Part 46 (2/2)

”Every one loves her, Jessac,” he said, ”but none quite as you and I.”

Then he drew him over to the table. ”Do you know the interior of Lotzen Castle?” he asked.

”As I know this one, my lord-I lived in it for twenty years in my young days; even now I could go blindfolded from gate to highest turret.”

”Is this plan accurate now? See, here is the gateway, and this is the keep.”

”I understand, sir.”-He studied it for a little while, following the lines with his finger, and muttering brokenly to himself, under his breath. ”Yes, Your Highness, it's about the same, except that here is an outer building for servants, and here a storehouse; and the arrangement of the rooms in the main part is some different, particularly on the second floor, where several have been made out of one; but the stairway and hall are still as they always were. Indeed, sir, there has been small change or improvement since long before the present lord's father died.

Duke Ferdinand had never visited it for more than a score of years, until a few weeks ago, just a little while before our gracious master was called--”

The old man was garrulous; so far, age had not missed him; and here the Archduke interrupted.

”Jessac,” he said kindly, ”you have made all that very clear; now can you tell us if there is any secret pa.s.sage in the castle?”

”One, sir,” was the prompt answer; ”leastwise, I know one, there may be others.”

”And it?”

”From the library to the postern gate, near the west tower-this is it, sir,” indicating the line on the plan; ”many is the time I've used it, his lords.h.i.+p being absent, when I wanted to get out at night; indeed, sir, there is a key to the postern still here, as well as duplicates to almost every door. They were not surrendered when King Henry gave the place to the late Duke-all the locks had been changed shortly before that. Would Your Highness care to see the keys?-they are in the armory.”

”Bring them here,” said the Constable quickly.... ”I know by experience, sir, that if Jessac get you into the armory, you won't escape for hours; he has a story for every piece in it, and wants to tell them all.”

The old man came back, a dozen large keys jangling; and laid them on the table.

”This is to the postern,” he said; ”it's smaller than the others, so it could be carried more easily, you know, sir-these bra.s.s tags, sir, show where they belong.”

The Archduke looked them over.

”I don't see the key from the library to the secret pa.s.sage,” he said.

”There is none, sir; the big stone in the middle of the side wall of the library, and the one on the right just inside the postern arch, revolve when pushed at the upper edge-this way, Your Highness,” and he demonstrated, using a book as the stone.

”Thank you, Jessac,” said Armand, with a smile and a nod of dismissal; ”we may want you again to-morrow. I'll keep the keys,” and he swept them into a drawer of the desk.

Then the Constable withdrew, and for a while Armand and Moore studied the plan, and went over the problem confronting them; and which, though greatly simplified now, was still difficult and delicate beyond anything either had ever been obliged to solve. Perilous it was, too-but that neither regarded for himself; and Moore would gladly have a.s.sumed it alone could he have insured thereby the Archduke's safety.

Through it all the Princess watched them, harkening carefully to what was said, and saying a few things herself, mainly in the shape of questions which showed that, even if to her the draft did resemble an embroidery pattern, she was astonis.h.i.+ngly apt at following the discussion. But when Armand remarked that he would make the attempt that very night, she interposed promptly.

”Wait until to-morrow,” she urged; ”take at least one night's rest; you need it; and the extra day may disclose something as to the situation in Lotzen Castle.”

”To-night is the proper time,” said the Archduke; ”we may not be expected then; we shall be most a.s.suredly to-morrow; it's our one chance for a surprise.”

”And with our dear cousin that chance is no chance, as you are very well aware,” said she; ”he knows you are here, and why you are here, and he is ready for you this instant. No, no, dear, it's simply your natural impetuosity, which I came along to moderate; and here is my first veto: not to-night.” She put her hand on his arm. ”Please, Armand, please; don't you understand-I want to be sure of you a little longer; the day you enter Lotzen Castle may be our last.”

Moore turned quickly away-and the Archduke looked once into the soft eyes, and at the adorable smile; and the eyes and the smile conquered, as eyes and smile always will when the one woman uses them, as the one woman always can, if she try.

”I ought not to let you persuade me,” he said, with a half serious shake of his hand, ”but-you're pretty hard to resist. At least, you won't prohibit my riding over toward the Castle, and having a look at it now, in broad day, if I promise not to venture inside nor very near.”

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