Part 20 (1/2)
”That settles it,” she said rigidly. ”You are not to report to him at nine tomorrow.”
”But he will have me shot, your highness,” said he gladly.
”He will do nothing of the kind. You are _my_ guard,” and her eyes were gleaming dangerously. Then she rejoined the group, the members of which had been watching her curiously. ”Count Marlanx,” she said, with entrancing dimples, ”will you report to me at nine to-morrow morning?”
”I have an appointment,” he said slowly, but with understanding.
”But you will break it, I am sure,” she a.s.serted confidently. ”I want to give you a lesson in--in lawn tennis.”
Later on, when the victoria was well away from the fort, Dagmar took her companion to task for holding in public friendly discourse with a member of the guard, whoever he might be.
”It is altogether contrary to custom, and--” but Beverly put her hand over the critical lips and smiled like a guilty child.
”Now, don't scold,” she pleaded, and the countess could go no further.
The following morning Count Marlanx reported at nine o'clock with much better grace than he had suspected himself capable of exercising. What she taught him of tennis on the royal courts, in the presence of an amused audience, was as nothing to what he learned of strategy as it can be practiced by a whimsical girl. Almost before he knew it she had won exemption for Baldos, that being the stake for the first set of singles. To his credit, the count was game. He took the wager, knowing that he, in his ignorance, could not win from the blithe young expert in petticoats. Then he offered to wager the bra.s.s candlestick against her bracelet. She considered for a moment and then, in a spirit of enthusiasm, accepted the proposition. After all, she coveted the candlestick. Half an hour later an orderly was riding to the fort with instructions to return at once with Miss Calhoun's candlestick. It is on record that they were ”love” sets, which goes to prove that Beverly took no chances.
Count Marlanx, puffing and perspiring, his joints dismayed and his brain confused, rode away at noon with Baron Dangloss. Beverly, quite happy in her complete victory, enjoyed a nap of profound sweetness and then was ready for her walk with the princess. They were strolling leisurely about the beautiful grounds, safe in the shade of the trees from the heat of the July sun, when Baron Dangloss approached.
”Your royal highness,” he began, with his fierce smile, ”may I beg a moment's audience?”
”It has to do with Baldos, I'll take oath,” said Beverly, with conviction.
”Yes, with your guard. Yesterday he visited the fortress. He went in an official capacity, it is true, but he was privileged to study the secrets of our defense with alarming freedom. It would not surprise me to find that this stranger has learned everything there is to know about the fort.” His listeners were silent. The smiles left their faces. ”I am not saying that he would betray us--”
”No, no!” protested Beverly.
”--but he is in a position to give the most valuable information to an enemy. An officer has just informed me that Baldos missed not a detail in regard to the armament, or the location of vital spots in the construction of the fortress.”
”But he wouldn't be so base as to use his knowledge to our undoing,”
cried Yetive seriously.
”We only know that he is not one of us. It is not beyond reason that his allegiance is to another power, Dawsbergen, for instance. Count Marlanx is not at all in sympathy with him, you are aware. He is convinced that Baldos is a man of consequence, possibly one of our bitterest enemies, and he hates him. For my own part, I may say that I like the man. I believe he is to be trusted, but if he be an agent of Volga or Gabriel, his opportunity has come. He is in a position to make accurate maps of the fort and of all our masked fortifications along the city walls.”
Beyond a doubt, the baron was worried.
”Neither am I one of you,” said Beverly stoutly. ”Why shouldn't I prove to be a traitress?”
”You have no quarrel with us, Miss Calhoun,” said Dangloss.
”If anything happens, then, I am to be blamed for it,” she cried in deep distress. ”I brought him to Edelweiss, and I believe in him.”
”For his own sake, your highness, and Miss Calhoun, I suggest that no opportunity should be given him to communicate with the outside world. We cannot accuse him, of course, but we can _protect_ him.
I come to ask your permission to have him detailed for duty only in places where no suspicion can attach to any of his actions.”
”You mean inside the city walls?” asked Yetive.
”Yes, your highness, and as far as possible from the fortress.”