Part 36 (2/2)
THE DEGRADATION OF MARLANX
”Aunt f.a.n.n.y, what is that white thing sticking under the window?”
demanded Beverly late the next morning. She was sitting with her face to the windows while the old negress dressed her hair.
”Looks lak a love letteh. Miss Bev'ly,” was the answer, as Aunt f.a.n.n.y gingerly placed an envelope in her mistress's hand. Beverly looked at it in amazement. It was unmistakably a letter, addressed to her, which had been left at her window some time in the night. Her heart gave a thump and she went red with antic.i.p.ated pleasure. With eager fingers she tore open the envelope. The first glance at the contents brought disappointment to her face. The missive was from Count Marlanx; but it was a relief to find that he was very much alive and kicking. As she read on, there came a look of perplexity which was succeeded by burning indignation. The man in the cloak was preparing to strike.
”Your secret is mine. I know all that happened in the chapel and underground pa.s.sage. You have betrayed Graustark in aiding this man to escape. The plot was cleverly executed, but you counted without the jealous eye of love. You can save yourself and your honor, and perhaps your princess, but the conditions are mine. This time there can be no trifling. I want you to treat me fairly. G.o.d help you if you refuse. Give me the answer I want and your secret is safe, I will s.h.i.+eld you with my life. At eleven o'clock I shall come to see you. I have in my possession a doc.u.ment that will influence you. You will do well to keep a close mouth until you have seen this paper.”
This alarming note was all that was needed to restore fire to the lagging blood of the American girl. Its effect was decidedly contrary to that which Marlanx must have antic.i.p.ated. Instead of collapsing, Beverly sprang to her feet with energy and life in every fiber. Her eyes were flas.h.i.+ng brightly, her body quivering with the sensations of battle.
”That awful old wretch!” she cried, to Aunt f.a.n.n.y's amazement. ”He is the meanest human being in all the world. But he's making the mistake of his life, isn't he, Aunt f.a.n.n.y? Oh, of course you don't know what it is, so never mind. We've got a surprise for him. I'll see him at eleven o'clock, and then--” she smiled quite benignly at the thought of what she was going to say to him. Beverly felt very secure in the shadow of the princess.
A clatter of horses' hoofs on the parade-ground drew her to the balcony. What she saw brought joy to her heart. Lorry and Anguish, muddy and disheveled, were dismounting before the castle.
”Ah, this is joy! Now there are three good Americans here. I'm not afraid,” she said bravely. Aunt f.a.n.n.y nodded her head in approval, although she did not know what it was all about. Curiosity more than alarm made Beverly eager to see the doc.u.ment which old Marlanx held in reserve for her. She determined to met him at eleven.
A message from the princess announced the unexpected return of the two Americans. She said they were (to use Harry Anguish's own expression) ”beastly near starvation” and clamored for substantial breakfasts, Beverly was urged to join them and to hear the latest news from the frontier.
Lorry and Anguish were full of the excitement on which they had lived for many hours. They had found evidence of raids by the Dawsbergen scouts and had even caught sight of a small band of fleeing hors.e.m.e.n.
Lorry reluctantly admitted that Gabriel's army seemed loyal to him and that there was small hope of a conflict being averted, as he had surmised, through the defection of the people. He was surprised but not dismayed when Yetive told him certain portions of the story in regard to Marlanx; and, by no means averse to seeing the old man relegated to the background, heartily endorsed the step taken by his wife. He was fair enough, however, to promise the general a chance to speak in his own defense, if he so desired. He had this in view when he requested Marlanx to come to the castle at eleven o'clock for consultation.
”Gabriel is devoting most of his energy now to hunting that poor Dantan into his grave,” said Anguish. ”I believe he'd rather kill his half-brother than conquer Graustark. Why, the inhuman monster has set himself to the task of obliterating everything that reminds him of Dantan. We learned from spies down there that he issued an order for the death of Dantan's sister, a pretty young thing named Candace, because he believed she was secretly aiding her fugitive brother. She escaped from the palace in Serros a week ago, and no one knows what has become of her. There's a report that she was actually killed, and that the story of her flight is a mere blind on the part of Gabriel.”
”He would do anything,” cried Yetive.” Poor child; they say she is like her English mother and is charming.”
”That would set Gabriel against her, I fancy,” went on Anguish. ”And, by the way, Miss Calhoun, we heard something definite about your friend, Prince Dantan. It is pretty well settled that he isn't Baldos of the guard. Dantan was seen two days ago by Captain Dangloss's men. He was in the Dawsbergen pa.s.s and they talked with him and his men. There was no mistake this time. The poor, half-starved chap confessed to being the prince and begged for food for himself and his followers,”
”I tried to find him, and, failing in that, left word in the pa.s.s that if he would but cast his lot with us in this trouble we soon would restore him to his throne,” said Lorry. ”He may accept and we shall have him turning up here some day, hungry for revenge. And now, my dear Beverly, how are you progressing with the excellent Baldos, of whom we cannot make a prince, no matter how hard we try?”
Beverly and the princess exchanged glances in which consternation was difficult to conceal. It was clear to Beverly that Yetive had not told her husband of the escape.
”I don't know anything about Baldos,” she answered steadily. ”Last night someone shot at him in the park.”
”The deuce you say!”
”In order to protect him until you returned, Gren, I had him transferred to guard duty inside the castle,” explained the princess.” It really seemed necessary. General Marlanx expects to present formal charges against him this morning, so I suppose we shall have to put him in irons for a little while. It seems too bad, doesn't it, Gren?”
”Yes. He's as straight as a string, I'll swear,” said Lorry emphatically.
”I'll bet he wishes he were safely out of this place,” ventured Anguish, and two young women busied themselves suddenly with their coffee.
”The chance is he's sorry he ever came into it,” said Lorry tantalizingly.
While they were waiting for Marlanx the young Duke of Mizrox was announced. The handsome Axphainian came with relief and dismay struggling for mastery in his face.
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