Part 36 (1/2)

The Archduke followed her motion, and understood. It was a most infernally unfortunate contretemps, but it would have to be met, and at once.

”The Regent is on the porch,” he said. ”I do not care for her to know of this meeting nor its purport, until after to-night. Madame, will you please be good enough to conceal yourself; the door is the only exit, and it is impossible now-I will try to prevent Her Highness entering here, but I may fail; I likely shall. Come, Moore,” and he hurried out.

But Madeline Spencer only laughed, and, winding the veil into place, went and stood by the chimney-here was a very G.o.d-given opportunity, and a.s.suredly she had no notion to let it pa.s.s unused.

And the landlord, slumbering in the hall, had been tardily aroused by the cheering, and coming forth, still half asleep, he met the Princess just at the entrance.

”Scartman,” she said sharply, ”where are His Highness and Colonel Moore?”

The landlord awoke with a suddenness that was painful, and which left him staring at her in silly-eyed speechlessness.

”What ails you, man?” she demanded-”tell the Archduke I'm here-we shall be in the large room.”

This brought back a bit of his senses, and he bowed to the ground, hoping to get back more of them before he need come up.

”I will find His Royal Highness at once,” he said; ”I did not know he was here-I've been asleep-but if Your Majesty-Your Regency-Your Highness, I mean, will permit-the large room is occupied, I will--”

At that moment, Armand and Moore came out.

”So it would seem,” the Princess remarked dryly.

”Don't blame the poor fellow, Dehra,” the Archduke laughed; ”he did the best he could, doubtless, and at my order. We are here on the business I spoke of this morning-it's finished now, and we will ride back with you, if we may.”

Dehra held out her hand, and gave him the smile she knew he loved.

”Of course you may,” she said, ”and gladly; but first I want a cup of tea-Scartman, the kettle instantly!”-and before Armand could detain her, she was past him and into the room.

As she crossed the threshold, she caught the faint perfume that a woman always carries, and which often-times is so individualized, as to betray her ident.i.ty instantly. It was a peculiar odor-the blended fragrance of many flowers-and she recognized that she had known it before;-but what was it doing in this room, now!-it was too fresh to be many minutes old.

”Armand,” she said, ”what woman has been here?” glancing laughingly around.-”And is here still!” and pointed with her crop to the veiled figure in the shadow near the chimney.

The Archduke ground back an oath, and stepping forward bowed to Madeline Spencer.

”Madame,” said he, ”will you do the Governor of Dornlitz the favor to excuse him, and to accept his thanks for your service? Colonel Moore, madame's horse.”

”Je vous remercie, Monsieur le Prince,” she murmured, taking Moore's arm, and moving with sinuous grace toward the door. But as she pa.s.sed the Princess Regent, who had stepped aside to give her way, the veil slipped from her face, and the two women looked into each other's eyes-the one with a smile of mocking impertinence, the other with a calmly ignoring stare, and showing, by not so much as the quiver of a muscle, her anger and surprise.

And when they had gone, the Princess turned her gaze upon the Archduke, the blue eyes ominous in their steadiness; and as he would have spoken, she repelled him with an imperious gesture, and gave him her back.

”Come, Elise!” she said, and left the room.

In the courtyard, Colonel Moore had just swung Mrs. Spencer to saddle, and was fixing her skirt. Dehra paused in the entry until the black horse had pa.s.sed the gate; then she went leisurely down the steps, waved Moore to Mlle. d'Essolde, and let the groom put her up.

Acknowledging Moore's farewell salute, with her crop, but no smile, and with never a glance toward the window, behind whose curtain she must have known the Archduke would surely be, she rode away-the Lancers again cheering her devotedly as she pa.s.sed.

XVI A TOO CONVINCING ARGUMENT

Colonel Moore went slowly up the steps and into the room, through the half open door of which he saw the Archduke standing, with chin on breast and back to the fireplace. He looked up, as the Adjutant paused at the threshold, and nodded for him to come in.