Part 19 (2/2)

Slowly Beverly Calhoun set the candlestick down upon the table her eyes meeting his with steady disdain.

”What a rare old jester you are, Count Marlanx,” she said without a smile.” If I thought you were in earnest I should scream with laughter. May I suggest that we join the countess? We must hurry along, you know. She and I have promised to play tennis with the princess at three o'clock.” The count's glare of disappointment lasted but a moment.

The diplomacy of egotism came to his relief, and he held back the gift for another day, but not for another woman.

”It grieves me to have you hurry away. My afternoon is to be a dull one, unless you permit me to watch the tennis game,” he said.

”I thought you were interested only in the game of war,” she said pointedly.

”I stand in greater awe of a tennis ball than I do of a cannonball, if it is sent by such an arm as yours,” and he not only laid his eyes but his hand upon her bare arm. She started as if something had stung her, and a cold s.h.i.+ver raced over her warm flesh. His eyes for the moment held her spellbound. He was drawing the hand to his lips when a shadow darkened the French window, and a saber rattled warningly.

Count Marlanx looked up instantly, a scowl on his face. Baldos stood at the window in an att.i.tude of alert attention. Beverly drew her arm away spasmodically and took a step toward the window. The guard saw by her eyes that she was frightened, but, if his heart beat violently, his face was the picture of military stoniness.

”What are you doing there?” snarled the count.

”Did your highness call?” asked Baldos coolly.

”She did not call, fellow,” said the count with deadly menace in his voice. ”Report to me in half an hour. You still have something to learn, I see.” Beverly was alarmed by the threat in his tones. She saw what was in store for Baldos, for she knew quite as well as Marlanx that the guard had deliberately intervened in her behalf.

”He cannot come in half an hour,” she cried quickly. ”I have something for him to do, Count Marlanx. Besides, I think I _did_ call.” Both men stared at her.

”My ears are excellent,” said Marlanx stiffly.

”I fancy Baldos's must be even better, for he heard me,” said Beverly, herself once more. The shadow of a smile crossed the face of the guard.

”He is impertinent, insolent, your highness. You will report to me tomorrow, sir, at nine o'clock in Colonel Quinnox's quarters. Now, go!”

commanded the count.

”Wait a minute, Baldos. We are going out, too. Will you open that window for me?” Baldos gladly took it as a command and threw open the long French window. She gave him a grateful glance as she stepped through, and he could scarcely conceal the gleam of joy that shot into his own eyes. The dark scowl on the count's face made absolutely no impression upon him. He closed the window and followed ten paces behind the couple.

”Your guard is a priceless treasure,” said the count grimly.

”That's what you said about the candlestick,” said she sweetly.

She was disturbed by his threat to reprimand Baldos. For some time her mind had been struggling with what the count had said about ”the lesson.” It grew upon her that her friend had been bullied and humiliated, perhaps in the presence of spectators. Resentment fired her curiosity into action. While the general was explaining one of the new gun-carriages to the countess, Beverly walked deliberately over to where Baldos was standing. Haddan's knowledge of English was exceedingly limited, and he could understand but little of the rapid conversation. Standing squarely in front of Baldos, she questioned him in low tones.

”What did he mean when he said he had given you a lesson?” she demanded. His eyes gleamed merrily.

”He meant to alarm your highness.”

”Didn't he give you a talking to?”

”He coached me in ethics.”

”You are evading the question, sir. Was he mean and nasty to you? Tell me; I want to know.”

”Well, he said things that a soldier must endure. A civilian or an equal might have run him through for it, your highness.” A flush rose to his cheeks and his lips quivered ever so slightly. But Beverly saw and understood. Her heart was in her eyes.

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