The Princess Dehra Part 45

He sent a cloud of smoke between them.

"I wish I knew," he said; "but the American won't tell me."

She scattered the smoke with a wave of her handkerchief.

"Are you quite sure he could tell you?" she asked.-"In fact, my dear boy, do you need to be told?"

He looked at her with a puzzled frown; and for answer she tapped the open blotter, and smiled.

"Even though inverted, a few words are very plain:-a King's name and a date.... And the King died the next day."

"And what is your inference?" he asked.

"It's rather more than an inference, isn't it?" she laughed; "I should call it a sequitur:-that he who has the Book's blotter, has the Book."

She had expected either cool ridicule or angry denial; instead, he laughed, too, and coming around to her, gave her an admiring little caress.

"You're quite too clever, Madeline," he said; "it is a sequitur, but unfortunately it's not the fact-now. I haven't the Book; I did have it, and I know where it is, but I can't get it."

"You had it-and let it get away?" she marveled.

"Yes."

"And know where it is, and yet can't get it?"

"Yes, again."

"Surely! surely! it can't be that I am listening to the Duke of Lotzen!... But, of course, you know what the decree is."

And now he lied, and so easily and promptly that even she did not suspect.

"No," said he, "I don't; I lost the Book before I had a chance to open it. All I know is what that blotter tells. d.a.m.n it, why couldn't it have had the middle of the decree instead of both ends!" and in marvellously a.s.sumed indignation he seized the soft sheet, and tore it into tiny bits.

He had no mind that even she should have the chance to copy it, and delve into all that the words and blurred lines might imply.

"May I know where the Book is, dear?" she said, after a pause; "may be I could help you."

An hour ago he would have balked at this question; but now her interests had become so bound up with his that he could trust her.

"Know, little one? of course you may know," he said instantly; "I shall be glad for a confidant. The Book is exactly where it belongs:-in the box, and it is in the vault of the King's library at the Summer Palace."

She laughed merrily.

"Ferdinand, dear Ferdinand!" she cried, "I'm ashamed of you-to tell me such a clumsy lie."

"It isn't a lie-that's the pity."

"Then why all this bother as to the Succession, and search for the Book?"

she asked incredulously.

"Because, my dear, I'm the only one who knows it's there-listen, and I'll tell you how it happened."

At last! at last! she was to know-and she nestled close to him and waited. Truly, this was her day. And he told all, not even omitting the killing of the valet.

Her first question was typical of her mind, it went straight to the crux of the whole matter.

"But why can't you get the Book?" she asked.

"Because I can't get at it. The infernal American has put a cordon of troops around the Palace, so that it's impossible to pa.s.s at night without declaring myself; Moore occupies the library; and finally the combination on the vault has been changed."

"Isn't it absurd?" said she; "the Book actually in its place and yet lost."-She sat up sharply. "Do you really want it, Ferdinand?-because, if you do, may be I can help you."

"a.s.suredly I want it. If the decree is against me, we will destroy the Book and go on with our game."

"Then, dear, let us go after it-and now, now! The Regent is absent, hence less vigilance in the Palace; Moore is with her, hence the library is deserted; it should be easy for you to get us in it by day and unsuspected."

"And having blown open the vault, be caught in the act," he smiled.

"That is where I come in, dear; I will engage to open it, noiselessly, and in less than fifteen minutes, too."

"Is it possible that you are one of those wonder workers who can feel a combination?"

"Yes," said she, "though I've not tried it for years."

"Come, come, try it now!" indicating a small iron safe in the far corner.

She went to it, and sinking to the floor with sinuous grace, she put her ear close to the dial plate and fell to manipulating the k.n.o.b with light fingers; turning it back and forth very slowly and with extreme care.

And the Duke, leaning against the safe, watched her with eager eyes-could she do it?-if she could--

Mrs. Spencer sprang up.

"That was easy," she said.

Lotzen reached over and seized the handle; the bolts snapped back and the door swung open.

With the first burst of impulse she had ever seen him display, he whirled and caught her in his arms.

"We will win now, my d.u.c.h.ess!" he exclaimed, "we will win sure. No burglarious entry-no explosion-no flight; instead, the Duke of Lotzen and his Aide will go openly to the library, and then in a trice will we have the Book and be gone.... And I shall owe it all to you, dear-ma cherie d.u.c.h.esse."

She closed her eyes; truly, this was her day!

"Let us go to Dornlitz this very night," she said.

He shook his head. "We must wait a day, little one; until our friends across the valley have a.s.sured themselves that I am here. But to-morrow night we will steal away to the Capital, and get the Book; and then, if necessary, we will come back, and send our dear cousin to the devil where he belongs."

XX THE PRINCESS TURNS STRATEGIST