Part 51 (2/2)
CHAPTER XXIV
A WOMAN'S REASON
When Lotys recovered from her death-like swoon, she found herself on a sofa among heaped-up soft cus.h.i.+ons, in a small semi-darkened room hung with draperies of rose satin, which were here and there drawn aside to show exquisite groupings of Saxe china and rare miniatures on ivory;--the ceiling above her was a painted mirror, where Venus in her car of flowers, drawn by doves, was pictured floating across a crystal sea,--the floor was strewn with white bearskins,--the corners were filled with palms and flowers. As she regarded these unaccustomed surroundings wonderingly, a firm hand was laid on her wrist, and a brusque voice said in her ear:--
”Lie still, if you please! You have been seriously hurt! You must rest.”
She turned feebly towards the speaker, and saw a big burly man with a bald head, seated at her side, who held a watch in one hand, and felt her pulse with the other. She could not discern his features plainly, for his back was set to the already shaded light, and her own eyes were weak and dim.
”You are very kind!” she murmured--”I do not quite remember--Ah, yes!”
and a quick flash of animation pa.s.sed over her face--”I know now! The King! Is--is all well?”
”All is well, thanks to you!” replied the gruff voice--”You have saved his life.”
”Thank G.o.d!”--and she closed her eyes again wearily, while two slow tears trickled from under the shut white lids--”Thank G.o.d!”
Professor von Glauben, placed in charge of her by the King's command, gently relinquished the small white hand he held, and stepping noiselessly to a table near at hand, poured out from one of the various little flasks set thereon, a cordial the properties of which were alone known to himself, and held the gla.s.s to her lips.
”Drink this off at once!”--he said authoritatively, yet kindly.
She obeyed. He then, turning aside with the empty gla.s.s, sat down and watched her from a little distance. Soon a faint flush tinged her dead-white skin, and presently, with a deep sigh, she opened her eyes again. Then she became aware of a stiffness and smart in her right shoulder, and saw that it was tightly bandaged, and that the bodice of her dress was cut away from it. Lying perfectly still, she gradually brought her strong spirit of self-control to bear on the situation, and tried to collect her scattered thoughts. Very few minutes sufficed her to recollect all that had happened, and as she realised more and more vividly that she was in some strange and luxurious abode where she had no business or desire to be, she gathered all the forces of her mind to her aid, and with but a slight effort, sat upright. Professor von Glauben came towards her with an exclamation of warning--but she motioned him back with a very decided gesture.
”Please do not trouble!” she said--”I am quite able to move--to stand--see!” And she rose to her feet, trembling a little, and steadying herself by resting one hand on the edge of the sofa. ”I do not know who you are, but I am sure you have been most kind to me! And if you would do me a still greater kindness, you will let me go away from here at once!”
”Impossible, Madame!” declared the Professor, firmly--”His Majesty, the King----”
”What of his Majesty, the King?” demanded Lotys with sudden hauteur--”Am I not mistress of my own actions?”
The Professor made an elaborate bow.
”Most unquestionably you are, Madame!” he replied--”But you are also for the moment, a guest in the King's Palace; and having saved his life, you will surely not withhold from him the courteous acceptance of his hospitality?”
”The King's Palace!” she echoed, and a little disdainful smile crossed her lips--”I,--Lotys,--in the King's Palace!” She moved a few steps, and drew herself proudly erect. ”You, sir, are a servant of the King's?”
”I am his Majesty's resident physician, at your service!” he said, with another bow--”I have had the honour of attending to the wound you so heroically received in his defence,--and though it is not a dangerous wound, it is an exceedingly unpleasant one I a.s.sure you,--and will give you a good deal of pain and trouble. Let me advise you very earnestly to stay where you are, and rest--do not think of leaving the Palace to-night.”
She sighed restlessly. ”I must not think of staying in it!” she replied.
”But I do not wish to seem churlish--or ungrateful for your care and kindness;--will you tell the King--” Here she broke off abruptly, and fixed her eyes searchingly on his face. ”Strange!” she murmured--”I seem to have seen you before,--or someone very like you!”
The Professor was troubled with a sudden fit of coughing which made him very red in the face, and obliged him to turn away for a moment in order to recover himself. Still struggling with that obstinate catch in his throat he said:
”You were saying, Madame, that you wished me to tell the King something?”
”Yes!” said Lotys eagerly--”if you will be so good! Tell him that I thank him for his courtesy;--but that I must go away from this Palace,--that I cannot--may not--stop in it an hour longer! He does not know who it is that saved his life,--if he did, he would not wish me to remain a moment under his roof! He would be as anxious and willing for me to leave as I am to go! Will you tell him this?”
”Madame, I will tell him,” replied the Professor deferentially, yet with a slight smile--”But--if it will satisfy your scruples, or ease your mind at all,--I may as well inform you that his Majesty does know who you are! The populace itself declared your name to him, with shouts of acclamation.” She flushed a vivid red, then grew very pale.
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