Part 17 (2/2)
”Nothing's incredible where Lotzen is concerned,” she answered. ”So let us a.s.sume he did kill Adolph, in the King's library, during that very half hour between noon and twelve-thirty, and answer me this: Why did he kill him?”
”Either to get the Book of Laws or because Adolph knew too much concerning it,” said Armand, smiling at her earnestness.
”Exactly; and, therefore, Lotzen either has the Book or he knows where it is.... Am I not right?” she demanded, turning to Courtney.
”Undoubtedly, Your Highness-according to your premises.”
”You don't admit the premises?”
”I can't-they are too improbable-and the facts are against them.”
”Oh, facts!” she exclaimed, ”facts! I don't care a rap for facts. Lotzen killed Adolph and Lotzen has the Book.”
Courtney looked at her curiously-the idea was preposterous, naturally, but the very arbitrariness of her conclusions was softened by her earnestness and evident faith in their truth. It was, of course, just another case of woman's intuition, that begged every question and tore logic into tatters; yet, sometimes, he had known it to guess truly, despite the most adverse facts-might it be that here was just another such guess?
The table stood back a little way among the trees, and was hidden from the Palace by the hedge of rhododendron, that flanked the roadway where it swept around the great marble pergola; and so they did not see the man in undress cavalry uniform, who came slowly along the terrace, and, descending the steps, took the path leading to the sun-dial. At it he paused, with desultory interest seemingly, to read the shadow; bending over, the while, to blow away the dust.
As he did so, the Princess saw him, through a rift in the hedge. First she frowned, then a quizzical smile settled on her lips, and she glanced again at Courtney.
”Do you still doubt?” she asked.
Courtney, preoccupied, looked at her a moment without replying.
”Yes,” he said; ”being a man and intuitionless, I still must doubt.”
At that moment, the officer pa.s.sed the hedge and they all saw him.
”Cousin!” the Princess called,-”cousin!”
The Duke of Lotzen faced about sharply, then doffed cap and approached.
”Your Highness spoke?” he said, bowing.
Dehra leaned on the table, her chin in her hand, and studied him a bit, while the others wondered, and Armand's anger rose.
”Cousin,” she said, ”I have just a.s.serted that you killed Adolph and have the Book of Laws-is it not the truth?”
Lady Helen gasped; Armand half rose from his chair; even Courtney's studied immobility of countenance was not impervious to his surprise.
The Duke alone met the situation with perfect imperturbability. He neither started, frowned, nor changed expression in the slightest; the pleasant smile, that was on his lips, lingered unabated, while the hand that rested on his sword hilt was as steady as the cold, blue eyes which gave back the Princess' gaze. Then, gradually, the smile broadened, creeping slowly upward, until it touched the cold blue eyes, though warming them not a whit; presently, he laughed, gently, and with just a trace of jeer.
”It is not for a subject to contradict the Regent of Valeria,” he said-and with a bow and a salute he turned languidly away.
And the Princess did not stop him, but in silence, chin still on hand, she watched him out of sight.
IX THE RECKLESS GAME
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