Part 21 (1/2)

For the first time since she came to the castle, she felt a sense of loneliness, a certain unhappiness. She could not shake off the feeling that she was, after all, alone in her belief in Baldos. Her heart told her that the tall, straightforward fellow she had met in the hills was as honest as the day. She was deceiving him, she realized, but he was misleading no one. Off in a distant part of the castle ground she could see the long square shadow that marked the location of the barracks and messroom. There he was sleeping, confidently believing in her and her power to save him from all harm. Something in her soul cried out to him that she would be staunch and true, and that he might sleep without a tremor of apprehensiveness.

Suddenly she smiled nervously and drew back into the shadow of the pillar. It occurred to her that he might be looking across the moon-lit park, looking directly at her through all that shadowy distance. She was conscious of a strange glow in her cheeks and a quickening of the blood as she pulled the folds of her gown across her bare throat.

”Not the moon, nor the stars, nor the light in St. Valentine's, but the black thing away off there on the earth,” said a soft voice behind her, and Beverly started as if the supernatural had approached her. She turned to face the princess, who stood almost at her side.

”Yetive! How did you get here?”

”That is what you are looking at, dear,” went on Yetive, as if completing her charge. ”Why are you not in bed?”

”And you? I thought you were sound asleep long ago,” murmured Beverly, abominating the guilty feeling that came over her. The princess threw her arm about Beverly's shoulder.

”I have been watching you for half an hour,” she said gently. ”Can't two look at the moon and stars as well as one? Isn't it my grim old castle?

Let us sit here together, dear, and dream awhile.”

”You dear Yetive,” and Beverly drew her down beside her on the cus.h.i.+ons. ”But, listen: I want you to get something out of your head. I was _not_ looking at anything in particular.”

”Beverly, I believe you were thinking of Baldos,” said the other, her fingers straying fondly across the girl's soft hair.

”Ridiculous!” said Beverly, conscious for the first time that he was seldom out of her thoughts. The realization came like a blow, and her eyes grew very wide out there in the darkness.

”And you are troubled on his account. I know it, dear. You--”

”Well, Yetive, why shouldn't I be worried? I brought him here against his will,” protested Beverly. ”If anything should happen to him--” she shuddered involuntarily.

”Don't be afraid, Beverly. I have as much confidence in him as you have. His eyes are true. Grenfall believes in him, too, and so does Mr. Anguish. Gren says he would swear by him, no matter who he is.”

”But the others?” Beverly whispered.

”Baron Dangloss is his friend, and so is Quinnox. They know a _man_. The count is different.”

”I loathe that old wretch!”

”Hus.h.!.+ He has not wronged you in any way.”

”But he _has_ been unfair and mean to Baldos.”

”It is a soldier's lot, my dear.”

”But he may be Prince Dantan or Frederic or the other one, don't you know,” argued Beverly, clenching her hands firmly.

”In that event, he would be an honorable soldier, and we have nothing to fear in him. Neither of them is our enemy. It is the possibility that he is not one of them that makes his presence here look dangerous.”

”I don't want to talk about him,” said Beverly, but she was disappointed when the princess obligingly changed the subject.

Baldos was not surprised, scarcely more than interested, when a day or two later, he was summoned to appear before the board of strategy. If anyone had told him, however, that on a recent night a pair of dreamy gray eyes had tried to find his window in the great black shadow, he might have jumped in amazement and--delight. For at that very hour he was looking off toward the castle, and his thoughts were of the girl who drew back into the shadow of the pillar.

The Graustark ministry had received news from the southern frontier. Messengers came in with the alarming and significant report that Dawsbergen was strengthening her fortifications in the pa.s.ses and moving war supplies northward. It meant that Gabriel and his people expected a fight and were preparing for it. Count Halfont hastily called the ministers together, and Lorry and the princess took part in their deliberations. General Marlanx represented the army; and it was he who finally asked to have Baldos brought before the council. The Iron Count plainly intimated that the new guard was in a position to transmit valuable information to the enemy. Colonel Quinnox sent for him, and Baldos was soon standing in the presence of Yetive and her advisers. He looked about him with a singular smile. The one whom he was supposed to regard as the princess was not in the council chamber. Lorry opened the examination at the request of Count Halfont, the premier. Baldos quietly answered the questions concerning his present position, his age, his term of enlistment, and his interpretations of the obligations required of him.

”Ask him who he really is,” suggested the Iron Count sarcastically.