Part 7 (2/2)

”That confession should fire fehed the Queen ”Spread the report of it, Monsieur De Froilette, and we shall witness excellent coedy--I hardly knohich love may be Oh, you are doubly welcoive us, and ill ask for a repetition of that confession constantly The first ti eyes, and stae to the citadel of indifference, and captured it” Ellerey smiled, as he moved aside to make room for others He would have approached Baron Petrescu had he been able to do so, but he was prevented; first, because sohtly spoke to hieneral 's entrance

When the history of Ferdinand IV co will probably have as iven him will so entirely depend upon the point of view As he walked slowly across the rooraciousness in it There were a feho feared him; many who despised hidom it is doubtful whether a dozen loved or ad, tall and thin, with a stoop in his shoulders

His skin was parchment-colored, and his eyes heavy and slow of , a witty Frenchman had once called him; but those about hi

Perhaps no one understood hireater influence with him, than the man who noalked a pace or two behind hi, he looked alait, and his apparently nervous deference to everyone about him, would have amused those who did not know the man, or until they had made a more careful study of his face Nature seemed to have tried her hand at a caricature, and had placed upon this diminutive body a leonine head The face was a network of lines, as though wind, rain, and sunshi+ne had worked their will upon it for years The hair hite as driven snow, and thick, shaggy, and long, while, set deeply under heavy brows, his small eyes were never still For a fraction of time they see about them which would be stored up in the memory

”A ferret-eyed devil, monsieur, is it not so?” whispered De Froilette in Ellerey's ear after the Ambassador had passed ”He has already noted your presence, and will know all about you before he sleeps--if he ever does sleep We must be very frivolous to escape detection”

To be frivolous at the Court of Sturatzberg was no difficult matter

Whether it was the report of what he had said to the Queen hadto women, or whether those steady blue eyes of his were the attraction, Ellerey found it easy towith a light coone had earned a reputation as an irresponsible cavalier; one whoerous to take too seriously or believe in too thoroughly Such a man was, for the most part, after the heart of the fe Court, and that he played the part well the Queen's smile constantly assured him In one point, however, Ellerey was peculiarly unsuccessful

He had been attracted to Baron Petrescu, and went to some trouble to become acquainted with him, but to no purpose Either the Baron avoided him intentionally, or a train of adverse circule word passed between them

On several occasions the Queen made Ellerey repeat his confession, and he did so with a smile upon his lips

”I expected downcast eyes and a sta, and as Ellerey looked at her, she glanced swiftly across the rooroup, of which a woh which had the spirit and joy of youth in it By common consent, her beauty had no rival in the Court of Sturatzberg Men whose tastes on all else were as wide asunder as the poles were at one in praise of her, and even won supre lashes, were, perhaps, the most perfect feature of a perfect face They could persuade, they could reprove, and it was dangerous to look into them too constantly if one would not be a slave Her hair, which had a wave in it, and was rich nut-brown in color, was gathered in loose coils about her head, a veritable crown to her, and her voice was low, as if co you to listen to some sweet secret it had to tell, a secret that was only for you

”I can stillwhether his words were quite true, for he had looked into this woroup, quick to observe that Baron Petrescu left it at his co

Ellerey understood that the Queen must have watched him carefully To this woman he had certainly paid more attention than to any other She was in close attendance upon the Queen, was treated by her with lances had been cast upon Ellerey, because she see with him Ellerey could not deny that the time spent in her company sped faster than all other hours, but he had another reason for seeking her so persistently He had seen little of the face of the woht at the corner of the Altstrasse, being more concerned as required of him than with her who petitioned, but soht Whenever she walked beside him, he recalled that other woh the deserted streets Was she the woht? Why had she so easily given him her friendshi+p? Why should she so obviously prefer his company to that of others? There was some reason, and yet she had made no confession, had stepped into none of his carefully prepared traps Did she know Maritza? Were those Maritza's eyes which had looked through the silken mask?

”You will dance with me, Countess?”

She placed her hand upon his arenerous to me,” he said, as they went toward the ball-rooht have been laughed at for not understanding such a look

”A Captain of Horse is a s,” he said carelessly

”Even if he is honored with her Majesty's friendshi+p?” she asked

”Is he?”

”Well, are you not? I can judge by what I see, and you seem welcome always”

”I have noticed that, Countess, and have thought soht tell me the reason”

”Of her Majesty's welcome, do you mean?”

”Of her welcome, and of your own kindness to hed

”I think Englishmen are slow of comprehension,” she said

”But a Captain of Horse, Countess?”

”Who her rank to-morrow, and in his own country ”