Part 38 (1/2)
And to his surprise she took his arm; and when the others' backs were turned, she looked up and smiled, the impudently provoking smile he had suffered under so long, and had at last punished.
”My compliments, Monsieur Ralph, on your adroit proficiency,”-and the tone and manner were as provoking as the smile-”it is quite unnecessary to refer to what it proves.”
”As much so, as to refer to what enables one to recognize proficiency,”
he agreed.
”And if all the men I know are like you, sir-”
He bent down.
”Now that is an inference I'm curious to hear.”
”Do you want them to be like you?” she asked, eyes half closed and glances sidelong-”because, if you do, it would be rather easy to oblige you-and may be not unpleasant-and I can begin with His Highness of Lotzen-truly it's a pity, now, I ruined my frock so needlessly this morning, in the j.a.ponica walk;” and giving him no time for reply, she dropped his arm and glided quickly into the chair the bewigged and powdered footman was holding for her.
No mention of the Twisted Pines was made until the coffee was being served; then the Princess motioned for the liqueur also to be put on the table, and dismissed the servants.
Drawing out her case, and lighting a Nestor, she smiled at the Archduke, and at his nod pa.s.sed the cigarette across;-and when Colonel Moore looked inquiringly at Mlle. d'Essolde, she shrugged her pretty shoulders and gave him hers.
”You know what it implies, Elise,” Dehra remarked.-”No?-then ask Colonel Moore to tell you sometime-now, we're to hear the explanation that explains-the Tale of the Veiled Lady of the Inn,” and she looked at Armand....
When he had finished, the Princess offered no comment, but frowned and played with her cigarette; and the Archduke, ever glad for any excuse to look at her, and very ready to be silent the better to look, watched her in undisguised devotion.
”What's the plot behind it?” she demanded, suddenly; ”I can't make it out-it's absurd to fancy that woman honest, though I'm perfectly sure Lotzen has the Book. But why-why should he want to show it to us? Not out of love nor friends.h.i.+p, surely; nor bravado, either; our dear cousin isn't given to any such weakness. So it must be simply a rather clumsy attempt to lure you to the Ferida for slaughter-and that, again, seems unlikely; for Ferdinand isn't clumsy, nor would he want you murdered in his Palace; and as to the provision that you need not go-or that you may take a dozen with you if you wish-and if you don't go, that she preferred Colonel Moore, or some one with brains and a sword-all that, I say, is too amazingly inconsistent with anything except entire honesty for my poor brain to solve.”
”Don't try, my dear,” the Archduke laughed. ”We will give you the solution to-morrow.”
She laid aside her cigarette, and, folding her arms on the table, surveyed him in displeased surprise.
”Surely, Armand, you don't mean that you are going?” she asked.
He nodded, smilingly.
”Why not?” he asked-”the Colonel and I, with a few good blades, and the Veiled Lady's promise to protect us.”
”But it's absurd, perfectly absurd, for you to take such risk. At the best, you are obligated only to look, to make no attempt to-night to recover the Book; and at the worst you can only fight your way out of the trap. In the one case, Colonel Moore can do the looking as well as you-in the other, their plot to kill you will have failed and your subst.i.tutes will be given some excuse by Spencer and let go in peace-oh, it's worse than absurd for you to go, Armand,”-she saw from his expression that her argument was futile-”and you know it, too; and you're going only because you like the excitement, and to show Lotzen, like a big boy, you're not to be dared.”
The Archduke laughed at her indulgently.
”May be I am, little girl,” he said; ”but I've made up my mind to fight this business out myself, and that sends me to the Ferida to-night. I'll take every precaution--”
”Except the proper one of staying away,” she interrupted. ”You're struggling for a Crown, man, and mad rashness has no place in the game.
Play it like Lotzen, in the modern way, not like the Middle Ages-he uses its methods, true enough, but lets others execute his plans and face the perils.”-She put out her hand to him.-”Come, dear, be reasonable,” she begged; ”be kind; even the wildest idea of leaders.h.i.+p does not obligate you to go.”
He took her hand and held it, with the firm, soft pressure of abiding affection, looking the while into her fair face, flushed now with the impetuous earnestness of her fear for him.
”I think it does, Dehra,” he said gravely. ”It is our duty to the country to find the Laws and settle the Succession at the quickest possible moment--”