Princess Maritza — Percy James Brebner

" ...] THE COURT OF STURATZBERG Ellerey's servant had fallen asleep on a settle, partly induced, perhaps, by the liquor the empty tankard beside him had held, but he started, wide awake on the instant, as his master entered. Ellery expected him to remark upon his sorry condition, as he threw off his cloak, but the man did not do so. "There has been some rough handling in my neighborhood to-night, Stefan." "That's plain enough, Captain," was the answer. "They were good clothes, too." "And interest you more than the man inside them," said Ellerey, grimly. "For the moment, yes. The man is unhurt, while the clothes are only fit for the rag-shop or to be given to me." "And, for choice, you would sooner have a corpse to deal with, so that the clothes were untorn?" Stefan shrugged his shoulders. "I could spare most of my acquaintances to be made corpses of, for acquaintances are easier come by than good clothes. It was a street attack, Captain, I suppose?" "They are common enough in Sturatzberg," Ellerey answered lightly. "The tale will serve as well as another," Stefan returned. "If I tell it, I am not compelled to believe it, and if I chance to be lying, it is no sin of mine." "Why, rascal, what else should it be?" "It might be a friend turned enemy, or the pursuit of a woman, or the touching of one of the many intrigues in Sturatzberg; but let it be a street attack. Was any man left sobbing out his life in the corner of the wall? It is well to have the story complete." "No; it was an encounter of blows and bruises only." "In such a plight as yours most men would have had some boast to make, pointing to their own condition to prove their statements. I have heard of half a dozen men lying ...]."