Part 26 (1/2)
”It is rather. You see, though the Baroness Von Aschersleben was in charge of the princess, I am partly responsible. Besides, since I'm English, they keep coming to me to have all the steps that are being taken explained; and they want the same explanation over and over again. Since the archduke came it has been very trying. I think that he is more of an imbecile than any royalty I ever met.”
”I'm sorry to hear that they've been worrying you like this. If I'd known, I'd have come down and stopped it earlier,” said Sir Maurice in a tone of lively self-reproach.
”Stop it? Why, what can you do?” cried Miss Lambart, opening her eyes wide in her surprise.
”Well, I have a strong belief that I could lead you to your missing princess. But it's only a belief, mind. So don't be too hopeful.”
Miss Lambart's pretty face flushed with sudden hope:
”Oh, if you could!” she cried.
”Put on your strongest pair of shoes, for I think that it will be rough going part of the way, and order a motor-car, or carriage; if you can, for the easier part; and we'll put my belief to the test,” said Sir Maurice briskly.
Miss Lambart frowned, and said in a doubtful tone: ”I shan't be able to get a carriage or car without a tiresome fuss. They're very unpleasant people, you know. Could we take the baroness with us? She'll _have_ to be carried in something.”
”Is she very fat?”
”Very.”
”Then she'd never get to the place I have in mind,” said Sir Maurice.
”Is it very far? Couldn't we walk to it?”
”It's about three miles,” said Sir Maurice.
”Oh, that's nothing--at least not for me. But you?” said Miss Lambart, who had an utterly erroneous belief that Sir Maurice was something of a weakling.
”I can manage it. Your companions.h.i.+p will stimulate my flagging limbs,” said Sir Maurice. ”Indeed, a real country walk on a warm and pleasant afternoon will be an experience I haven't enjoyed for years.”
Miss Lambart was not long getting ready; and they set out across the park toward the knoll which rose, a rounded green lump, above the surface of the distant wood. Sir Maurice had once walked to it with the Twins; and he thought that his memory of the walk helped by a few inquiries of people they met would take him to it on a fairly straight course. It was certainly very pleasant to be walking with such a charming companion through such a charming country.
As soon as they were free of the gardens Miss Lambart said eagerly: ”Where are we going to? Where do you think the princess is?”
”You've been here a month. Haven't you heard of the Dangerfield twins?” said Sir Maurice.
”Oh, yes; we were trying to find children to play with the princess; and Doctor Arbuthnot mentioned them. But he said that they were not the kind of children for her, though they were the only high and well-born ones the baroness was clamoring for, in the neighborhood. He seemed to think that they would make her rebellious.”
”Then the princess didn't know them?” said Sir Maurice quickly.
”No.”
”I wonder,” said Sir Maurice skeptically.
”We found a little boy called Rupert Carrington to play with her--a very nice little boy,” said Miss Lambart.
”Wiggins! The Twins' greatest friend! Well, I'll be shot!” cried Sir Maurice; and he laughed.
”But do you mean to say that you think that these children have something to do with the princess' disappearance? How old are they?”
said Miss Lambart in an incredulous tone, for fixed very firmly in her mind was the belief that the princess had been carried off by the Socialists and foreigners.
”I never know whether they are thirteen or fourteen. But I do know that nothing out of the common happens in the Deepings without their having a hand in it. I have the honor to be their uncle,” said Sir Maurice.