Part 26 (1/2)
”It is getting frightfully late,” she sharply exclaimed. ”They'll wonder where I've gone to. Why, it's actually dark.”
”It has been dark for half an hour, your highness,” said he, drawing himself up with sudden rigidness that distressed her. ”Are you going to return to the castle?”
”Yes. They'll have out a searching party pretty soon if I don't appear.”
”You have been good to me to-day,” he said thoughtfully. ”I shall try to merit the kindness. Let me--”
”Oh, please don't talk in that humble way! It's ridiculous! I'd rather have you absolutely impertinent, I declare upon my honor I would. Don't you remember how you talked when you wore the red feather? Well, I liked it.”
Baldos laughed easily, happily. His heart was not very humble, though his voice and manner were.
”Red is the color of insolence, you mean.”
”It's a good deal jauntier than blue,” she declared.
”Before you call the bearers, Miss--your highness, I wish to retract something I said awhile ago,” he said very seriously.
”I should think you would,” she responded, utterly misinterpreting his intent.
”You asked me to tell you what my message to Ravone contained and I refused. Subsequently the extent of his message to me led us into a most thorough understanding. It is only just and right that you should know what I said to him.”
”I trust you, Baldos,” she protested simply.
”That is why I tell this to you. Yesterday, your highness, the castle guard received their month's pay. You may not know how well we are paid, so I will say that it is ten gavvos to each. The envelope which I gave to Ravone contained my wages for the past six weeks. They need it far more than I do. There was also a short note of good cheer to those poor comrades of mine, and the a.s.surance that one day our luck may change and starvation be succeeded by plenty. And, still more, I told him that I knew you to be Miss Calhoun and that you were my angel of inspiration. That was all, your highness.”
”Thank you, Baldos, for telling me,” she said softly. ”You have made me ashamed of myself.”
”On the contrary, I fear that I have been indulging in mock heroics. Truth and egotism--like a salad--require a certain amount of dressing.”
”Since you are Baldos, and not a fairy prince, I think you may instruct the men to carry me back, being without the magic tapestry which could transplant me in a whiff. Goodness, who's that?”
Within ten feet of the sedan chair and directly behind the tall guard stood a small group of people. He and Beverly, engrossed in each other, had not heard their approach. How long they had been silent spectators of the little scene only the intruders knew. The startled, abashed eyes of the girl in the chair were not long in distinguis.h.i.+ng the newcomers.
A pace in front of the others stood the gaunt, shadowy form of Count Marlanx.
Behind him were the Princess Yetive, the old prime minister, and Baron Dangloss.
CHAPTER XIX
THE NIGHT FIRES
”Why, good evening. Is that you?” struggled somewhat hysterically through Beverly's lips. Not since the dear old days of the stolen jam and sugar-bits had she known the feelings of a culprit caught red-handed. The light from the park lamps revealed a merry, accusing smile on the face of Yetive, but the faces of the men were serious. Marlanx was the picture of suppressed fury.
”It is the relief expedition, your highness,” said Yetive warmly. ”We thought you were lost in the wilds of the jungle.”
”She is much better protected than we could have imagined,” said the Iron Count, malevolently mild and polite.
”Can't I venture into the park without being sent for?” asked Beverly, ready to fly into the proper rage. The pink had left her cheeks white. ”I am proud to observe, however, that the relief expedition is composed of the most distinguished people in all Graustark. Is there any significance to be attached to the circ.u.mstance?”