Part 41 (2/2)
”We can only wait and watch events,” said De Froilette ”These deserters declare that they rode out with Captain Ellerey in the belief that they were upon the King's service Your Majesty is not mentioned by them We are safe so far”
”Some one, ain there is no safety”
”It is mislaid,” said the Frenchman; ”if that will not suffice, it has been stolen; if that is not enough, pick out some servant you can spare and accuse his of oneet that Captain Ellerey knows the truth,” said the Queen
”You were alone when you told hi that your conversation related to the Countess Mavrodin--hold to that story Is the word of a traitor, struggling to shi+eld hiainst yours?”
”I act more readily than I lie, ar cowardice; we are dealing with secrets of the State”
”I ah to find set the won must use diplomacy,” answered De Froilette ”Besides, we rush far out to ainst an ar in their own hills? By this ti vultures We are quite safe, your Majesty”
De Froilette left the palace unnoticed as he had come, and returned quickly to the Altstrasse Francois hastened to attend hi to report, monsieur,” he said, in answer to hisdown Is er?”
”Perhaps, Francois, but it does not trouble er before Many channels of information are open to a timber merchant, and those in authority find me useful”
”We can wait,us to speak the word, will they wait?”
”I think so, Francois; still, youready for a hasty departure And if by any chance circu separately, you must look for me in London at the old address”
Such instructions caused the servant no surprise His h the troubled waters he encountered, but on ht had been made
”Did you call to inquire after Baron Petrescu, Francois?”
”Yes,him increased trouble”
”I rejoice to hear it We can well dispense with his crowing in Sturatzberg just noalk through the city in an hour or so, Francois,in with his master's humor, and went out The streets were quiet when he traversed theplatz and at the top of the Bergenstrasse, but, except where soes and servants were congregated without, the city was unusually lifeless Perhaps the presence of the soldiers drove law-abiding citizens hoht come under suspicion, and the lawless were evidently not inclined to run risks Francois stood for a fewthe arrivals, a the British Aenstrasse before returning home Had he traversed this street farther he would probably have been convinced that the exciting news of the day was already forgotten, for he would hardly have heard the laughter and songs which caone up the narrow court in which it stood
The door was shut, but the light shone dully through the red blinds which were drawn across the s They were like two huge eyes bleared with strong drink, and as a late comer pushed open the door at intervals and disappeared within, a watcherhis victiht have struck hily, entering swiftly and letting the door swing quickly to behind the overcrowded, for no one came out
But there was much room in the Toison d'Or, and the chamber in which Ellerey had waited for the token was thrown open to-night It was croith er to listen to the horse that day They were the centre of attraction, and had long ago become talkative and more than ordinarily boastful They shouted answers to every question, and were regaled with tankard after tankard of liquor They drank deep healths to the King, and swore to their unswerving loyalty with s at the bidding of any man who had the ithal to pay for wine--snatches only, which beca advanced They cursed the traitor Ellerey, and made jests upon Maritza, ”as called 'Princess' by soabonds”
”Doith her, and all who have a word for her!” cried one of the back helpless into his seat
”Curse her again, coo to sleep yet Curse her again We like to know the true ring of your minds”
It was beyond the soldier's power to reply, but the other soldiers did it for hiht,” said the thin reed She is a pest in the land, this Princess, an evil to be trodden down, one to be killed if opportunity occurs, and the fact of her being a woreed on that?”
”No mercy!” shouted one soldier
”Less because she's a worowled another