Part 15 (1/2)
”You do not answer my question,” she said
”Her story of the state of affairs in Wallaria certainly gavefortune in this country”
”And love?” she said
Ellerey looked at her quickly and wondered He was not one of those who believe that they have the power of char any woman, and his companion's sudden question and attitude startled hihtly and pleasantly to her ears, but they were not spoken Instead he laughed gayly and said:
”A Princess and a poor Captain of Horse, Countess? Such a flight of fancy after ten h at lance and attitude, but it was not asked, for a man appeared at the entrance of the alcove
”I have been seeking you, Captain Ellerey,” he said ”Her Majesty commands your attendance Will you come with me?”
Ellerey rose at once
”You will pardonwith you for laughing at me Shall I take you back to the ball-room?”
”No, thank you I am tired, and will stay here” And with a lo Ellerey left her
The fact that he had been sent for and the probableof that interview, did not take first place in Frina Mavrodin's thoughts for a ti Ellerey's answer to her question, trying to understand it when viewed in the light of the Princess's declaration
Maritza could only have intended her to understand one thing, and to-night she had endeavored to surprise the truth fro anything? Surely in such a casualimpression could have been formed, and yet love works in sudden and inexplicable fashi+on sometimes The Princess see; Ellerey ad Frina Mavrodin reh they had been noted down in one continuous story, everything Captain Ellerey had ever said to her, and the manner in which he had said it She had allowed herself to indulge in a dreaht but pleasure in it until the Princess had looked into her eyes in so strange a fashi+on; and now that she had sought the truth from Ellerey hi uncertainty, which had a sense of pain in it
It was soht that Ellerey ith the Queen ca her to be on the alert She was in the act of rising when a shadow fell upon her, and Lord Cloverton stood in the entrance
”Alone, Countess!” he exclai?”
”None that I am aware of, my lord”
”And yet you are alone It is so rare a circumstance that you must pardon my astonishment”
”Even such a frivolous person as I am welcomes solitude sometimes,”
she answered
”I would not allow n you, Countess,” said the A himself beside her ”I expected to find Captain Ellerey with you”
”You wish to speak with him?”
”Yes, but it can wait,” answered Lord Cloverton carelessly ”Success is the result of skilfully seizing opportunities, and in finding you alone an opportunity comes toacquiescence as though the question were unnecessary
”Like me, Countess, I a people, therefore you
So have I--so interesting, indeed, that I have wondered why he caiven ine, my lord”
”He has not told you! Ah, then I will, in confidence, Countess, in confidence”
”I understand, and I shall respect it,” she answered, eager to learn what explanation the Aland who ainst him which were absolutely without foundation; but so skilfully had they been manipulated that Captain Ellerey was unable to prove theer he turned his back upon England and ca In Wallaria there were possibilities I can understand his action, Countess; it was a natural one in a ave credence to the tales which had been circulated Now, Countess, influential friends have taken up his case, and he ought to go back to England”