Part 4 (1/2)
”And have tried to find him,” Ellerey answered, with a smile ”But his fastness in the ot there”
”Some day it will not be A leader worthy of the cause will be found
The people will reht to the throne than his Majesty, and then you will have the revolution”
”I presume, monsieur, the leader is found, and only awaits the opportunity?” said Ellerey
”You are right, Captain, she is found,” De Froilette answered slowly
”A woman!” Ellerey exclaimed, and he felt the color flush to his face as he spoke He forgot for a hts went back to that breezy irl with her bright hair streahed
”A woh service Let her plead for herself,” and as he spoke he opened the door, and stood aside with bowed head
A wolistened in the coils of her raven hair Her face was beautiful, her s lips and deep, soft eyes, full of sympathy and tenderness, seeer A woman born to rule, born to lead, but not the woman Ellerey had expected to see
It was the Queen, and Ellerey bowed low before her
”You have not been unnoticed by us, Captain Ellerey,” she said in a low voice, ”and ould have you more constantly at Court”
”I shall obey your Majesty,” Ellerey answered
”There are stirring times at hand,” she went on; ”ti, is fettered, politically bound, by conflicting interests, watched, carefully nursed by this Power and by that He is unable to move as his people would have him
It is for me to act for him in this matter, secretly until the appointed hour strikes Re, with equal rights, not as consortTherefore I can demand your service I prefer to ask it”
”Your Majesty is gracious”
”It will be secret service, for the present secret even fro
I may require it to-morroeek hence, or it may be in a month's time I cannot tell It is perilous service, but that will not deter Captain Desiance?”
”I hold myself entirely at your Majesty's disposal”
”You shall not findhim her hand
”Choose you a dozen stout men on whom you can rely Good pay you may promise them Have them in readiness to set out at an hour's notice
Then wait and watch We shall call you into private audience on some occasion, either personally or by Monsieur De Froilette, and now that we have found the ”
There was delicate flattery in her words and manner, yet withal perfect consciousness of her oer, the power that beauty gives Ellerey felt the ly into hers for a moment; the woman in her understood what ht, Captain Ellerey,”
she said, with a radiant smile, ”it is not your nature to be frivolous, to catch pleasure as it flies and play with it while the bubble lasts; yet ht-hearted cavalier and careless lover will not be suspected of any deep design, and it would be well that that should seem your character at Court More easily will you keep the nearer to our person, for love of pleasure and the gratification of the ht to be our end and aim also
Even his Majesty is deceived in this, and knows not that under the surface we are working night and day in his cause Monsieur De Froilette shall see to it that you have ample opportunity to be merry, and I promise you active, hazardous service, work after your own heart, in the near future”
”In the one as in the other, I shall hope to win your Majesty's approval,” Ellerey answered
The Queen turned, and retired as quickly as she had coed no ith her, nor did he atte had evidently been prearranged for Ellerey's benefit
”I surprise you for the second tiht,” said De Froilette, as he closed the door