Game 47, Round 1
Along time in coming, but the game is afoot, and the name of the game is Adventure!
Let's begin with a true classic of the genre; Anthony Hope's The Prisoner of Zenda.
With his distinctive red hair and sharp nose, Rudolf Rassendyll, a young Englishman, shares a striking resemblance with the Ruritanian royal family. A burning curiosity draws him to Ruritania to see the coronation of the new King, his distant cousin. But when the King is captured by his treacherous brother on the eve of his coronation, only Rudlf can save him.
Thrown into a series of adventures beyond his wildest dreams, as Rudolf battles to outwit his enemies he falls in love with the beautiful Princess Flavia, who is betrothed to the King. He must make his choice - should he save the monarch and be parted from Flavia forever?
"De Gautet, Bersonin, and Detchard are in Strelsau; and any one of them, lad, would cut your throat as readily -- as readily as I would Black Michael's, and a deal more treacherously. What's the letter?"
I opened it and read it aloud:
If the king desires to know what it deeply concerns the king to know, let him do as this letter bids him. At the end of the New Avenue there stands a house in large grounds. The house has a portico, with a statue of a nymph on it. A wall encloses the garden; there is a gate in the wall at the back. At twelve o'clock tonight, if the king enters alone by that gate, turns to the right, and walks twenty yards, he will find a summerhouse, approached by a flight of six steps. If he mounts and enters, he will find someone who will tell him what touches most dearly his life and his throne. This is written by a faithful friend. He must be alone. If he neglects the invitation his life will be in danger. Let him show this to no one, or he will ruin a woman who loves him: Black Michael does not pardon.
"No," observed Sapt, as I ended, "but he can dictate a very pretty letter."
I had arrived at the same conclusion, and was about to throw the letter away, when I saw there was more writing on the other side.
"Hallo! there's some more."
If you hesitate [the writer continued] consult Colonel Sapt --
"Eh," exclaimed that gentleman, genuinely astonished. "Does she take me for a greater fool than you?"
I waved to him to be silent.
Ask him what woman would do most to prevent the duke from marrying his cousin, and therefore most to prevent him becoming king? And ask if her name begins with -- A?
I sprang to my feet. Sapt laid down his pipe.
"Antoinette de Mauban, by heaven!" I cried.
Poll
Let's begin with a true classic of the genre; Anthony Hope's The Prisoner of Zenda.
With his distinctive red hair and sharp nose, Rudolf Rassendyll, a young Englishman, shares a striking resemblance with the Ruritanian royal family. A burning curiosity draws him to Ruritania to see the coronation of the new King, his distant cousin. But when the King is captured by his treacherous brother on the eve of his coronation, only Rudlf can save him.
Thrown into a series of adventures beyond his wildest dreams, as Rudolf battles to outwit his enemies he falls in love with the beautiful Princess Flavia, who is betrothed to the King. He must make his choice - should he save the monarch and be parted from Flavia forever?
"De Gautet, Bersonin, and Detchard are in Strelsau; and any one of them, lad, would cut your throat as readily -- as readily as I would Black Michael's, and a deal more treacherously. What's the letter?"
I opened it and read it aloud:
If the king desires to know what it deeply concerns the king to know, let him do as this letter bids him. At the end of the New Avenue there stands a house in large grounds. The house has a portico, with a statue of a nymph on it. A wall encloses the garden; there is a gate in the wall at the back. At twelve o'clock tonight, if the king enters alone by that gate, turns to the right, and walks twenty yards, he will find a summerhouse, approached by a flight of six steps. If he mounts and enters, he will find someone who will tell him what touches most dearly his life and his throne. This is written by a faithful friend. He must be alone. If he neglects the invitation his life will be in danger. Let him show this to no one, or he will ruin a woman who loves him: Black Michael does not pardon.
"No," observed Sapt, as I ended, "but he can dictate a very pretty letter."
I had arrived at the same conclusion, and was about to throw the letter away, when I saw there was more writing on the other side.
"Hallo! there's some more."
If you hesitate [the writer continued] consult Colonel Sapt --
"Eh," exclaimed that gentleman, genuinely astonished. "Does she take me for a greater fool than you?"
I waved to him to be silent.
Ask him what woman would do most to prevent the duke from marrying his cousin, and therefore most to prevent him becoming king? And ask if her name begins with -- A?
I sprang to my feet. Sapt laid down his pipe.
"Antoinette de Mauban, by heaven!" I cried.
Poll