Part 41 (2/2)
”Now, that will do, Aunt f.a.n.n.y,” reprimanded her mistress sternly. ”You are not supposed to know anything about affairs of state. So don't ask.”
At last she no longer could curb her impatience and anxiety. She deliberately sought information from Prince Dantan. They were strolling in the park on the seventh day of her inquisition.
”Have you heard from Paul Baldos? ”she asked, bravely plunging into deep water.
”He is expected here tomorrow or the next day, Miss Calhoun. I am almost as eager to see him as you are,” he replied, with a very pointed smile.
”Almost? Well, yes, I'll confess that I am eager to see him. I never knew I could long for anyone as much as I--Oh, well, there's no use hiding it from you. I couldn't if I tried. I care very much for him. You don't think it sounds silly for me to say such a thing, do you? I've thought a great deal of him ever since the night at the Inn of the Hawk and Raven. In my imagination I have tried to strip you of your princely robes to place them upon him. But he is only Baldos, in spite of it all. He knows that I care for him, and I know that he cares for me.
Perhaps he has told you.”
”Yes, he has confessed that he loves you, Miss Calhoun, and he laments the fact that his love seems hopeless. Paul wonders in his heart if it would be right in him to ask you to give up all you have of wealth and pleasure to share a humble lot with him.”
”I love him. Isn't that enough? There is no wealth so great as that. But,” and she pursed her mouth in pathetic despair, ”don't you think that you can make a n.o.ble or something of him and give him a station in life worthy of his ambitions? He has done so much for you, you know.”
”I have nothing that I can give to him, he says. Paul Baldos asks only that he may be my champion until these negotiations are ended. Then he desires to be free to serve whom he will. All that I can do is to let him have his way. He is a freelance and he asks no favors, no help.”
”Well, I think he's perfectly ridiculous about it, don't you? And yet, that is the very thing I like in him. I am only wondering how we--I mean, how he is going to live, that's all.”
”If I am correctly informed he still has several months to serve in the service for which he enlisted. You alone, I believe, have the power to discharge him before his term expires,” said he meaningly.
That night Baldos returned to Edelweiss, ahead of the Graustark delegation which was coming the next day with representatives from Dawsbergen. He brought the most glorious news from the frontier. The Duke of Matz and the leading dignitaries had heard of Gabriel's capture, both through the Bappo boys and through a few of his henchmen who had staggered into camp after the disaster. The news threw the Dawsbergen diplomats into a deplorable state of uncertainty. Even the men high in authority, while not especially depressed over the fall of their sovereign, were in doubt as to what would be the next move in their series of tragedies. Almost to a man they regretted the folly which had drawn them into the net with Gabriel. Baldos reported that the Duke of Matz and a dozen of the most distinguished men in Dawsbergen were on their way to Edelweiss to complete arrangements for peace and to lay their renunciation of Gabriel before Dantan in a neutral court. The people of Dawsbergen had been clamoring long for Dantan's restoration, and Baldos was commissioned to say that his return would be the signal for great rejoicing. He was closeted until after midnight with Dantan and his sister. Lorry and Princess Yetive being called in at the end to hear and approve of the manifesto prepared by the Prince of Dawsbergen. The next morning the word went forth that a great banquet was to be given in the castle that night for Prince Dantan and the approaching n.o.blemen. The prince expected to depart almost immediately thereafter to resume the throne in Serros.
Baldos was wandering through the park early in the morning. His duties rested lightly upon his shoulders, but he was restless and dissatisfied. The longing in his heart urged him to turn his eyes ever and anon toward the balcony and then to the obstinate-looking castle doors. The uniform of a Graustark guard still graced his splendid figure. At last a graceful form was seen coming from the castle toward the cedars. She walked bravely, but aimlessly. That was plain to be seen. It was evident that she was and was not looking for someone. Baldos observed with a thrill of delight that a certain red feather stood up defiantly from the band of her sailor hat. He liked the way her dark-blue walking-skirt swished in harmony with her lithe, firm strides.
She was quite near before he advanced from his place among the trees. He did not expect her to exhibit surprise or confusion and he was not disappointed. She was as cool as a brisk spring morning. He did not offer his hand, but, with a fine smile of contentment, bowed low and with mock servility.
”I report for duty, your highness,” he said. She caught the ring of gladness in his voice.
”Then I command you to shake hands with me,” she said brightly. ”You have been away, I believe?” with a delicious inflection.
”Yes, for a century or more, I'm sure.” Constraint fell upon them suddenly. The hour had come for a definite understanding and both were conquered by its importance. For the first time in his life he knew the meaning of diffidence. It came over him as he looked helplessly into the clear, gray, earnest eyes. ”I love you for wearing that red feather,” he said simply.
”And I loved you for wearing it,” she answered, her voice soft and thrilling. He caught his breath joyously.
”Beverly,” as he bent over her, ”you are my very life, my--”
”Don't, Paul!” she whispered, drawing away with an embarra.s.sed glance about the park. There were people to be seen on all sides. But he had forgotten them. He thought only of the girl who ruled his heart. Seeing the pain in his face, she hastily, even blus.h.i.+ngly, said: ”It is so public, dear.”
He straightened himself with soldierly precision, but his voice trembled as he tried to speak calmly in defiance to his eyes. ”There is the grotto--see! It is seclusion itself. Will you come with me? I must tell you all that is in my heart. It will burst if I do not.”
Slowly they made their way to the fairy grotto deep in the thicket of trees. It was Yetive's favorite dreaming place. Dark and cool and musical with the rippling of waters, it was an ideal retreat. She dropped upon the rustic bench that stood against the moss-covered wall of boulders. With the gentle reserve of a man who reveres as well as loves, Baldos stood above her. He waited and she understood. How unlike most impatient lovers he was!
”You may sit beside me,” she said with a wistful smile of acknowledgment. As he flung himself into the seat, his hand eagerly sought hers, his courtly reserve gone to the winds.
”Beverly, dearest one, you never can know how much I love you,” he whispered into her ear. ”It is a deathless love, unconquerable, unalterable. It is in my blood to love forever. Listen to me, dear one: I come of a race whose love is hot and enduring. My people from time immemorial have loved as no other people have loved. They have killed and slaughtered for the sake of the glorious pa.s.sion. Love is the religion of my people. You must, you shall believe me when I say that I will love you better than my soul so long as that soul exists. I loved you the day I met you. It has been wors.h.i.+p since that time.”
His pa.s.sion carried her resistlessly away as the great waves sweep the deck of a s.h.i.+p at sea. She was out in the ocean of love, far from all else that was dear to her, far from all harbors save the mysterious one to which his pa.s.sion was piloting her through a storm of emotion.
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