Part 16 (2/2)
As she held out her arm the door opened, and the servant who had fetched Ellerey entered
”Monsieur De Froilette, your Majesty, has just informed me that his Majesty is on his way here”
For one moment the Queen stood undecided
”Do not unfasten it, Captain Ellerey,” she said, laying a detaining hand upon his ”To-ht, it shall be sent to you Not to your lodging, that erous Wait for it at the Toison d'Or It is an inn of no repute in the Bergenstrasse, which runs toward the Southern Gate This sa it, sealed as I have said Then hborhood of the Drekner Pass Now go
Quickly He will show you the way”
It was by a different way they returned
”The Toison d'Or about uide as he stood to open a door, ”andby the Western Gate as soon as he has prepared for the journey This passage will take monsieur to the vestibule”
As he went toward the staircase, determined to leave the palace at once, Ellerey saw Baron Petrescu leaning against theto one of his companions There were certain men at Court who appeared to follow the Baron like his shadow He atching all those who left the palace as carefully as on a former occasion he had scrutinized all those who entered it, and again Ellerey's appearance seemed to release him from his labors With a whispered word to his co to the stairs, and contriving to jostle Ellerey, came to a standstill directly in front of hi, y”
”You jest with me I have none to make”
”Monsieur is slow to appreciate,” said the Baron, with a curl of his lip ”He forgets that he has stared most insufferably at ress”
”I appreciate that you wish to quarrel with me,” Ellerey answered bluntly, ”but I a out ofhim down the stairs?”
The answer came quickly and was to the point With a sudden sweep of his arm Baron Petrescu struck Ellerey sharply across the face with his glove
Perhaps there was so in Ellerey's expression which made the Baron's coht hi such insults on the spot with a total disregard of all formalities Perhaps it was his action which prevented Ellerey carrying out his intention He drew hih his clenched teeth as he caught his breath, and then he bowed slightly to the Baron, who turned away, leaving his coive e for this affair to-ht? I never sleep upon my quarrels”
”Impossible, monsieur”
”Is not the choice with ht,” Ellerey answered ”There was a ed his shoulders, disgusted at the utter barbarity of these Englishmen
”The name of your friend, then, monsieur?”
Ellerey was in a difficulty He could think of no one to who an affair of this kind Before he could reply, however, he felt a touch upon his arlishreat favor, er at once went aside with the Baron's friend, In a few minutes he returned
”Come, Captain Ellerey It is in half an hour's ti inclination of his head Ellerey went slowly down the stairs with his companion
As he did so a wo over the balustrade, watched the descending figures Her face was pale, and her lips treht you for my promised dance,” said a voice behind her
”What is interesting the Countess so much?”