Part 46 (2/2)

”I may take it that you do desire some arrangement? You are silent, but I presume it; because I am convinced so charming a young lady as yourself could not harbour any personal malice against the Count. That would be a monstrous thought. And further, you are so capable, so exceptionally capable and clever, that you cannot have disguised from yourself that to attempt to harm a member of the Ducal family, whatever the motive or supposed facts, would not only end in failure, but also in personal inconvenience, to use no stronger term, to the person making the attempt.”

I kept my eyes fixed steadily on him; and my stare and silence began to tell on his temper. I was rather glad to see that.

Getting no reply, he made another long speech about his amiable intentions, my many excellent qualities, his extreme reluctance to see me come to harm, the impossibility of my hurting Count Gustav, and the necessity for an amicable settlement. But he made the threat a little more unmistakable this time--owing possibly to his anger at my stony reserve.

He paused, and we looked at one another in silence.

Then as if he had done with preambles he said: ”And now, what is it you want? I invite you to speak frankly.”

”'Frankly'?” I repeated, with a nasty little accent on the word. ”May I put two questions to you?” He bowed and waved his hands. Like the rest of him they were bird-like and suggested talons. ”Do you come to me from Count Gustav or from the Duke himself?”

”I speak for--both,” he answered, not without hesitation.

”Then please tell me what is behind your threat of 'personal inconvenience'? What do they intend to do, if I refuse to come to an arrangement? What _can_ they do to me?”

”They are strong enough to frustrate any attack of the kind from you or any one else.”

”But what _can_ they do? You are a _mutual_ friend, you know, General;” and I gave him one of my sweetest smiles.

”I have no hesitation in saying you might be in great personal danger, Miss Gilmore.”

”I have already reminded you that I am an American citizen.”

”You may take it from me that you will be prevented from taking any action of the hostile kind you contemplate.”

I smiled again. ”I am not in the least frightened, General. I am smiling because you come to me to speak about a mutual arrangement--when you have made up your mind that the only arrangement to be thought of is unconditional surrender on my part. And to force that, you threaten me with unspeakable penalties. We shouldn't call that any sort of arrangement at all, in the States, but merely--pardon the word--bluff.”

I was gaining my first point rapidly. He was getting very angry at my opposition and the way I put it.

”I was prepared to find you a very daring young woman; but this thing shall not be allowed to go farther. You reckon on General von Erlanger's help; but he will be powerless here.”

I indulged him with a third smile. ”You are not quite right there. I have done something else. Knowing the Duke's power and influence might prevent his Excellency from protecting me, I wrote out an account of the matter and have arranged that--if anything unforeseen should happen to me, to-night, for instance--it shall be placed to-morrow morning in the hands of the American Consul. And even against the Ducal family, I will back my Government to keep its end up.”

I paused, but he had nothing ready to answer that with; so I continued: ”I think you'll agree that that foresight of mine cancels your threat, and that we can start in again on equal terms.”

His talons having failed to grip me now gripped one another, and with considerable tension too. His right hand fastened like a vice on his left wrist.

”I did not threaten you, I only warned you. What is it you want?”

”In the first place, fair play--and it is not playing fairly for Duke Ladislas to come to me in the disguise of a mutual friend.”

”You know me, then?”

”As well as you know me. Inadvertently, when you entered, you called me by my name--von Dreschler. You know, also, one of the objects I seek--justice for my father's name. That it be cleared from the shame and disgrace foully and treacherously put upon it in the interest of you and your family--the responsibility for a deed of blood of which he was innocent, but which you, or those promoting your interests, instigated, planned, and carried out.”

”'Fore G.o.d, you speak daringly, madam.”

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