| CHAPTER I | CHAPTER II | CHAPTER III | CHAPTER IV |
The private terrace of the Hotel Grand Bretagne, at Tangier, was shadedby a great awning of red and green and yellow, and strewn with coloredmats, and plants in pots, and wicker chairs. It reached out from theKings apartments into the Garden of Palms, and was hidden by them ontwo sides, and showed from the third the blue waters of theMediterranean and the great shadow of Gibraltar in the distance.
The Sultan of Morocco had given orders from Fez that the King ofMessina, in spite of his incognito, should be treated during his stayin Tangier with the consideration due to his rank, so one-half of theHotel Grand Bretagne had been set aside for him and his suite, and twosoldiers of the Bashaw's Guard sat outside of his door with drawnswords. They were answerable with their heads for the life and safetyof the Sultan's guest, and as they could speak no language but theirown, they made a visit to his Majesty more a matter of adventure thanof etiquette.
Niccolas, the King's majordomo, stepped out upon the terrace and sweptthe Mediterranean with a field-glass for the third time since sunrise.He lowered it, and turned doubtfully toward the two soldiers.
"The boat from Gibraltar—has she arrived yet?" he asked.
The two ebony figures shook their heads stiffly, as though theyresented this introduction of a foreign language, and continued toshake their heads as the servant addressed the same question to them ina succession of strange tongues.
"Well," said Colonel Erhaupt, briskly, as he followed Niccolas out uponthe terrace, "has the boat arrived? And the launch from the yacht," hecontinued, "has it started for shore yet?"
The man pointed to where the yacht lay, a mile outside the harbor, andhanded him the glass.
"It is but just now leaving the ship's side," he said. "But I cannotmake out who comes in her. Ah, pardon," he added quickly, as hepointed to a stout elderly gentleman who walked rapidly toward themthrough the garden. "The Gibraltar boat must be in, sir. Here isBaron Barrat coming up the path."
Colonel Erhaupt gave an exclamation of satisfaction, and waved his handto the newcomer in welcome.
"Go tell his Majesty," he said to the servant.
The man hesitated and bowed. "His Majesty still sleeps."
"Wake him," commanded Erhaupt. "Tell him I said to do so. Well,Baron," he cried, gayly, as he stepped forward, "welcome—or are youwelcome?" he added, with an une