The Island Mystery

brought shame into the lives of stately chancellors. The behaviour of the new queen of Salissa caused no scandal; but that was only because there was no one in her small court who had any

nd disgust if they had seen-but they saw nothing, h

ere cast loose, the boat was swung outboard and manned with a speed which would have done credit to a smart yacht's crew. Miss Daisy ran to her cabin. The oarsmen sat ready to

to Mr. Phillips,

a wild grab saved it from the

she said, "th

wed stroke. Mr. Phillips picked them up. Miss Daisy, disdaining a helping hand held out by

"oh, quickly, quickly!

r. Phillips, "and p

sy, "say it, if it will

. Phillips, "pu

rd. She sped towards the palace. The water bubbled round her bows, swished and foamed in the wake astern of her. Mr. Phillips broug

olumns, stone lacework of flying buttresses, spires, hollowed spaces of dark shade, points of sparkling light, broad surfaces of dazzling whiteness. Mr. Phillips leaped ashore and passed the Queen, bounding up the steps to the platform. He carried in his hand the parcel which she had flung into the boat. He reached the flagstaff. He knotted

llips s

Queen! long l

ght. The men in the boat sat still, with puzzled grins on their faces.

s you want your silly skulls smashed. C

at of the blade. Like a man with a flail he raised the oar high and brought it down with loud smacks on the water, splashing up sparkling drops, rock

hing, laughing, breat

steamer's syren shrieked. Mr. Donovan stood on the bridge, the rope which controlled the s

ps. "I wouldn't have thought he ha

was Smith, the steward, who fired the revolver. Afterw

ughtn't to have fired without orders; bu

a gun in your pocke

n peoples, sir. It's wiser

the sunshine before her palac

said, "take the ke

. They were standing in bright sunshine and a glow of reflected light. Their eyes failed to penetrate the darkness before them. It was as if a thick black curtain hung inside the door. The Queen hesitated on the threshold.

een en

on. Only here and there was evidence of some disorder. A table was upset near the fireplace. The covering of a chair had been torn, and the hair stuffing of its cushions bul

ch had once belonged to the dead King Otto. Phillips, moved by an impulse of curiosity, crossed the room to where the torn papers lay. He stooped down and picked up some of the fragments. For the most part

jesty,"

sed to intimate association with royal persons. He tried

en look

ean me?"

xcellency,"

ready merriment of her laughter, awoke her from the fear and reve

nd the rest of my life walking on stilts. I'm not that kind of queen. I'm a genuine democrat

llips b

"how long is it since t

centuries, I expect. Come and explore, I want to see the wh

e first breathed the heavy stale air of the hall and saw it with its decayed furniture, huge and

ed to her while she planned these for her father's rooms, those for her own, how breakfast should be laid

olidays here. See, if you open the window you can take a header right int

better than to spend, not holidays only, but all his days there on the island with her. If he cou

had been stored. They passed through a narrow doorway and found suddenly that the sea was lapping at their feet. They were underneath the centre of the house. Around them were high walls. From the water itself arose thick round pillars, supports of the vaulting on which the great hall rested. The light, entering for the most part through the water, was blue and faint. The stones beneath the w

"how long is it since t

. A hundred years ago, perhaps. They killed him, you kn

last D

if any one would kill a king last December!

et the torn envelope he had

hat near the fireplace in t

elonged to the king they killed. How interesting!

and the date is December 15, 1913. Some one

clapped

anything here, in this blue light, brigands or wandering spirits, or the old gods of the island. Now I call it just perfect. Thank you so much, Mr. Phillips, for finding me that paper. Now we can just brood on that brigand. It must hav

sound was broken among the pillars, came confusedly to the listening ears. The waters stirred uneasily, sucking

en," said Phillips. "Th

ld of his arm and

hen I thought it was the ghost of the

gnalling for us," he