Part 17 (1/2)
”I was thinking that theshortly,” she answered absent-mindedly ”In an hour it will be dark or very nearly”
”Well, Countess, what can that matter?” said the Austrian _attache_
She looked at hi of the man who had just descended the stairs Then she said with manifest effort and a faint smile as she laid her hand upon the _attache's_ arm:
”No, indeed; what can it matter--to me?”
CHAPTER VIII
THE IRON BRACELET
When Lord Cloverton left Frina Mavrodin he hurried to the vestibule and sent afor an immediate and private audience, and De Froilette saw the A's private apartment soon afterward De Froilette knew that this sudden audience could only relate to one of two matters--either Lord Cloverton hadthe Princess Maritza, or else he are that Ellerey ith the Queen and was about to ht be in progress That the Ambassador had any idea of the real state of affairs, De Froilette did not believe He did not go at once to warn the Queen It was only as the King and the Minister were leaving the private aparter
Lord Cloverton was troubled The various pieces of the puzzle which he had fitted into places to his satisfaction suddenly seened to theht he had discovered a depth in Frina Mavrodin the existence of which he had never suspected
She had fenced him with his oeapons in a nally failed to make use of her in the way he desired True, she had told him that Ellerey ith the Queen, but she had mentioned it as a circumstance of small importance Was it? Was the casual inforinning to take a new position in the Aan, ale space in the intricate puzzle which she ined that love linked her to Desmond Ellerey, and he was apparently mistaken; it was only friendshi+p, and such friendshi+phim to be particularly observant of Ellerey, and then went to the King It was unusual with him, but for once he had not determined what course of action to take even when he entered the King's room
”What i
”It is to prevent any twist that I ventured to ask for this audience, your Majesty I aain to a subject which, on a forave you some displeasure You er is i answered, conscious of the slight embarrassment there was in Lord Cloverton's manner
”As you are aware,” the Ambassador went on slowly, ”I have always considered many of the plots which fro of small importance I have, on the other hand, consistently warned your Majesty of the danger which ht at any time manifest itself in a sudden developands in the mountains Their chief, Vasilici,the past few ands in any sense of the word, and who, I conceive, arethis outlaw as a convenient cloak to their wider and more sinister intentions”
”Certainly you have always been an alar, with a smile ”Whatever their intentions may be, the fact remains that they have always fled at the approach of a handful of troops”
”Which is rather unnatural, it seems to me,” Lord Cloverton answered quickly ”Whatever else he e, and it ainst thesea trace of their spoils”
”Do you suggest that they have been warned of the expeditions sent against them?”
”I think it probable”
”By whoer, your Majesty, could I answer that question,” replied the Ambassador ”Ithile personally loyal to you, are not satisfied with your foreign policy; who believe that Wallaria is too reater European Powers, and would help you to enorance, Lord Cloverton”
”I think so, but it is not reasonable to suppose that they do,” returned the Arades of society in Sturatzberg, froars in the Altstrasse”
”The Queen,sharply
”I do not speak hastily, your Majesty, Queen Elena has all those attributes which go to e, diplo interest in her country's welfare”
”Such praise seems merely the mask for an accusation, my lord I must request you to be more explicit”