Part 8 (1/2)
”Many vagabonds, Countess”
”Oh, yes, and others,” and then she racefully out a over the floor of the ballroom to the strains of a sensuous German waltz
Ellerey danced well He had earned the reputation in many a London ball-roolish women can, with the soul of the music in her feet
”Those others are souish,” Ellerey said presently
”Not to a woman,” was the answer ”She has an intuition which is denied to most men Indeed, I only know one reater lishh Yonder!”
With a touch she directed Ellerey's attention to one side of the roo to two men He seemed to be interested in the conversation, but at the salided by hiht the Ah he did not go near him
”He, too, has noted you,” the Countess whispered, ”and if you have aught to conceal, Captain Ellerey, take care that the secret be well buried, or those small eyes will spy it out”
”You do not like the Auided his partner to a deserted seat in an alcove
”I ad, but admiration I cannot help
There would have been desperate work for you soldiers long since had it not been for Lord Cloverton”
”And that would have pleased you?”
”It would have given my friends a chance of distinction,” she answered
”And turned some friends into enemies, Countess Surely youinterests in Sturatzberg”
”I have taken great care in choosing my friends,” she answered
”Ah, then, you have a very definite idea to which interest you are attached”
”Of course”
”And which is it?” he asked in a whisper, leaning toward her
”The same as monsieur's,” she said
Ellerey was baffled He had expected to surprise her into a confession
He did not suppose he had subjugated this woman so completely that she would make her interests identical with his own, and he could only explain her answer by presu that she was sufficiently in the Queen's confidence to know soed
”You seem very certain of reat care in choosing my friends?”
”I cannot conceive any reason for your faith in me, unless---”
”Well, you e adventure, Countess, in which a woht at the corner of the Altstrasse, and---”
”Monsieur! ine I should visit the Altstrasse for ht, too?”