Part 14 (1/2)
CHAPTER VII
THE TIME ARRIVES
Within a short time of Lord Cloverton's return to the Eents were abroad in the city endeavoring to discover the whereabouts of Princess Maritza The An Office in London, and received the answer that the report of her return to Wallaria was absurd, that she was certainly on her way to Australia This confident answer, however, did not satisfy Lord Cloverton, in spite of the fact that no news of the Princess was forth co without his knowledge, er to keep her out of the country, seemed impossible; but then in diplos which happened
He was too astute a man to underrate the undoubted ability of De Froilette There were few men who probed more accurately the likely trend of future events, or ere quicker to recognize opportunities and seize theued that he was far too clever a man to tell such an unlikely story merely to serve his own ends He would know that the very i attention to himself and his actions
No, whether the report were true or not, De Froilette believed it, and evidently saw danger to himself in the presence of Princess Maritza
At the saht perceive a favorable opportunity in the state of affairs to exploit his own plans, and Lord Cloverton took the precaution to have the Frenchman under careful observation
The unexpected information had also caused the Ambassador to reconsider Captain Ellerey's position in Sturatzberg It was quite possible that he knew more about the Princess than any one else He was the kind of h to atte little to lose and all to win, o far toward success He and De Froilette apparently held little communication with each other; the characteristics of the two ht be quite as capable of playing a deep gaht for the Aht eht serve to snap diplomatic relations and spread the lurid clouds of war froe to the shores of the Atlantic
One thing seemed certain, De Froilette had not repeated his information broadcast No intimation reached Lord Cloverton that the report had even been whispered in any of the other Embassies, and there was so the following day Wherever the Princess was, her secret ell kept, probably because only a few persons had been admitted into it, and it seemed evident that no special ed for Soh the many and diverse interests in the country were probably sufficient to render any atteht be the one thing needed to fan the sration which would burn throughout Europe Such fires never die out--they are always s
Any person who had watched Lord Cloverton closely when he went to the palace that night, would have been struck by his particular alertness
He was observant of the coroups in the rooms, of those ere chiefly about her Majesty, and of those who danced together The slightest confidential whisper near him attracted his attention, and more than once he caused a blush toa e meant for no other ears but her own To those to who the impression that he had only a fewhiest that it was not business, but solanced round all the rooms in search of Captain Ellerey, who either had not yet arrived, or had already retired into some quiet corner, probably with the Countess Mavrodin The last conjecture rong, however, for standing in a position which commanded the entrance to the suite of state rooms, the Ambassador presently saw Frina Mavrodin on the arm of an _attache_ of the Austrian Embassy, an offshoot of a princely house who, rumor said, had already been twice refused by the fair lady, and was only awaiting an opportunity to adventure his case for a third ti her to dance with hi to do so later in the evening She was, however, not averse to his company, for she palpably kept hiether, the man extremely happy, the woht
For half an hour orthe Austrian's presence to keep herself free from other companions Several spoke to her, but since the _attache_ did not ed to leave her after exchanging a feords At last Lord Cloverton noticed that the expression of her face suddenly changed She looked at hi to discover the cause, he saw Des the room toward her He also beca close to hi Ellerey, too
Frina Mavrodin spoke quickly to her cavalier, telling him perhaps where he would find her for the promised dance, but at any rate she dismissed hi face raised to his, and then they went slowly toward the ball-room
”The little comedy interests you, ivesof youth which is still in nize love, and to take an interest in it--in others, of course”
Baron Petrescu shrugged his shoulders rather contemptuously
”The ets burnt,” he said
”Would not the lodestone be the more apposite simile?” asked Lord Cloverton ”In that case the attraction brings no hurt, Baron”
”Time will shohich is the best simile,” was the answer ”He interests me, this Captain Ellerey”
”He interests the lady too, it seems,” replied the Ambassador ”Indeed, Captain Ellerey interests e is equal to his ambition,” said the Baron with a s for the same prize, my lord, who do not easily accept defeat, and are content to pin their honor to the sword's point”
”Jealous,” said Lord Cloverton to himself as the Baron turned away, still with a smile upon his face, but with a ry bird ruffling its feathers ”He means mischief
Ellerey may find his hands fuller than he expects, if the Baron's weapon is as ready as his tongue Sentiment compels me to wishthrust which would lay him aside for a feeeks would be very convenient towhich could happen for him” And Lord Cloverton went toward the ball-room
The Countess and her cavalier had disappeared
”Are you still watching the Ambassador?” Ellerey had asked, as she placed her hand upon his aret out of the crowd Few people seem to know of the alcove off the ball-room”