The Princess Dehra Part 19

"Yes, very pleasant," she answered, "yet they won't be his for long-he but holds them for another."

"And the other?" maliciously driving her to the choice between the Archduke and himself.

She raised her eyebrows.

"There could be but one, my lord," she answered, looking at him with calm directness.

He laughed. "May be we do not guess alike; and I fear me, when my other comes, the das.h.i.+ng Colonel will have to make a far move-beyond the border."

The blue eyes snapped. "I can well believe Your Highness," she retorted.

"When you move in, Colonel Moore would scorn to stay this side the border."

Elise d'Essolde never forgot the look that came in Lotzen's eyes. It was, she said afterwards to the Regent, as though he had actually struck her in the face. And, for a little while, he did not speak. Then as she drew back into the room, he bowed, his hand upon his heart.

"My thanks, my lady, my thanks for your candor," his voice soft and very kind-"I shall see to it that your Colonel does not go alone."

"Small danger," she replied, as she slowly closed the door, "Your Highness has been seeing to that with fine success, these many years-au revoir, mon Prince," and the latch clicked between them.

With a shrug, the Duke turned away. What a vixen she was!-and how very sure Dehra must be of the American's succession, when one of her Household would venture to flout Ferdinand of Lotzen to his face. His mouth hardened. d.a.m.n the woman who played with statecraft-who meddled with the things she knew nothing of-who would impose a foreigner upon an ancient Kingdom, just because he was her lover. d.a.m.n the whole tribe-they were fit only to play with clothes, and to serve man's idle moment....

The rattle of a sword and click of spurs sounded on the stairway, and the Regent's Adjutant turned the corner.

"Ah, Colonel, well met!" said Lotzen briskly, as Moore came to attention and salute; "I took the liberty, as I pa.s.sed your quarters, of looking at His late Majesty's portrait; I wish to have a copy made-the door was open, so I a.s.sumed I might go in," and with a pleasant smile and nod he pa.s.sed on-then stopped. "My congratulations on your promotion-though as the smartest soldier in the army it belonged to you."

Moore looked after him thoughtfully.

"What particularly fine bit of deviltry are you up to now," he muttered; "and what were you really doing in the library?"

Half way down the corridor Moore met Elise d'Essolde.

"Whither away, my lady, whither away?" he asked, sweeping the floor with his cap.

"I'm not your lady," she answered, making to pa.s.s by, but smiling sidelong at him.

"Egad, I wish you wouldn't tell me that so often-have some regard for my poor heart."

She tossed her head. "Your heart, indeed! which heart? An Irishman has a hundred and a different girl for every one."

"This Irishman has a million hearts-and the same girl for them all."

She put the tip of her parasol to the wall, and leaned lightly against it.

"And how many hearts has she?" she asked.

He shook his head sadly. "None-none-not the faintest trace of one."

She bent further over, and tightened the bow of blue ribbon on the staff.

"May be you're not the one to find it," she smiled-"another man--" and the merry eyes glinted gaily through the long lashes.

"Oh, I'm the man-and she knows it."

A little laugh rippled forth-"And does she know, also, your stupendous self sufficiency?"

"Yes, she knows that, too-and likes me just the same."

"Which would seem to be very little-as it should be.... My parasol if you please, I'm going."

He kept his hold.

"You little witch," he said; "I don't know why I let you walk upon me so."

The saucy mouth drooped at the corners. "Nor I why I walk-the way is surely very stony.... My parasol, I said."

He glanced up and down the corridor.

"Do you know," he said seriously, "I believe that hat is so big I could kiss you, and no one see us."

She dropped the sun-shade and sprang back.

"Yes, I believe you could-and I believe you actually would-but you shan't."

He opened the parasol, and drew the circle close behind his head.

"It's not quite so large as your hat," he went on, "but I think, if you don't struggle too much, I can manage to hold it properly."

He went slowly toward her-she retreated.

"Come," she commanded;... "cease this foolishness ... my parasol;... I'm going...."

He did not answer.

"Ralph," she exclaimed, "are you crazy!"

He shook his head and came on.

She was on the stairway now-a glance:-no one was below her. She lifted her skirts with both hands, and backed down the steps, smiling up at him the while, tantalizingly.

"Come on," she said, as he halted at the top; "I need the parasol; come on."

"You little devil," he laughed; "You'll tempt me once too often.... Here, take your sun-shade-I may have need of it another time."

"Merci-amant, merci," she inflected softly, then flung him a kiss from her finger tips-"and you take that-I won't need it another time-and, if I do, I've others."

"Many others?" he asked.

She faced about, and raising the parasol swung it between them.