A Modern Mercenary   By: Hesketh Vernon Hesketh Prichard (1876-1922)

by

K. AND HESKETH PRICHARD

[E. AND H. HERON]

New York Doubleday, Page & Co. 1902

Copyright, 1899, by Doubleday & McClure Co.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. A LIEUTENANT OF FRONTIER CAVALRY 1

II. A GENTLEMAN OF THE GUARD 14

III. THE GENTLEMEN OF THE GUARD 28

IV. DANGER SIGNALS 41

V. GOOD LUCK AND A FIREFLY 48

VI. THE CLOISTER OF ST. ANTHONY 62

VII. ONE WOMAN'S DIPLOMACY 79

VIII. A QUESTION OF THE GUARD 94

IX. THE CASTLE OF SAGAN 106

X. COUNT SIMON OF SAGAN 120

XI. A COUNSEL OF EXPEDIENCY 130

XII. ANTHONY UNZIAR 136

XIII. LOVE IN TWO SHADES 144

XIV. HALF A PROMISE 153

XV. COLENDORP 159

XVI. 'WITH YOUR LIPS TO THE HURT' 170

XVII. IRIS 177

XVIII. THE SWORD OF UNZIAR 186

XIX. IN DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS 195

XX. UNDER THE PINES 202

XXI. LOVE'S BEGGAR 210

XXII. IN LOVE WITH HONOUR 222

XXIII. HOW RALLYWOOD HAD HIS ORDERS 233

XXIV. ON THE FRONTIER 239

XXV. A QUESTION OF TWO MORALITIES 246

XXVI. LOVE'S HANDICAP 258

XXVII. THE MAN OF THE HOUR 267

XXVIII. THE ARREST 277

XXIX. THE COURT MARTIAL 282

XXX. 'UPON THE GREAT WORLD'S ALTAR STAIRS' 292

XXXI. DUKE GUSTAVE 300

XXXII. FOR A SEASON 307

A MODERN MERCENARY

CHAPTER I.

A LIEUTENANT OF FRONTIER CAVALRY.

During four months of the year the independent State of Maäsau,' we will call it which is not very noticeable even on the largest sized map of Europe is tormented by a dry and weary north east wind. And nowhere is its influence more unpleasantly felt than in the capital, Révonde, which stands shoulder on to the hustling gales, its stately frontages and noble quays stretching out westwards along the shores of the Kofn almost to where the yellow waters of the river spread fan wise into a grey green sea.

The tsa was blowing strongly on a certain November afternoon, eddying and whistling about the wide spaces of the Grand Square as John Rallywood, a tall figure in a military cloak, turned the corner of a side street and met its full blast. He faced it for some yards along the empty pavements, then ran up the steps of his club. A few minutes later he passed through a lofty corridor and entered a door over which is set a quaint invitation to smokers, which may not be written down here, for it is the jealously guarded copyright of the club.

It chanced that the room for the moment had but one occupant, who sat in a roomy armchair by the white stove. This gentleman did not raise his head, but continued to gaze thoughtfully at his well shaped though square and comfortable boots.

Rallywood paused almost imperceptibly in his stride.

'Hullo, Major! Glad to see you,' he said, as he dropped into an armchair opposite.