Part 16 (1/2)
”I have already given hiht to do hi him a more powerful advocate” And the Ambassador left her and went quickly toward the vestibule As she turned, Monsieur De Froilette bowed low to her; he too was hastening toward the vestibule
When Deser across the ball-roouide suddenly paused and said in a low tone:
”Her Majesty is in her private apartment, and I am instructed to take you there Will you come with me this way?”
He turned froh a door, which he locked after him They passed up one corridor and down another for a little distance, and then ushering hiuide left him there while he went to inform the Queen of his arrival In a fewopen a door, bid him enter
The Queen was alone, seated by a table at which she had been writing
Ellerey approached her and bent over her hand
”The time has come, Captain Ellerey,” she said ”You are ready?”
”I a your Majesty's commands”
”You have been sent once or twice, Captain Ellerey, to dislodge a certain brigand called Vasilici from his fastnesses in the mountains, and have experienced disappoint him”
”That is so, your Majesty”
”It was never intended that you should find hiathering in the ainst the thraldon nations In the future it is for us to dictate, not to obey His Majesty, watched as he is, cannot act freely, so the duty devolves onare ready, by carrying a token to Vasilici, which I will give you, and which you uard with your life, Captain Ellerey
The mission hich you are intrusted is a hazardous one Faction is rife in the country, and spies lurk in every corner of it Even now thereout upon the road to bar your way to Vasilici
But for the trusted bearer of this token await high honor and great reward”
”Even for a foreigner?” asked Ellerey
”You are no more one, Captain Ellerey This is the land of your adoption, and by this service are you not proving yourself a worthy son?”
”Your Majesty commands I am content to trust to your Majesty fortroubles me”
”What is that?”
”The revolution--for such it ner May I ask consideration for Lord Cloverton and his staff at the British Embassy?”
”You have our word that no har Embassies, but the riff-raff which has coh they were our masters We have been under an iron flail froainst this subjection that we rebel You are prepared to fight and ith us”
”I a for the token, your Majesty”
”I love a man of feords,” she said; ”and as surely as success will coeshall be yours, Captain Ellerey, and with it revenue sufficient to bear it fittingly This is the token,” she went on, baring her arm, on which, just above the elboas a bracelet of iron, a chain joining together four medallions ”It is an ancient treasure of Wallaria, worn, it is said, by savage kings in this country before ever the Roions I will seal it in this box, which youit, he elcome you as he would ourself With hi, and if a rabble of rebellious soldiery, led away by traitors who are a us, stand in your way, I can trust Captain Ellerey's sword to cut a path through it Will you unclasp the bracelet foris difficult”