Part 12 (2/2)
Countess Mavrodin came down the stairs as Lord Cloverton drove away
”I thank you,” she said ”I have a habit of re favors”
”I shall remember that you have said so,” Ellerey answered ”Indeed, I can even now ask one Only this afternoon Lord Cloverton was pleased to tell me that he looked upon ht affect me, will you tell me?”
”He said you were an enemy; then I am not suspicious in vain Yes, I will tell you if I can One word, monsieur You neither trust wo is unnecessary; but of all men at least distrust one--Jules De Froilette”
”Did her Majesty bid you give e?” Ellerey asked
”No, inal idea I have ideas ofthe palace, I will drive you to the Western Gate” She was pretty, and Ellerey was only hu, his duty was to remain, lest the Queen should send for hie and seated himself beside her She refused to be serious as they drove through the city, and when Ellerey entered his lodging he was left to wonder at what point the incidents of the evening touched his mission Why should the Countess become suddenly interested in the movements of Lord Cloverton?
and since she was closely attached to the Queen, why should she warn hiainst De Froilette, as also deep in her Majesty's confidence?
The problem was beyond his power to solve
Frina Mavrodin was a far ined It was not only at Court that she was popular; she was besides the Lady Bountiful to the poor She was immensely wealthy, and her beautiful home by the river, in the southwest of the city, had been called the beggars' paradise, for those who asked charity were seldoeneral criticism of her was that she was a pretty woman, very adorable, a little frivolous perhaps, and possessed of ht in such criticism, and to be at some pains to fully merit it But there was another side to her character which few persons ever got even a glie of current politics would have startled Lord Cloverton, and her capacity for intrigue and sche would have astonished even Monsieur De Froilette into ad, where discontent was fostered and secret plans discussed, which were not known to Frina Mavrodin She was conversant with their secret signs, their aiht le word from her would have sent many a man to prison alked the streets freely Perhaps, in all Sturatzberg, there was only one person who gave her credit for such knowledge, and as content to be guided in some measure by her advice
This person, at present, occupied a suite of roo she reclined at full length a the cushi+ons of a low couch, and watched a door at one end of the room expectantly
Her hand was stretched out to a bowl of flowers on a table by her side, and she plucked a petal at intervals which she crushed and let fall
Soirl's character seemed to be in the action She was not weary, not worn out with the day's work or pleasure, whichever itanxiously, irritably even, for news, or for so Her hair had loosened by contact with the cushi+ons, and fell about her shoulders in luxuriant copper-colored tresses Presently the door opened, and an elderly wolish woman, plain in feature and resolute inyour flowers,” she said, seeing the scattered petals on the carpet
”Never mind them Has Du hiirl, half-rising fro position ”I cannot afford to have fools about me in such times as these”
”You haven't,” the woman answered bluntly, evidently quite used to the petulant moods of her mistress ”I was one when I came out of Devon to a heathen place like this; but that time is past” And she went to the door and beckoned to athe door behind her When she had gone the man dropped swiftly on one knee by the couch
”Well, Du and standing erect ”He went straight to the lodging of this English Captain”
”And then?”
”To Court, Princess”
”And his mission, Dumitru--was it insound with his tongue
”Ah, no, no, no; and again a hundred times, no He is for the Queen a little, and for himself very much Have you still a doubt, even now?
A sudden death should be his reward”
”Patience, Dumitru”