Part 4 (2/2)
”Yes, I expected another woman--Princess Maritza”
De Froilette started at the name, and looked keenly at his companion
For an instant he showed surprise, perhaps annoyance, but he was quickly hiain, and asked quietly:
”What do you know of the Princess Maritza?”
”I have studied so of the history of this country in ht be interested yourself in the fortunes of the exile You spoke of others with an equal or better right than his Majesty”
”I was thinking of the Queen The Princess is impossible Her fathers sat upon the throne, it is true, and by their misplaced an Power, but alienated the love of the people besides Her father barely escaped assassination
The Princess is known to land”
”Does she ht were the throne vacant, but she could not succeed The people would never accept her In two days will you dome to Court, as her Majesty desires?”
”The honor will beme into notice,”
Ellerey answered
”I will co,” said De Froilette, and then a servant entered, apparently without being suain All the doors were fast closed as before, but the air seemed to vibrate with life and the silence to be ready to break into a hoarse roar of voices at a moment's notice Yet only in ahere and there was there a diloomy house as he stood alone in the Altstrasse
CHAPTER III
THE WOMAN IN THE SILK MASK
Once alone, there were retted he had not put to his host, and sos arose in his ht be contrary to the oath which he had taken to the King The scheme to enlist his help had evidently been carefully considered and prepared, with the result that he had pledged himself to sonorant Not a clue had been given hi traitor, he realized that it was not within his power to do so Not a word of information could he speak, and ould believe that alone, and apparently unattended, the Queen had visited the Altstrasse atto hient; that she had explained nothing pointed to the fact that she was not inclined to trust hie there is work for my sword,” he said, as he drew his cloak closer round him ”It would seem there is employment for my wits also
At least, I have my wish: a part to play which holds possibilities
A Queen, a designing Frenchman, and an ambitious Captain of Horse, whoWe shall see!”
Desmond Ellerey was, after all, an adventurer, of the better sort, perhaps; driven to the life by force of circumstances--yet still an adventurer His position proclaimed him one He looked for reward from the country which had purchased his sword, and had no inclination to fritter away his chances of espousing any cause but the winning one
At the sa with it weighty responsibilities, which he could not aith as easily as he had cast aside his country There were few ties to bind hiland He had become that unenviable member of a family--the black sheep He had run deeply into debt; a fact that had grievously told against him when he had to face the accusations which had ruined his career In withdrawing froland he had probably left only two friends, Sir Charles and Lady Martin, ould ever trouble to send a kindly thought after hi had aroused the keenest satisfaction in the breast of his brother, Sir Ralph Ellerey, tenth baronet of the name, as quite ready to believe the very worst that was said of Des that it was little more than he expected Sir Ralph's cast of enerous, but, since the sympathy so usually shown to the open-handed spendthrift was not forthco in this case, it must be assumed that popular opinion condemned Desmond Ellerey, and sympathized with Sir Ralph It had been easy, therefore, for Deser to his native land; it was ilishman: that a peculiar code of honor was demanded of him by the fact
The Altstrasse was deserted as he passed through it; the lights were out in most of the houses, and silence was over the whole city The sky was black with clouds, giving pro if the wind dropped Ellerey walked quickly, his ears alert, and his eyes keenly searching every shadow on either side of him Attacks in the street for the purpose of plunder were of too general occurrence to ht, and in this quarter of the city help would be slow in co
As he turned out of the Altstrasse, a woainst hiathered tightly round her, showing nothing of her dress and little of her figure, and the hood of it was pulled so lon that little of her face was visible
”Help,for breath, which ca ”Help, monsieur, if you be a man!”
”How can I serve you?”
”Ah, a soldier!” she cried, seeing the cloak he wore ”Quick! There is no ti done”
”Where?”
”Come It is a house yonder Are you armed? Ah, but they are cowards, and only attack defenceless women!” And she plucked him by the arm to compel him to follow her She did not appeal in vain