Part 47 (1/2)
”I thought I did, but her sudden disappearance froh of youryou”
”Then, Baron, you know ht me to these hills I am the victiht now is for the safety of the Princess” The Baron nodded, and glanced swiftly at his companion
”I understand, Captain”
Shortly Ellerey told him what had occurred since Princess Maritza had joined hier at the deceit which had been practised upon him
”It was a desperate enterprise, doo,”
he went on; ”but as it was, only one course was open to me, to protect the Princess to the best of one, and we had deterht That we did not do so last night was by the Princess's desire Her going must have been in her mind then”
”She took the bracelet of htfully
”She told me it was in the tower yonder; it is not there now, so I presume she took it”
”It may possibly secure her safety”
”Vasilici is a truculent villain,” Ellerey answered ”He is not likely to forget, or forgive, that shot which saved my life”
”Then you would follow her?”
”Stefan and I had decided to do so when those fellows stole back to prevent us We should have taken our chance after dark to-night”
Petrescu was thoughtful for a time
”I hardly knohat course to advise,” he said presently ”We may not be able to help her ht stir up the people in her cause”
”At least I have small power in the city,” said Ellerey, with a smile
”Those who trusted me very naturally think me a traitor, and I should quickly be delivered over to enemies ould make short work of me”
”Yet you have powerful friends there”
”Indeed?”
”When the men who deserted you rode into the city with stories of your treachery, Captain Ellerey's name suddenly became known to hundreds who had never heard it before, and to each one of them he became a friend, since his fate was linked with Princess Maritza's”
”Would such friendshi+p protect -place in the city would be open to you, and soive up their lives than betray you There is one proof of the truth of what I say The ht They were found lying side by side in the Bergenstrasse, in spite of the fact that the city was patrolled by troops”
Ellerey looked at hily
”No, Captain, I was not privy to their assassination, although I inated”