Part 14 (2/2)
”And why such a desire for solitude, Captain Ellerey?” she said, seating herself in a corner androom for him beside her
”Not solitude, Countess, but restful co perpetually under the eye of Lord Cloverton, and, after what he said, I iine he watches me pretty closely”
”And is as closely watched,” she replied
”Have you found out anything which affects me?” Ellerey asked after a pause
She hesitated
”Not directly”
”Indirectly, then?”
”Perhaps, a little It is a s to do with Sturatzberg, but with England”
Ellerey was silent Could Lord Cloverton have repeated his story?
”May I know the nature of the--crime is it?--which is imputed to me?”
”It is no crime, Captain Ellerey--rather a romance I should have repudiated the idea of a crime in connection with you”
”Countess, that is the kindest thing you have ever said to me”
She looked into his face, and the color came into her own
”Are we not friends?” she said, ”and is it not the ele ill? I would hardly believe a confession of crih your own lips spoke it No, this inforerous subject between us, Countess,” said Ellerey, with a siven yet for the mysterious lady of the Altstrasse”
”This is not an unknooman, but a very famous one--none other than Princess Maritza of Wallaria You have heard of her?”
”I have not only heard of her, but seen her and spoken to her”
”And admired her?” she asked
”Yes, her beauty and her indoe”
”That is what I heard, that you ad for you to hear I only saw her once, for tentruant We , a hat bloay by the wind served for introduction, and I have never seen her since”
”It was not for her sake, then, that you came to Wallaria?”
”Ah! is that what Lord Cloverton thinks!” exclaimed Ellerey ”Now I understand his attitude more clearly”