Part 56 (1/2)
”Where does that lead to, Countess?” he said, pointing to a door at the other end of the room
”To my bedroom”
”And fro seldom used,” she answered
”That is our way, then,” said Stefan ”I shall stay here I a ould dare--”
”The gentle yonder are in no tender mood; I know them
Besides, the Captain left me in command, and you must obey, Countess
This is war ti my duty So we'll lock this outer door, and we'll put as many more between us as possible Is this your cloak?”
”Yes,” Frina answered
In a e of it and stuck it in the creeper at the , and thrown the cloak into the garden below Then he tore down one of the curtains
”They'll think we've gone that way, et another cloak as we pass through your rooreat bearded soldier, and besides, Desmond trusted him, so Frina Mavrodin obeyed
At every point the servants were driven back, and the soldiers spread through the house, cutting down anyone who opposed theot out of their way They were there to take the Princess Maritza and the Countess Mavrodin
Such were the orders the officers had received But long before the servants had given way on the stairs, Hannah had opened the door leading to the passage, and the Princess and Duether swiftly, while Hannah waited for the coer that coain, but kept the key lest others should want to use that way of escape presently The soldiers rushed in at last, and Hannah's face assumed an astonished look as if they had roused her froht as well ask that question of you,” she replied curtly ”What's come to the city that a band of ruffians break into an old serving wo women sleep on couches only in this house, and are they pa?”
”How they sleep, and what they're covered with is none of your affair,”
Hannah said
”A soft tongue will serve you best,” replied the ht?”
”And how she slept and what she dreah awakening as this”
Other s in the room, and presently one espied the door He called the attention of the others to it at once
”Open it,” they cried
”It's locked”
”The key, woman--quickly,” said one who seemed to command
”It's likely I shall let you pry into my cupboards, isn't it?”
”This is no cupboard Give ot it,” said Hannah, and with a sudden swing of her arh the open ith unerring aim
”Curse you!” cried the man
”In the time you take to find it you may learn better manners,” said Hannah defiantly