Part 31 (2/2)
”Did it never occur to you, sir, that the man who would deliberately force a sword fight with the Duke of Lotzen, has won a name for reckless courage that he can never live down?”
”But I disarmed him, thanks to your defense to his coup.”
”Small good would my defense have been to one who hadn't the nerve and skill to use it; to fail means death, as you, of course, appreciated.”
The Archduke nodded. ”But the public knew nothing of all that.”
”Just so, sir-all they know is that you, in sheer deviltry, took your chances against one of the two best swordsmen in Valeria; that you won, demonstrated your skill, but it didn't disprove the recklessness.”
”I did not intend it that way, Moore; I a.s.sure you I had no idea of bringing on a fight that night at the Vierle Masque, when I went over to him and the Spencer woman.”
A broad grin overspread the Irishman's handsome face.
”You couldn't make a single officer believe it,” he said; ”and seriously, sir. I wouldn't try. It is just such a thing as your great ancestor would have done, and it has caught the youngsters as nothing else ever could; they swear by you-only last night, I heard a dozen of them toast you uproariously as the next king.”
”Which brings us back to the Book and this letter,” Armand remarked; ”shall we take an escort?”
”I'm a rather incompetent adviser, you think; but the very provision that you need not go alone, may be a trap to lull suspicion and bring you there with only an Aide or an orderly. If the letter is honest, it will be no harm to go well attended; if it isn't honest, you will lose nothing, and the escort may be very useful.”
”You are becoming a very Fabius in discretion,” the Archduke smiled; ”and we will take the escort.” He considered a moment. ”Or, rather, we will have it on hand for need. I'll see to it that a troop of Lancers shall be pa.s.sing the Inn a little before four o'clock, and halt there, while their captain discusses the weather with the landlord. And we will ride up with a great show of confidence or contempt, whichever way the One Who Knows may view it.”
”Shall I tell Her Highness of the letter, and your purpose?” Moore asked.
”Not on your life, man! She would send a Brigade with us, even if she didn't forbid our going. I'll get you leave for the afternoon-and not a word to Bernheim, either; he would have nervous prostration, and load me down with a suit of plate-mail and a battle-axe. You and I will just have this little adventure on the side.” He got up. ”I tell you what it is, Moore, the pair of us could make a brisk fight of it if we had to-hey, man?”
The Irishman laughed joyously.
”And may we have to, sir!” he cried; ”may we have to!”-and made as though he were sending home a finis.h.i.+ng thrust.
The Archduke shook his head. ”There can't be any doubt of it; you would have a most dangerous influence over me; it is well you're with the Regent. But for this afternoon, I suggest that you select your favorite sword, and see that it doesn't drag in the scabbard-and half-after-two at the t.i.tian gate.”
Moore paused at the door.
”Of course,” said he, ”Your Highness will wear the steel vest.”
”I'll wear it,” was the answer; and the Colonel went out, wondering at the ready acquiescence, where he had antic.i.p.ated a curt refusal. Before he had crossed the ante-room, the Archduke called him.
”I saw you were surprised,” said he. ”I had a little adventure the other night that you don't know about. Sit down a minute, and I'll tell you of Bernheim's and my visit to the De Saure house at two in the morning.”...
”I always said Bernheim was the man for a close pinch,” Moore remarked, at the end, ”but he is even better than I imagined. The chest is simply delicious.” He paused, in sudden thought. ”And, now, I reckon I understand why Count Bigler has his ear done up in surgeon's plaster. I noticed it at the Club yesterday, and heard him explain it as a 'sore.'
To-morrow, I'll ask him if he caught the 'sore' in the De Saure house.”
”And don't tell Bernheim,” said Armand; ”if he knows he had such a good chance at Bigler, and then missed him, it will make him miserable for days.”
”Days! It will sour him for life. Next to the Duke of Lotzen, the Colonel hates Bigler most.”
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