanexultantfeeling。Justashereachedthedoor，Loristansaidtohim：
``Makethemostofthisgift。Itisagift。Anditistrueyourmindhashadgoodtraining。Themoreyoudraw，thebetter。Draweverythingyoucan。\'\'
Neitherthestreetlamps，northenoises，norhisthoughtskeptMarcoawakewhenhewentbacktobed。Butbeforehesettledhimselfuponhispillowhegavehimselfcertainorders。Hehadbothread，andheardLoristansay，thatthemindcancontrolthebodywhenpeopleoncefindoutthatitcandoso。Hehadtriedexperimentshimself，andhadfoundoutsomecuriousthings。Onewasthatifhetoldhimselftorememberacertainthingatacertaintime，heusuallyfoundthatheDIDrememberit。
Somethinginhisbrainseemedtoremindhim。Hehadoftentriedtheexperimentoftellinghimselftoawakenataparticularhour，andhadawakenedalmostexactlyatthemomentbytheclock。
``Iwillsleepuntiloneo\'clock，\'\'hesaidasheshuthiseyes。
``ThenIwillawakenandfeelquitefresh。Ishallnotbesleepyatall。\'\'
Hesleptassoundlyasaboycansleep。Andatoneo\'clockexactlyheawakened，andfoundthestreetlampstillthrowingitslightthroughthewindow。Heknewitwasoneo\'clock，becausetherewasacheaplittleroundclockonthetable，andhecouldseethetime。Hewasquitefreshandnotatallsleepy。Hisexperimenthadsucceededagain。
Hegotupanddressed。Thenhewentdown-stairsasnoiselesslyasbefore。Hecarriedhisshoesinhishands，ashemeanttoputthemononlywhenhereachedthestreet。Hemadehissignathisfather\'sdoor，anditwasLoristanwhoopenedit。
``ShallIgonow？\'\'Marcoasked。
``Yes。Walkslowlytotheothersideofthestreet。Lookineverydirection。Wedonotknowwherehewillcomefrom。Afteryouhavegivenhimthesign，thencomeinandgotobedagain。\'\'
Marcosalutedasasoldierwouldhavedoneonreceivinganorder。
Then，withoutasecond\'sdelay，hepassednoiselesslyoutofthehouse。
Loristanturnedbackintotheroomandstoodsilentlyinthecenterofit。Thelonglinesofhishandsomebodylookedparticularlyerectandstately，andhiseyeswereglowingasifsomethingdeeplymovedhim。
``TheregrowsamanforSamavia，\'\'hesaidtoLazarus，whowatchedhim。``Godbethanked！\'\'
Lazarus\'svoicewaslowandhoarse，andhesalutedquitereverently。
``Your——sir！\'\'hesaid。``GodsavethePrince！\'\'
``Yes，\'\'Loristananswered，afteramoment\'shesitation，——``whenheisfound。\'\'Andhewentbacktohistablesmilinghisbeautifulsmile。
Thewonderofsilenceinthedesertedstreetsofagreatcity，aftermidnighthashushedalltheroarandtumulttorest，isanalmostunbelievablething。Thestillnessinthedepthsofaforestoronamountaintopisnotsostrange。Afewhoursago，thetumultwasrushingpast；inafewhoursmore，itwillberushingpastagain。
Butnowthestreetisanakedthing；adistantpoliceman\'stramponthebarepavementhasahollowandalmostfearsomesound。ItseemedespeciallysotoMarcoashecrossedtheroad。Haditeverbeensoemptyanddeadlysilentbefore？Wasitsoeverynight？Perhapsitwas，whenhewasfastasleeponhislumpymattresswiththelightfromastreetlampstreamingintotheroom。Helistenedforthestepofthepolicemanonnight-watch，becausehedidnotwishtobeseen。Therewasajuttingwallwherehecouldstandintheshadowwhilethemanpassed。A
policemanwouldstoptolookquestioninglyataboywhowalkedupanddownthepavementathalf-pastoneinthemorning。Marcocouldwaituntilhehadgoneby，andthencomeoutintothelightandlookupanddowntheroadandthecrossstreets。
Heheardhisapproachingfootstepsinafewminutes，andwassafelyintheshadowsbeforehecouldbeseen。Whenthepolicemanpassed，hecameoutandwalkedslowlydowntheroad，lookingoneachside，andnowandthenlookingback。Atfirstnoonewasinsight。Thenalatehansom-cabcametinklingalong。
Butthepeopleinitwerereturningfromsomefestivity，andwerelaughingandtalking，andnoticednothingbuttheirownjoking。
Thentherewassilenceagain，andforalongtime，asitseemedtoMarco，noonewastobeseen。Itwasnotreallysolongasitappeared，becausehewasanxious。Thenaveryearlyvegetable-wagononthewayfromthecountrytoCoventGardenMarketcameslowlylumberingbywithitsdriveralmostasleeponhispilesofpotatoesandcabbages。Afterithadpassed，therewasstillnessandemptinessoncemore，untilthepolicemanshowedhimselfagainonhisbeat，andMarcoslippedintotheshadowofthewallashehaddonebefore。
Whenhecameoutintothelight，hehadbeguntohopethatthetimewouldnotseemlongtohisfather。Ithadnotreallybeenlong，hetoldhimself，ithadonlyseemedso。Buthisfather\'sanxiousnesswouldbegreaterthanhisowncouldbe。Loristanknewallthatdependedonthecomingofthisgreatmanwhosatsidebysidewithakinginhiscarriageandtalkedtohimasifheknewhimwell。
``ItmightbesomethingwhichallSamaviaiswaitingtoknow——atleastalltheSecretParty，\'\'Marcothought。``TheSecretPartyisSamavia，\'\'——hestartedatthesoundoffootsteps。``Someoneiscoming！\'\'hesaid。``Itisaman。\'\'
Itwasamanwhowaswalkinguptheroadonthesamesideofthepavementashisown。Marcobegantowalktowardhimquietlybutratherrapidly。Hethoughtitmightbebesttoappearasifheweresomeboysentonamidnighterrand——perhapstocalladoctor。Then，ifitwasastrangerhepassed，nosuspicionwouldbearoused。WasthismanastallastheonewhohaddrivenwiththeKing？Yes，hewasaboutthesameheight，buthewastoofarawaytoberecognizableotherwise。Hedrewnearer，andMarconoticedthathealsoseemedslightlytohastenhisfootsteps。
Marcowenton。Alittlenearer，andhewouldbeabletomakesure。Yes，nowhewasnearenough。Yes，thismanwasthesameheightandnotunlikeinfigure，buthewasmuchyounger。HewasnottheonewhohadbeeninthecarriagewithHisMajesty。Hewasnotmorethanthirtyyearsold。Hebeganswinginghiscaneandwhistlingamusic-hallsongsoftlyasMarcopassedhimwithoutchanginghispace。
Itwasafterthepolicemanhadwalkedroundhisbeatanddisappearedforthethirdtime，thatMarcoheardfootstepsechoingatsomedistancedownacrossstreet。Afterlisteningtomakesurethattheywereapproachinginsteadofrecedinginanotherdirection，heplacedhimselfatapointwherehecouldwatchthelengthofthethoroughfare。Yes，someonewascoming。
Itwasaman\'sfigureagain。Hewasabletoplacehimselfratherintheshadowsothatthepersonapproachingwouldnotseethathewasbeingwatched。Thesolitarywalkerreachedarecognizabledistanceinabouttwominutes\'time。Hewasdressedinanordinaryshop-madesuitofclotheswhichwasrathershabbyandquiteunnoticeableinitsappearance。Hiscommonhatwaswornsothatitrathershadedhisface。ButevenbeforehehadcrossedtoMarco\'ssideoftheroad，theboyhadclearlyrecognizedhim。
ItwasthemanwhohaddrivenwiththeKing！
ChancewaswithMarco。Themancrossedatexactlytheplacewhichmadeiteasyfortheboytosteplightlyfrombehindhim，walkafewpacesbyhisside，andthenpassdirectlybeforehimacrossthepavement，glancingquietlyupintohisfaceashesaidinalowvoicebutdistinctly，thewords``TheLampislighted，\'\'
andwithoutpausingasecondwalkonhiswaydowntheroad。Hedidnotslackenhispaceorlookbackuntilhewassomedistanceaway。Thenheglancedoverhisshoulder，andsawthatthefigurehadcrossedthestreetandwasinsidetherailings。Itwasallright。Hisfatherwouldnotbedisappointed。Thegreatmanhadcome。
Hewalkedforabouttenminutes，andthenwenthomeandtobed。
Buthewasobligedtotellhimselftogotosleepseveraltimesbeforehiseyesclosedfortherestofthenight。
VIII
ANEXCITINGGAME
Loristanreferredonlyonceduringthenextdaytowhathadhappened。
``Youdidyourerrandwell。Youwerenothurriedornervous，\'\'
hesaid。``ThePrincewaspleasedwithyourcalmness。\'\'
Nomorewassaid。Marcoknewthatthequietmentionofthestranger\'stitlehadbeenmademerelyasadesignation。Ifitwasnecessarytomentionhimagaininthefuture，hecouldbereferredtoas``thePrince。\'\'InvariousContinentalcountriesthereweremanyprinceswhowerenotroyalorevenserenehighnesses——whoweremerelyprincesasothernoblesweredukesorbarons。Nothingspecialwasrevealedwhenamanwasspokenofasaprince。Butthoughnothingwassaidonthesubjectoftheincident，itwasplainthatmuchworkwasbeingdonebyLoristanandLazarus。Thesitting-roomdoorwaslocked，andthemapsanddocuments，usuallykeptintheironbox，werebeingused。
MarcowenttotheTowerofLondonandspentpartofthedayinlivingagainthestorieswhich，centuriespast，hadbeeninclosedwithinitsmassiveandancientstonewalls。Inthisway，hehadthroughoutboyhoodbecomeintimatewithpeoplewhotomostboysseemedonlytheunrealcreatureswhoprofessedtobealiveinschool-booksofhistory。Hehadlearnedtoknowthemasmenandwomenbecausehehadstoodinthepalacestheyhadbeenborninandhadplayedinaschildren，haddiedinattheend。Hehadseenthedungeonstheyhadbeenimprisonedin，theblocksonwhichtheyhadlaidtheirheads，thebattlementsonwhichtheyhadfoughttodefendtheirfortressedtowers，thethronestheyhadsatupon，thecrownstheyhadworn，andthejeweledscepterstheyhadheld。Hehadstoodbeforetheirportraitsandhadgazedcuriouslyattheir``RobesofInvestiture，\'\'sewnwithtensofthousandsofseed-pearls。Tolookataman\'sfaceandfeelhispicturedeyesfollowyouasyoumoveawayfromhim，toseethestrangelysplendidgarmentsheoncewarmedwithhislivingflesh，istorealizethathistoryisnotamerelessoninaschool-book，butisarelationofthelifestoriesofmenandwomenwhosawstrangeandsplendiddays，andsometimessufferedstrangeandterriblethings。
Therewereonlyafewpeoplewhowerebeingledaboutsight-
seeing。ThemanintheancientBeef-eaters\'costume，whowastheirguide，wasgood-natured，andevidentlyfondoftalking。Hewasabigandstoutman，withalargefaceandasmall，merryeye。HewasratherlikepicturesofHenrytheEighth，himself，whichMarcorememberedhavingseen。HewasspeciallytalkativewhenhestoodbythetabletthatmarksthespotwherestoodtheblockonwhichLadyJaneGreyhadlaidheryounghead。OneofthesightseerswhoknewlittleofEnglishhistoryhadaskedsomequestionsaboutthereasonsforherexecution。
``Ifherfather-in-law，theDukeofNorthumberland，hadleftthatyoungcouplealone——herandherhusband，LordGuildfordDudley——they\'dhavekepttheirheadson。Hewasboundtomakeheraqueen，andMaryTudorwasboundtobequeenherself。Thedukewasn\'tcleverenoughtomanageaconspiracyandworkupthepeople。TheseSamavianswe\'rereadingaboutinthepaperswouldhavedoneitbetter。Andthey\'rehalf-savages。\'\'
``TheyhadabigbattleoutsideMelzarryesterday，\'\'thesight-seerstandingnexttoMarcosaidtotheyoungwomanwhowashiscompanion。``Thousandsof\'emkilled。IsawitinbiglettersontheboardsasIrodeonthetopofthebus。They\'rejustslaughteringeachother，that\'swhatthey\'redoing。\'\'
ThetalkativeBeef-eaterheardhim。
``Theycan\'tevenburytheirdeadfastenough，\'\'hesaid。
``There\'llbesomesortofplaguebreakingoutandsweepingintothecountriesnearestthem。It\'llendbyspreadingalloverEuropeasitdidintheMiddleAges。Whatthecivilizedcountrieshavegottodoistomakethemchooseadecentkingandbegintobehavethemselves。\'\'
``I\'lltellmyfatherthattoo，\'\'Marcothought。``ItshowsthateverybodyisthinkingandtalkingofSamavia，andthateventhecommonpeopleknowitmusthavearealking。ThismustbeTHE
TIME！\'\'AndwhathemeantwasthatthismustbethetimeforwhichtheSecretPartyhadwaitedandworkedsolong——thetimefortheRising。ButhisfatherwasoutwhenhewentbacktoPhilibertPlace，andLazaruslookedmoresilentthaneverashestoodbehindhischairandwaitedonhimthroughhisinsignificantmeal。Howeverplainandscantthefoodtheyhadtoeat，itwasalwaysservedwithasmuchcareandceremonyasifithadbeenabanquet。
``Amancaneatdrybreadanddrinkcoldwaterasifhewereagentleman，\'\'hisfatherhadsaidlongago。``Anditiseasytoformcarelesshabits。Evenifoneishungryenoughtofeelravenous，amanwhohasbeenwellbredwillnotallowhimselftolookso。Adogmay，amanmaynot。Justasadogmayhowlwhenheisangryorinpainandamanmaynot。\'\'