Part 39 (1/2)
They had gone into the library for a rubber of bridge, until it was time to start for the Ferida. Now there came a chime from the mantel, and Dehra glanced at the old French clock that her Bourbon ancestress had brought with her-among wagon loads of clothes and furniture-when she came to be wife to Henry the Third.
”Well, Armand,” she said, ”if we are to be at our dear cousin's rear gate at eleven, I suppose it's the last moment for me to change my gown, this one isn't especially appropriate-have you anything in particular to suggest?”
”Nothing,” he smiled, ”nothing; except that you don't make yourself any more attractive than is absolutely unavoidable.”
”And that I conceal my ident.i.ty as much as possible, I suppose?”
”Undoubtedly-and the more effective the concealment, the better.”
She laid aside the cards she was shuffling and arose.
”Will you come with me, Elise?” she asked. ”You can help me with the disguise.”
Moore closed the door behind them, and going over to a side-table poured out a very stiff drink.
”I don't like it!” he said, turning around, the gla.s.s half emptied, and tossing off the remainder; ”I don't like it, a little bit!”
”Then it's appalling to think what you would take if you did like it,”
the Archduke commented.
The Colonel laughed and poured out a trifle more.
”The liquor is all right,” he laughed; ”it's this notion of Her Highness I don't like.”
Armand had begun to deal solitaire, but he stopped and tossed the cards together.
”I wonder if Mademoiselle d'Essolde could persuade her to give it up?” he said.
”She wouldn't try-she, too, wanted to go. I blocked that, however; I told her that one foolish virgin was as much as we could look after in this mess, and that she would best stay home and trim the lamps. It wasn't a happy remark, I fear, but it did the business-you will have to give me another message for her to-morrow. Meanwhile, I must go over and do a bit of dress changing myself-shall I need a mask?”
”I don't know; better take one.”
The Archduke was in the uniform of a general officer, dark green evening coat and trousers, with buff waistcoat; and unadorned save for the narrow gold cord on the shoulder, the insignia on the sleeves, and the braid on the leg seam. Because Dehra liked him best in the Red Huzzar dress, he always wore it when he dined with her; for to-night, however, it was entirely too showy and hampering, and he had chosen the one quietest in tone and best suited for quick action.
Left alone, he tried the solitaire again; but it got on his nerves, and after a minute of listless playing, he sprang up, with an exclamation of disgust, and began to pace the floor. Presently Moore returned, in the fatigue uniform of the General Staff, with its easy-fitting jacket, and was immediately sent back to telephone the Secret Police to spread a loose cordon around the Ferida, with a dozen men loitering in close vicinity to every gate. There was no antic.i.p.ating what they were about to encounter, so it was well to provide for the worst. It was his duty to protect the Regent whether she wished it or not; and though he might not take them inside with her, yet if the occasion arose, a pistol shot would bring them very quickly.
”It's growing late,” he remarked, as the Adjutant came back; ”if we are to be there on time we must start.”
He was going toward the bell when voices in the next room told him the Princess was coming; and she entered-a slender officer in a long military coat, and a soft felt service hat.
The two men mechanically raised their hands in salute, and she acknowledged it with formal motion and a merry laugh.
”Will I pa.s.s?” she asked.-”See, the hat covers my hair, and its wide brim shadows my face; the coat reaches almost to my feet, and its big collar quite hides the back of my head; and, as for what's under the coat, see again”-and loosing the frogs, she swung it back, disclosing the tunic of her Blue Guards, and, below it, the close-fitting knee skirts, and high spiral puttees of a shooting suit.
”And is that as unattractive as you could make yourself?” the Archduke asked, with affected seriousness, as he fastened her coat and adjusted her sword.
”It's as un.o.btrusive as I could make myself-some day, if you wish, sir, I'll show you just how unattractive I can be.”
But he only laughed, and, taking her hand, hurried her to the carriage.
On the drive, he told her briefly how they were to reach Mrs. Spencer's apartments, and cautioned her, as tactfully as he could, against doing anything which might serve to disclose her ident.i.ty.