Part 33 (2/2)

”You are learning wisdom,” Count Michael commented.

”We may define the term differently,” Trent smiled. ”I did not burn the paper.”

”Ah!” the count breathed excitedly. ”Now we have it.”

”I preferred to keep it so that I could a.s.sure the Right Honourable the Earl of Rosecarrel, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, that I had indeed succeeded. You will understand my feelings. Perhaps it was bravado but none seems to believe that such papers ever do get burned.

You, count, seemed to doubt it.”

”Where is it?” the count snapped. ”Your life depends on your truth.”

”I have put it in a safe place,” Trent said, resuming his pacing of the room.

The count's excitement banished the air of toleration he had with difficulty affected toward one he hated.

”Where is it?” he bellowed.

Anthony Trent was smiling and his eyes were bright. It was one of his moments.

”I am going to fetch it,” he said urbanely.

Long ago he had made a careful survey of the possibilities of the room in which he stood. He had thoroughly scrutinized windows and doors as likely aids to future needs.

Every pair of eyes in that great room was turned on him. Sissek and Ferencz understanding no word only saw that he was unmoved, unruffled, almost joyous in the presence of the great Count Michael. They could not understand it at all. They only hated him the more.

Hentzi was rather thrilled with the spectacle. Here was a young and handsome man of a type he had longed to be, no doubt the bearer of an historic t.i.tle, who in the presence of great peril dared to laugh at the head of all the Temesvars.

Count Michael felt the constricting collar that now almost choked him.

These other two who had preceded Alfred Anthony met death bravely but they acknowledged failure. But this man was different. It was almost as though he thought himself the victor. What else would have nerved him to bandy words with his gaoler?

But of them all it was Pauline who watched him most eagerly, and most feared for his safety. He seemed incredibly rash to antagonize the count still further. Few guessed the cruelties to which he could sink when his _amour propre_ was wounded. She had made up her mind that the man she loved so wholly should not suffer. So far the count had no reason to suspect her interest in the stranger. His first jealousy had pa.s.sed when she protested how needless it was. He trusted women with few of his political secrets but she knew Trent was a marked man because he had stumbled on the ident.i.ty of the princely guest. Therefore he would suffer unless her woman's wit could aid him. Knowing the count's vanity so well she perceived that every moment of this unperturbed att.i.tude added to the severity of the punishment his prisoner would receive.

”You are going to fetch it!” Count Michael said thickly. ”Is it permitted to ask how and when?”

”By all means,” Trent said graciously. ”I am going to fetch it now and thus.”

He made a lightning quick leap toward the window where Hentzi was sitting in a low chair and then a dive over the secretary's shoulder.

Through the small panes of gla.s.s he went like a hurled rock. The shade torn from its roller wrapped itself about his head and s.h.i.+elded him from flying gla.s.s and piercing splinters.

Two shots rang out and he heard Hentzi's voice raised in a shriek of agony. There were other sounds which drowned even this. The count's voice bellowed forth instructions. He could hear Peter Sissek and Ferencz shouting and then, as another shot followed him into the courtyard Pauline's cry rang high above all other sounds.

Trent landed on his shoulder, bruised but not seriously hurt. When he pulled the enveloping window shade from his face he was amazed to see that the room from which he had come was now in darkness. He could hear the men thras.h.i.+ng about it in a fury of rage at being unable to find the way of pursuit. Whether failure of the current was the cause or someone had pressed the b.u.t.ton, the delay was of incalculable value.

Trent raced across the paved courtyard and pried open the door of what had been the prince's apartment. It was unoccupied as was that of the adjoining room where the military aide had slept.

At the bedroom door leading to the corridor he listened carefully but heard no sound. He opened it quietly to come upon a servant pa.s.sing by.

It was an unmannerly fellow who had often jeered at him when they used the common table, a tall, awkward, stooping creature with a malicious face. His eyes opened wide when he saw it was the detested English chauffeur. Visions of reward darted across his brain and he made a movement as to apprehend the foreigner.

He was instantly gripped with a hold, which agonized him as he sought to break it, and forced into the bedroom from which Trent had just come.

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