Part 44 (1/2)

”Don't congratulate him yet,” she cried, the flush deepening. ”I may be a very, very great disappointment to him, and a never-ending nuisance.”

”I'm sure you will--will be all right,” I floundered. Then I resorted to gaiety. ”You see, I've spent a lot of time trying to--to make another woman of you, and so I'm confident he'll find you quite satisfactory.”

She laughed gaily. ”What a goose you are!” she cried.

I flushed painfully, for, I give you my word, it hurt to have her laugh at me. She sobered at once.

”Forgive me,” she said very prettily, and I forgave her. ”Do you know we've never given the buried treasure another thought?” she went on, abruptly changing the subject. ”Are we not to go searching for it?”

”But it isn't there,” said I, steeling my heart against the longing that tried to creep into it. ”It's all balderdash.”

She pouted her warm red lips. ”Have you lost interest in it so soon?”

”Of course, I'll go any time you say,” said I, lifelessly. ”It will be a lark, at all events.”

”Then we will go this very afternoon,” she said, with enthusiasm.

My ridiculous heart gave a great leap. ”This very afternoon,” I said, managing my voice very well.

She arose. ”Now I must scurry away. It would not do for Mr. Bangs to find me here with you. He would be shocked.”

I walked beside her to the chair that stood below the portrait of Ludwig the Red, and took her hand to a.s.sist her in stepping upon it.

”I sincerely hope this chap you're going to marry, Countess, may be the best fellow in the world,” said I, still clasping her hand.

She had one foot on the chair as she half-turned to face me.

”He is the best fellow in the world,” she said.

I gulped. ”I can't tell you how happy I shall be if you--if you find real happiness. You deserve happiness--and love.”

She gripped my hand fiercely. ”I want to be happy! I want to be loved!

Oh, I want to be loved!” she cried, so pa.s.sionately that I turned away, unwilling to be a witness to this outburst of feeling on her part. She slipped her hand out of mine and a second later was through the frame.

I had a fleeting glimpse of a slim, adorable ankle. ”Good-bye,” she called back in a voice that seemed strangely choked. The spring in the gold mirror clicked. A draft of air struck me in the face. She was gone.

”What an infernal fool you've been,” I said to myself as I stood there staring at the black hole in the wall. Then, I gently, even caressingly swung old Ludwig the Red into place. There was another click. The incident was closed.

A very few words are sufficient to cover the expedition in quest of the legendary treasures of the long dead Barons. Mr. Bangs accompanied us. Britton carried a lantern and the three Schmicks went along as guides. We found nothing but cobwebs.

”Conrad,” said I, as we emerged from the last of the underground chambers, ”tell me the truth: was there ever such a thing as buried treasure in this abominable hole?”

”Yes, mein herr,” he replied, with an apologetic grin; ”but I think it was discovered three years ago by Count Hohendahl and Count Tarnowsy.”

We stared at him. ”The deuce you say!” cried I, with a quick glance at the Countess. She appeared to be as much surprised as I.

”They searched for a month,” explained the old man, guiltily. ”They found something in the walls of the second tier. I cannot say what it was, but they were very, very happy, my lady.” He now addressed her.