Part 21 (1/2)

The old fellow answered with the faintest suggestion of a grin.

All Dornlitz was familiar with the features of the Great Henry, and so it was quite impossible for the Archduke Armand to escape recognition-and to-night, as he and Bernheim went out the Avenue, the people made way for him with a respect and deference that even he could not but feel was honest and sincere, and of the quietly enthusiastic sort that is most dependable.

”Does it look as though I had need for an escort?” he asked.

”Not at this moment,” the Aide agreed.

”Nor at any moment on Alta Avenue;” he put his hand on the other's arm-”you know, Bernheim, it's not you I object to, it's the idea. I always like you with me.”

The Colonel's face flushed, and for an instant he did not reply; when he did, his voice was low and faintly husky.

”Sire!” he said, ”Sire!”

The Archduke glanced at him in quick surprise, and understood; sometimes Bernheim's intense devotion overflowed.

”Brace up, Colonel,” he exclaimed, with sudden gayety, ”brace up! you won't have to milk that cow.”

Then both men laughed, and the normal situation was resumed.

The bells began to chime midnight, as they reached the Emba.s.sy.

”Don't wait for me,” Armand said; ”I may be late. Go back and send an orderly.”

The other smiled. ”I'll wait, myself, sir, if you will permit; they have a game here I rather like.”

”Take care, Colonel; those boys will skin you out of your very uniform-better look on.”

”I do, sir, when I've a poor draw;” he answered seriously, and wondered at the Archduke's chuckling laugh.

Courtney greeted his friend with a nod and a wave of his hand.

”I'm glad you came in,” he said. ”I've been thinking about you-sit down.... Scotch?”

”No, rye-and seltzer, please.” He took the chair across the desk from Courtney and waited until the man had placed the decanters and gla.s.ses and retired. ”And I've been thinking about you, too,” he said. ”You got me into this infernal mess, and now it's up to you to help me out.”

Courtney slowly lit a cigarette and scrutinized the coal, critically.

”I see,” he remarked, ”that you have already developed the ungratefulness of kings-I have high hopes for your reign ... if you live to reign.”

The Archduke put down his gla.s.s and regarded him in exasperated surprise.

”d.a.m.n it, man, you too?” he exclaimed. ”If I were given to nerves I would be seeing daggers and bullets all around me-Bernheim croaks death; and so does Moore; and now you join the chorus-pretty soon the boys will be whistling it on the Avenue.”

Courtney picked up an Emba.s.sy official envelope that lay before him, and tossed it across to the Archduke.

”I've done a little work on my own account, lately,” he said, ”and here is what I got this evening. I have always found this-agent, reliable.”

It was only a few words, scratched hastily in pencil on a sheet torn from a small note-book:-

”Danger very imminent-under no circ.u.mstance go out at night without an escort.”