Part 24 (2/2)
I see”
”I see often,” she answered, ”but a swift hand has always saved the situation”
”The danger has never been so imminent as it is now, Countess”
”Are you not still in Sturatzberg to cope with the danger?” she asked, turning to him with a radiant smile ”I stand alone, Countess; what can one man do? I wonder whether you can credit me with disinterestedness, whether you can believe that I have the welfare of this country at heart while carrying out the policy of my own?”
”Is not that the position of every A you to believe so more definite in my case,” he returned ”Do I ask too ether in this crisis We should be allies”
”Are my poor wits of service either way?”
”A woman is always a valuable ally, and the Countess Mavrodin knows her power No, I a pretty speeches to-day,” he went on quickly; ”the times are too serious for theht?”
”I left the palace somewhat early,” she said; ”but there was an air of constraint about What caused it, Lord Cloverton?”
”I was referring to Baron Petrescu's affair No one has talked of anything else to-day”
”And you can tell lad I have heardto hear the real truth fro his eyes upon her
”Froeois_ in the city to inflame the Baron's susceptibilities into indiscretion? It is some such tale I have heard”
”But which you knew to be untrue, Countess”
”I have thought hly of Baron Petrescu than that, I ad that Captain Ellerey is not a _bourgeois_ of the city, and has no wife as far as I know My young countryman is no boaster beyond his worth, it would seem The Baron has found his match”
”Is that the truth of it?” she asked innocently
”I congratulate you upon your champion,” returned the Ambassador ”You look surprised, Countess; but in the inner circle of such a Court as we have here in Sturatzberg such secrets will find a tongue”
”You have changed your serious mood, my lord, it appears, and I am at a loss to understand the pleasantry”
”Believeof the Baron's political leanings are known to his Majesty, and the affair has assunificance in his eyes The law has lain dorainst the crown, and the King has seen fit to set the law inI would do my countryman, and you, a service if I could”
”How am I concerned? I may thank you for your courtesy if you will tell me that”
”Is it not true that you were the cause of this quarrel?”
”It is absolutely false”
”Stay, Countess, it may be that you are unaware of the fact, but I have the best reason for knowing that such is the case”
”Captain Ellerey had no cause to draord on my behalf, Lord Cloverton; neither of his oish, nor at e,” ht of only one person last night He left instructions with his second that you were to be immediately infore or remembrance to anyone”
She was not sufficientthat the information was pleasant to her
”It may have been presuht can hardly be without some interest for you No doubt you would render him a service if you could”