The Princess Dehra Part 37

"But Her Highness, sir-she will not--"

"Tush, man," Armand interrupted, "I'll answer for the Regent."

The old man began to cry, and through his tears he groped for the Archduke's hand and kissed the gauntlet fervently.

"G.o.d bless Your Highness!" he said-and was still repeating it when the latter pa.s.sed the gate.

The Archduke rode slowly along the line of Lancers, scrutinizing every man as he went; then motioned the officers to him.

"Messieurs," he said, "my compliments on your troop.-Captain Hertz, you may return to barracks."

Hertz saluted, faced his men and raised his sword. And Armand, galloping down the road, turned in saddle and with his cap answered the wild cheer they sent after him.

"Purkitz," said the Captain, before giving the order to break into column, "now is your opportunity to prove you can actually know something and not tell it."

"And yours also, O wiser than serpents," the Lieutenant laughed, "to prove you actually do know something that you tell."

But the Archduke had not deemed it necessary to caution either of them; here, even the dullest witted soldier in the Army would have the sense to hold his tongue.

Where the road for the Summer Palace took off at the old forge, the Colonel left him, and Armand went on to the Capital. He rode these last few miles at a slow jog, and thoughtfully. It was well enough to treat the matter lightly to Moore, but, none the less, it troubled him. Dehra's conduct had been so extraordinary for her-who had refused to credit, for an instant, Madeline Spencer's claim to be his wife, though actually supported by a marriage certificate-that he was puzzled and all sorts of doubts and fears hara.s.sed him. It suggested some untoward influence; what he could not imagine, nor how, nor whence it had come; but, even then, everything would be very easy to explain, if she would give him the opportunity, and not, in the natural perversity of a woman, refuse to see him, and so make herself miserable, altogether needlessly. He had yet to learn that sometimes it is well to let a woman inadvertently discipline herself; it is more effective than if the man does it; and usually saves him a vast amount of recrimination. Then, too, he did not want Dehra to know of this intended night visit to the Ferida, where the natural prospect was duplicity and murder, and only Madeline Spencer's worthless word to guarantee its safety. As it was now, if he explained at all, it would have to be down to the minutest detail, and he could foresee what the Regent would have to say about any such adventure on his part. Yet if the Ferida party went he must lead it-and the Ferida party was going.

So when he reached the Epsau, he was almost hoping to find a message from the Princess that he was not expected for dinner. But it was not there, nor had it come when he started for the Palace, though he waited until the very last moment.

He found Moore pacing the corridor, on watch for him, but with nothing to clear up the situation.

"And I've spent most of the time since I got back," he ended, "in prancing up and down here, trying to get a glimpse of Mademoiselle, or some one, who might give me an inkling of the temperature inside-all on your account, sir, of course; I'm getting used to this freezing and thawing process."

"Very good, Colonel, then we will go right in, and you can be thawing while I am explaining-come along, man, come along," and taking him by the arm they went on down the corridor, and entered the Princess' small reception room next her boudoir.

"Announce us," said the Archduke to the footman, "but say to Her Highness that I would like a few minutes private speech with her-and to Mademoiselle d'Essolde say that Colonel Moore has a message from me and awaits her here.... I leave that message to your Irish wit," he remarked, when the servant had gone.

But the man was very slow in returning, and presently Moore laughed.

"It's getting chilly," he observed-"notice it?"

The boudoir room swung open and Mlle. d'Essolde came in.

"Can't say I do," said the Archduke aside, as he acknowledged her curtsy; "looks very charming to me."

She gave the Archduke a smile, Moore a look of indifferent greeting, and then Armand another smile.

"My mistress receives Your Highness," she said, holding back the door; and quite ignoring Moore's effort, as he sprang forward to relieve her.

Under the chandelier, where sixty candles fluttered their mellow light about her, the Regent of Valeria was standing; but her eyes were on the red rose she was slowly pulling apart, nor did she lift them when Armand entered. Having come in a little way, slowly and with purposeful deliberation, he stopped, and leaning on his sword tarried for her to speak; and willing that she should not, for a while, that so, he might have this picture long enough to see it ever after-this white-robed, fair-headed daughter of the Dalbergs, waiting to pa.s.s judgment on her betrothed.

The last petal fell; she plucked another rose-a white one-from her corsage, and looked up.

"You may speak, sir," she said, in voice an impersonal monotone.

The Archduke bowed.

"I have nothing to say," he replied.

She raised her eye-brows in polite surprise.

"I thought you had requested ten minutes private speech with me."

"I did," said Armand, "but I withdraw the request; explanations are vain, when one has been already judged, and judged unheard."

"One who is taken red-handed can have no explanation that explains," said she.

Then, of a sudden, out flashed the adorable smile, and she laughed, and flung him the white rose.

"There, dear," she said, "there, is your pardon-now, come," and she held out both hands; "come and forgive me for this afternoon."

And when he had forgiven her, she put him in a chair and perched herself on the arm beside him.

"Tell me, Armand," she said, "are we never to be free of that awful woman?-where did she come from?-how did she happen to be at the Inn?"

"And how did I happen to be with her there, you want to know," he laughed.

She nodded. "That more than all-yet I didn't ask it."

He took out the anonymous letter, which he had remembered to get from Courtney; and when she had read it, he tore it into bits.

"Will you have the explanation that explains now or during dinner?" he asked.

She sprang up.

"I forgot I was hungry! Come we will get Elise and Moore-that girl is a rare coquette; she makes my poor Adjutant's life very miserable."

"It looks like it!" said Armand opening the door just as Moore caught Mlle. d'Essolde and kissed her, despite her struggles.

"I warned you, my lady," he was saying, "you would tempt me too far some day ... will you forgive me now, or shall I do it all over again?"

The Princess laughed. Moore's arms dropped and he sprang back, while Mlle. d'Essolde, flaming with embarra.s.sment and anger, buried her face in her hands.

"Forgive him until after dinner, Elise," said Dehra; "you can retract then, and resume the situation, if you wish."

"O wise and beneficent ruler!" said Moore, bowing to the ground, "I agree to the compromise."

Mlle. d'Essolde looked at him in contemptuous scorn-though, in truth, she was more inclined to laugh; she never could be angry with her Irishman, for long.

"You savage," she said, "you brutal savage; don't ever speak to me again."

He stepped forward and offered his arm, with all the suavity he knew so well.

"Never again after dinner, mademoiselle," he said sadly; "meanwhile, the pleasure is mine."