The Keepers of the People

378“That is not the fortune of the Princes of Varandaleel,” said Ralph Falcon softly. “Don’t know them. Who were they?” said Lord Lisdor quickly.

379“A saying in Asia” said Ralph Falcon.

380“I think, Ralph,” said Lord Lisdor slowly, “that you partake of the nature of the distinctly rum.”

381Meanwhile Prince Melinsky’s hatred of Ralph Falcon, for ever fostered by a jealousy which grew more and more bitter, had waxed to a pitch at which it must find a fuller expression than an occasional sneer.

382He had again come to Lord Lisdor with a warning; and Lord Lisdor had again laughed; and then said with a seriousness very rare in him, “I trust my wife, as I never thought to trust any woman in the world.”

383Under the stimulus of the burst of anger aroused by this fresh failure, he conceived a plan of doing his enemy an ill turn, entirely worthy of his childlike, barbaric brain. Althea’s fondness for Alrasch suggested it to him: he had no love for Althea, who sometimes dealt his vanity a shrewd blow: and he sent word to one of his servants in town to bring down to Quivern his great wolf-hound. He arranged that it should arrive in the morning; be waiting for him at a wicket opening into the park; and having watched Althea set out with Alrasch, muzzled, on a ramble, he hurried down to the wicket to fetch it.

384Ralph Falcon and Lord Lisdor were smoking on the terrace, when a cry came down the wind to them, so faint that Lord Lisdor did not hear it.

385“Althea!” cried Ralph Falcon; sprang down the steps, and rushed across the lawn at a wonderful speed. Lord Lisdor stared after him a moment, and followed more slowly.

386Althea had wandered half across the park, when going round a clump of trees she had come suddenly on Prince Melinsky and his wolf-hound. Even as her eyes fell on it, the brute sprang at Alrasch; and she screamed. Then she ran forward to separate them, but Prince Melinsky caught her shoulder in a rough grip, and held her back. Alrasch, helpless from his muzzle, dodged the wolf-hound’s first spring, and they leaped round and round, snarling savagely. Althea struggled in Prince Melinsky’s grip, and finding it impossible to loosen, burst into tears, and cried, “Stop them! Stop them! Alrasch is muzzled!”