Part 51 (2/2)

”Yes, Monsieur le Prince, hours ago.”

He reached over and flung back her robe.

”Then why are you still dressed and waiting up for her? Don't lie to me, girl; where is Her Highness?”

”Monsieur doubts me?”

The Archduke made an angry gesture.

”Go to her-say I must speak with her at once.”

”Wake the Regent! I dare not, sir.”

He pushed her aside and went on into the next room. She sprang after, and caught his hand.

”Your Highness!” she cried, ”you would not!-you would not!”

He seized her by the arm. ”You little fool! the truth-the truth-if your mistress isn't here, she is in awful peril-may be dead.” He shook her almost fiercely. ”The truth, I say, the truth!”

With a cry the girl sank to the floor.

”Peril!-death!” she echoed. ”She but went for a ride, sir; I do not understand--”

The Archduke was gone; he required no further information.

A quarter of an hour later, with thirty of the garrison at his back-all that could be provided with horses-he set out for Lotzen Castle; leaving it for Courtney, whose official position denied him the privilege of going along, to telephone the Commandant at Porgia for troops.

”She went to save me, d.i.c.k,” he said; ”now I will save her or--good-bye,”

and the two men had gripped hands hard, then the Archduke rode away.

At first, his anger had been hot against Moore and Bernheim, but now that sober second thought was come, he knew that they were not to blame, that the Regent herself had ordered them to the service and to silence. And presently his hope rose at the thought of the one's skilful sword and sure revolver, and the other's steady head and calm discretion; together, with De Coursey and Marsov, there might be a chance that the Princess would come out alive. But the hope grew suddenly very slender, as he reached the valley road and saw the great light of Lotzen Castle s.h.i.+ning far away, and remembered his own sensations as he had stood under it that afternoon, and who its master was and what.

They had been obliged to go slowly down the steep and winding avenue, now he swung into a gallop and the six score hoofs went thundering through the valley, leaving the startled inhabitants staring, and wondering at the strange doings of all who came from the South. But them the Archduke never saw-nor anything, indeed, save the track before him and the light ahead, riding with hands low on the saddle, face set and stern; implacable and relentless as the first Dalberg himself, the day he rescued his lady from that same Castle of Lotzen and hung its Baron in quarters from the gate tower.

Only once did the Archduke pause; at the Dreer, a moment to breathe the horses and let them wet their throats. In the darkness he did not see a bunch of hors.e.m.e.n round the turn in front and trot slowly toward him, nor could he hear them for the thras.h.i.+ng of his own horses in the water. The first he knew of them was Colonel Moore's peremptory hail:

”What force is that yonder?”

With a shout that rang far into the night, Armand sent his mare bounding through the stream.

”The Princess? the Princess?” he cried, ”is she safe?”

And her own voice answered, joyful and triumphant.

”I'm here, Armand, I'm here.”

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