Part 53 (2/2)

The brougham flashed away, and the Archduke drew down the blinds.

Dehra gave a satisfied little sigh and sank back in the corner.

”We seem to have beaten him,” she said; ”we shall have the first look into the box.”

Armand put his arm around her, and drew the fair head to his shoulder.

”I have already beaten him,” he said-”we fought first, for you, little girl. A fig for the box, and the Book and the Crown!”

At the gate of the Park the Princess signaled to halt, and raised the blind.

”Who of the Royal Council have arrived?” she asked the officer on duty.

”His Royal Highness the Duke of Lotzen, General Du--” he got no further.

”To my private entrance! quick, quick!” she called, and the carriage shot away....

”What does it mean?” she demanded; ”Epping said Lotzen had not left the Ferida.”

”It means that you have solved the riddle. Lotzen has not come to the Council, he does not even know of it; he has come for the Book.”

They drew up at the door, the Archduke opened it with Dehra's key, and they dashed up stairs. She s.n.a.t.c.hed a master-key from a drawer of her writing table, and they crossed the corridor and entered the King's suite through the small reception room, between which and the library lay a cabinet and a bedroom.

As they entered the latter, treading cautiously, they heard the Duke of Lotzen's voice in the library, the door of which stood ajar.

”It's a pity to break it,” he was saying, ”but--” and there was a snap and crack.

Under the Archduke's hand the door opened noiselessly, and through the narrow rift, between the hangings, they could see within.

The Duke, no longer disguised but wearing the undress uniform of his rank, was standing at the large desk; beside him an officer in a long cape and a Cuira.s.sier helmet; and before him the big, black box of the Laws. He had just forced the lock; now he laid back the lid, and took out the Book.

”We win, d.u.c.h.ess!” he said, ”we win! thanks to your marvellous fingers and quick brain,” and lifting the helmet from Madeline Spencer's high piled hair, he kissed her ardently.

”Not so, cousin!” said the Princess, flinging aside the curtain, ”you lose-it is we who win.”

For a moment the Duke stood staring, too amazed to speak, and Mrs.

Spencer, with a sharp cry, fled to his side; then, as he saw the end of his dream, the pa.s.sing of his hopes, the fierce and fiery spirit, that was always burning deep in his soul, burst through the gyves of studied equanimity his stern will had imposed.

”Not yet!” he cried, ”not yet!” and turning quickly he tossed the Book into the big chimney behind him where a wood fire burned.

”Come on!” he taunted, flas.h.i.+ng out his sword, ”come on, cousin Armand!-there's your crown, come get it!”

”Look to the Book, Dehra!” the Archduke called, and sprang at Lotzen, with a joyful smile. ”At last!” he said, and the fight began.

”Push the Book farther into the fire, Madeline!” the Duke ordered, the words timed to the beat of the steel.

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