Part 12 (1/2)
The Castle suddenly loomed up before them--grey and frowning, not more than three hundred yards away. He was possessed of a wild desire to walk straight into the grim old place and proclaim himself the feudal owner, seizing everything as his own--particularly the young woman in the rajah silk. People were strolling in the shady grounds. He felt the instant infection of happy indolence, the call to luxury. Men in gay uniforms and men in cool flannels; women in the prettiest and daintiest of frocks--all basking in the playtime of life, unmindful of the toil that fell to the Sons of Martha out in the sordid world.
”Do you think you can find your man from Cook's?” she asked.
”Unless he has gone and jumped into the river, your--madam. In any event, I think I may safely find my way out. I shall not trouble you to go any farther. Thank you for overlooking my indiscretion. Thank you, my dear little Prince, for the happiest experience of my life. I shall never forget this hour.” He looked boldly into her eyes, and not at the Prince. ”Have you ever been in New York?” he asked abruptly.
He was not at all sure whether the look she gave him was one of astonishment or resentment. At any rate, it was a quick glance, followed by the palpable suppression of words that first came to her lips, and the subst.i.tution of a very polite:
”Yes, and I love it.” He beamed. The smile that came into her eyes escaped him. If he could have seen it, his bewilderment; would have been sadly increased.
”Say!” whispered the Prince, dropping back as if to impart a grave secret. ”See that man over there by the fountain, Mr. King?”
”Bobby!” cried the lady sharply. ”Good-bye, Mr. King. Remember me to your sister when you write. She--”
”That's Aunt Loraine's beau,” announced the Prince.
”That's Count Eric Vos Engo.” Truxton's look turned to one of interest at once. The man designated was a slight, swarthy fellow in the uniform of a colonel. He did not appear to be particularly happy at the moment.
The American observed the lady's dainty ears. They had turned a delicate pink.
”May I ask who--” began Truxton timidly.
”She will know if you merely call me Loraine.”
”So long,” said the Prince.
They parted company at once, the Prince and the lady in the rajah silk going toward the Castle, King toward the gates, somewhat dazed and by no means sure of his senses. He came down to earth after he had marched along on air for some distance, so to speak, and found himself deciding that she was a d.u.c.h.ess here, but Loraine at school. What a wonderful place a girl's school must be! And his sister knew her--knew a lady of high degree!
”Hobbs!” he called, catching sight of a dejected figure in front of the chief steward's door.
”Oh, it's you, is it?” said Mr. Hobbs sullenly.
”It is, Hobbs--very much me. I've been fis.h.i.+ng with royalty and chatting with the n.o.bility. Where the devil have _you_ been?”
”I've been squaring it with old man Fraasch. I'm through with you, sir.
No more for me, not if I know--”
”Come along, Hobbs,” said the other blithely, taking Hobbs by the arm.
”The Prince sent his love to you.”
”Did he mention Cook's?” gasped Hobbs.
”He certainly did,” lied Truxton. ”He spoke of you most kindly. He wondered if you could find time to come around to-morrow.”
CHAPTER V
THE COMMITTEE OF TEN
It has been said before that Truxton King was the unsuspecting object of interest to two sets of watchers. The fact that he was under the surveillance of the government police, is not surprising when we consider the evident thoroughness of that department; but that he should be continually watched by persons of a more sinister cast suggests a mystery which can be cleared up by visiting a certain underground room, scarce two blocks from the Tower of Graustark. It goes without saying that corporeal admittance to this room was not to be obtained easily. In fact, one must belong to a certain band of individuals; and, in order to belong to that band, one must have taken a very solemn pledge of eternal secrecy and a primal oath to devote his life to certain purposes, good or evil, according to his conscience. By means of the friendly Sesame that has opened the way for us to the gentler secrets, we are permitted to enter this forbidding apartment and listen in safety to the ugly business of the Committee of Ten.