Page:Roy Norton--The unknown Mr Kent.djvu/232

 was immediately handcuffed, and lifted to his feet.

"What's the meaning of all this?" he demanded, between pants.

"It means that you are under arrest," growled a hoarse voice. "Bring him along, men!"

"But where are you taking me?" Kent insisted. "You'll find that out soon enough," was the reply.

Kent walked doggedly along in silence and without further protest, and was led directly to the private entrance to the palace, thence upward to his offices, where, despite the warmth of the night, the shades were drawn and the room in a blaze of light. As soon as his eyes were accustomed to the change he beheld, through the open door of his private office, Provarsk lazily seated in his private chair, and saw that the drawers of the desk had been wrenched open and that numerous papers were scattered on the floor.

"Ah! Got him, did you?" the chancellor remarked to the soldiers conducting Kent. "You did well. Couldn't have done much better in fact; but I was rather in hopes he would fight sufficiently hard to make extreme measures necessary."

He smiled pleasantly and came into the other room. Kent looked at the men around him and sneered when he discovered they were some of [228]