Part 18 (2/2)
But her Majesty was ready with argu ht have a political significance, ht lead to complications which would have serious consequences, even to some revolution such as Lord Cloverton had accused her of fostering It was no laughing matter as his Majesty would make it, and her interference was not unnecessary, but intended to serve the State Even were Captain Ellerey to rise to great distinction, she argued, such an alliance would still be fraught with danger The Countess Mavrodin with her wealth, with her prestige, and her close connection with the noblest houses in Sturatzberg, was not for a soldier of fortune, as, at the best, Captain Ellerey was She beca watched the Ambassador, a smile upon his lips, in anticipation of his discoun a letter to the Countess,” said the Queen, taking up the paper on which she had written a few lines ”I want to show her plainly the i Are you satisfied, Lord Cloverton?”
The A by the door and had not taken his eyes from the Queen as she talked rapidly There was no tell-tale expression on his face to indicate his thoughts Now he advanced
”Your Majesty thinks then that this folly, so far as the Countess Mavrodin is concerned, is a serious e, it is,” said Lord Cloverton, ”more serious with the lady than with theCaptain Ellerey, her manner betrayed her own secret”
”You have spoken to her!”
”Yes, only to-night Your Majesty exaggerates the political significance of such a e, I feel sure; it would make enemies for Captain Ellerey, no doubt, but he is the kind ofEnglisheneral desire to enlist the sympathy of Des so him, I have endeavored to land”
”To save him from the Countess?” said the Queen
”No, your Majesty; to prevent his being drawn into a plot which seeks to overthrow the present government of this country”
”Is there such a plot?” she asked innocently
”A dozen have existed ever since I ca
The A themselves in holes like hunted vermin,” Lord Cloverton returned sharply, ”afraid to strike, afraid to be seen, with no plan of action ready, and altogether futile I do not speak of such plots as these, but of one particular plot, whose rarow fro to the very heart of the nation as surely as tree roots push their way to water The head of it looks up watchfully from the hidden intrench for thenow”
”For what?” cried the King ”In heaven's name, for what, Lord Cloverton?”
”For the token her Majesty delivered to Captain Ellerey to-night”
A profound silence followed this deliberate accusation So unflinchingly was it made, so evident was it that the Aed, that the King found no words to utter He looked helplessly at the Queen like a man who has received a blohich has dazed hie startled the Queen, too, but she did not shrink before his steady scrutiny She was the first to break the silence
”I gave no such token,” she said
Lord Cloverton started slightly at being given the lie so directly
What subterfuge was a woman not capable of?
”You have your answer,toward his wife
The Ambassador bowed He could hardly pursue theassisted him, and he turned to leave the roo sternly
”No, your Majesty”
”What proof can you have? What was the token?”
Lord Cloverton turned quickly It was the very question he had hoped for
”A sacred treasure of Sturatzberg, the iron bracelet her Majesty is accustoain there was silence, and, set as his face was, the mask was insufficient to hide the Ambassador's excitement The Queen stood for a moment quite conscious of the dramatic effect of the silent pause, and then she made three rapid strides toward the Aht hand she ripped open the left sleeve of her gown from wrist to shoulder and thrust out her ary, Lord Cloverton”