Beverly of Graustark

by George Barr McCutcheon

  CHAPTER XIV

  A VISIT AND ITS CONSEQUENCES

  That same afternoon Baldos, blissfully ignorant of the stir he hadcreated in certain circles, rode out for the first time as a member ofthe Castle Guard. He and Haddan were detailed by Colonel Quinnox to actas private escort to Miss Calhoun until otherwise ordered. If Haddanthought himself wiser than Baldos in knowing that their charge was notthe princess, he was very much mistaken; if he enjoyed the trick thatwas being played on his fellow guardsman, his enjoyment was as nothingas compared to the pleasure Baldos was deriving from the situation. Theroyal victoria was driven to the fortress, conveying the supposedprincess and the Countess Dagmar to the home of Count Marlanx. The twoguards rode bravely behind the equipage, resplendent in brilliant newuniforms. Baldos was mildly surprised and puzzled by the homage paid theyoung American girl. It struck him as preposterous that the entirepopulation of Edelweiss could be in the game to deceive him.

  "Who is the princess's companion?" he inquired of Haddan, as they leftthe castle grounds.

  "The Countess Dagmar, cousin to her highness. She is the wife ofMr. Anguish."

  "I have seen her before," said Baldos, a strange smile on his face.

  The Countess Dagmar found it difficult at first to meet the eye of thenew guard, but he was so punctiliously oblivious that her courage wasrestored. She even went so far as to whisper in Beverly's ear that hedid not remember her face, and probably would not recognize Yetive asone of the eavesdroppers. The princess had flatly refused to accompanythem on the visit to the fortress because of Baldos. Struck by a suddenimpulse, Beverly called Baldos to the side of the vehicle.

  "Baldos, you behaved very nicely yesterday in exposing the duplicity ofthose young women," she said.

  "I am happy to have pleased your highness," he said steadily.

  "It may interest you to know that they ceased to be ladies-in-waitingafter that exposure."

  "Yes, your highness, it certainly is interesting," he said, as he fellback into position beside Haddan. During the remainder of the ride hecaught himself time after time gazing reflectively at the back of herproud little head, possessed of an almost uncontrollable desire to touchthe soft brown hair.

  "You can't fool that excellent young man much longer, my dear," said thecountess, recalling the look in his dark eyes. The same thought had beenafflicting Beverly with its probabilities for twenty-four hours andmore.

  Count Marlanx welcomed his visitors with a graciousness that awokewonder in the minds of his staff. His marked preference for the Americangirl did not escape attention. Some of the bolder young officersindulged in surreptitious grimaces, and all looked with more or lesscompassion upon the happy-faced beauty from over the sea. Marlanxsurveyed Baldos steadily and coldly, deep disapproval in his sinistereyes. He had not forgotten the encounter of the day before.

  "I see the favorite is on guard," he said blandly. "Has he told you ofthe lesson in manners he enjoyed last night?" He was leading his gueststoward the quarters, Baldos and Haddan following. The new guard couldnot help hearing the sarcastic remark.

  "You didn't have him beaten?" cried Beverly, stopping short.

  "No, but I imagine it would have been preferable. I _talked_ withhim for half an hour," said the general, laughing significantly.

  When the party stopped at the drinking-fountain in the center of thefort, Baldos halted near by. His face was as impassive as marble, hiseyes set straight before him, his figure erect and soldierly. Anoccasional sarcastic remark by the Iron Count, meant for his ears, madeno impression upon the deadly composure of the new guard who had had his_lesson_. Miss Calhoun was conscious of a vague feeling that shehad served Baldos an ill-turn when she put him into this position.

  The count provided a light luncheon in his quarters after the ladies hadgone over the fortress. Beverly Calhoun, with all of a woman'sindifference to things material, could not but see how poorly equippedthe fort was as compared to the ones she had seen in the UnitedStates. She and the countess visited the armory, the arsenal, and therepair shops before luncheon, reserving the pleasures of the clubhouse,the officers' quarters, and the parade-ground until afterwards. CountMarlanx's home was in the southeast corner of the enclosure, near thegates. Several of the officers lunched with him and the youngladies. Marlanx was assiduous in his attention to Beverly Calhoun--somuch so, in fact, that the countess teased her afterwards about herconquest of the old and well-worn heart. Beverly thought him extremelysilly and sentimental, much preferring him in the character of theharsh, implacable martinet.

  At regular intervals she saw the straight, martial form of Baldos passthe window near which she sat. He was patrolling the narrow piazza whichfronted the house. Toward the close of the rather trying luncheon shewas almost unable to control the impulse to rush out and compel him torelax that imposing, machine-like stride. She hungered for a few minutesof the old-time freedom with him.

  The Iron Count was showing her some rare antique bronzes he hadcollected in the south. The luncheon was over and the countess hadstrolled off toward the bastions with the young officers, leavingBeverly alone with the host. Servants came in to clear the tables, butthe count harshly ordered them to wait until the guests had departed.

  "It is the dearest thing I have seen," said Beverly, holding a rare oldcandlestick at arm's length and looking at it in as many ways as thewrist could turn. Her loose sleeves ended just below the elbows. Thecount's eyes followed the graceful curves of her white forearm with aneagerness that was annoying.

  "I prize it more dearly than any other piece in my collection," hesaid. "It came from Rome; it has a history which I shall try to tell yousome day, and which makes it almost invaluable. A German noblemanoffered me a small fortune if I would part with it."

  "And you wouldn't sell it?"

  "I was saving it for an occasion, your highness," he said, his steelyeyes glittering. "The glad hour has come when I can part with it for arecompense far greater than the baron's gold."

  "Oh, isn't it lucky you kept it?" she cried. Then she turned her eyesaway quickly, for his gaze seemed greedily endeavoring to pierce throughthe lace insertion covering her neck and shoulders. Outside the windowthe steady tramp of the tall guard went on monotonously.

  "The recompense of a sweet smile, a tender blush and the unguardedthanks of a pretty woman. The candlestick is yours, Miss Calhoun,--ifyou will repay me for my sacrifice by accepting it without reservation."

  Slowly Beverly Calhoun set the candlestick down upon the table her eyesmeeting his with steady disdain.

  "What a rare old jester you are, Count Marlanx," she said without asmile. "If I thought you were in earnest I should scream withlaughter. May I suggest that we join the countess? We must hurry along,you know. She and I have promised to play tennis with the princess atthree o'clock." The count's glare of disappointment lasted but a moment.The diplomacy of egotism came to his relief, and he held back the giftfor another day, but not for another woman.

  "It grieves me to have you hurry away. My afternoon is to be a dull one,unless you permit me to watch the tennis game," he said.

  "I thought you were interested only in the game of war," she saidpointedly.

  "I stand in greater awe of a tennis ball than I do of a cannonball, ifit is sent by such an arm as yours," and he not only laid his eyes buthis hand upon her bare arm. She started as if something had stung her,and a cold shiver raced over her warm flesh. His eyes for the momentheld her spellbound. He was drawing the hand to his lips when a shadowdarkened the French window, and a saber rattled warningly.

  Count Marlanx looked up instantly, a scowl on his face. Baldos stood atthe window in an attitude of alert attention. Beverly drew her arm awayspasmodically and took a step toward the window. The guard saw by hereyes that she was frightened, but, if his heart beat violently, his facewas the picture of military stoniness.

  "What are you doing there?" snarled the count.

  "Did your highness call?" asked Baldos coolly.

  "She d
id not call, fellow," said the count with deadly menace in hisvoice. "Report to me in half an hour. You still have something to learn,I see." Beverly was alarmed by the threat in his tones. She saw whatwas in store for Baldos, for she knew quite as well as Marlanx that theguard had deliberately intervened in her behalf.

  "He cannot come in half an hour," she cried quickly. "I have somethingfor him to do, Count Marlanx. Besides, I think I _did_ call." Bothmen stared at her.

  "My ears are excellent," said Marlanx stiffly.

  "I fancy Baldos's must be even better, for he heard me," said Beverly,herself once more. The shadow of a smile crossed the face of the guard.

  "He is impertinent, insolent, your highness. You will report to metomorrow, sir, at nine o'clock in Colonel Quinnox's quarters. Now, go!"commanded the count.

  "Wait a minute, Baldos. We are going out, too. Will you open that windowfor me?" Baldos gladly took it as a command and threw open the longFrench window. She gave him a grateful glance as she stepped through,and he could scarcely conceal the gleam of joy that shot into his owneyes. The dark scowl on the count's face made absolutely no impressionupon him. He closed the window and followed ten paces behind the couple.

  "Your guard is a priceless treasure," said the count grimly.

  "That's what you said about the candlestick," said she sweetly.

  She was disturbed by his threat to reprimand Baldos. For some time hermind had been struggling with what the count had said about "thelesson." It grew upon her that her friend had been bullied andhumiliated, perhaps in the presence of spectators. Resentment fired hercuriosity into action. While the general was explaining one of the newgun-carriages to the countess, Beverly walked deliberately over to whereBaldos was standing. Haddan's knowledge of English was exceedinglylimited, and he could understand but little of the rapidconversation. Standing squarely in front of Baldos, she questioned himin low tones.

  "What did he mean when he said he had given you a lesson?" shedemanded. His eyes gleamed merrily.

  "He meant to alarm your highness."

  "Didn't he give you a talking to?"

  "He coached me in ethics."

  "You are evading the question, sir. Was he mean and nasty to you? Tellme; I want to know."

  "Well, he said things that a soldier must endure. A civilian or an equalmight have run him through for it, your highness." A flush rose to hischeeks and his lips quivered ever so slightly. But Beverly saw andunderstood. Her heart was in her eyes.

  "That settles it," she said rigidly. "You are not to report to him atnine tomorrow."

  "But he will have me shot, your highness," said he gladly.

  "He will do nothing of the kind. You are _my_ guard," and her eyeswere gleaming dangerously. Then she rejoined the group, the members ofwhich had been watching her curiously. "Count Marlanx," she said, withentrancing dimples, "will you report to me at nine to-morrow morning?"

  "I have an appointment," he said slowly, but with understanding.

  "But you will break it, I am sure," she asserted confidently. "I want togive you a lesson in--in lawn tennis."

  Later on, when the victoria was well away from the fort, Dagmar took hercompanion to task for holding in public friendly discourse with a memberof the guard, whoever he might be.

  "It is altogether contrary to custom, and--" but Beverly put her handover the critical lips and smiled like a guilty child.

  "Now, don't scold," she pleaded, and the countess could go no further.

  The following morning Count Marlanx reported at nine o'clock with muchbetter grace than he had suspected himself capable of exercising. Whatshe taught him of tennis on the royal courts, in the presence of anamused audience, was as nothing to what he learned of strategy as it canbe practiced by a whimsical girl. Almost before he knew it she had wonexemption for Baldos, that being the stake for the first set ofsingles. To his credit, the count was game. He took the wager, knowingthat he, in his ignorance, could not win from the blithe young expert inpetticoats. Then he offered to wager the brass candlestick against herbracelet. She considered for a moment and then, in a spirit ofenthusiasm, accepted the proposition. After all, she coveted thecandlestick. Half an hour later an orderly was riding to the fort withinstructions to return at once with Miss Calhoun's candlestick. It is onrecord that they were "love" sets, which goes to prove that Beverly tookno chances.

  Count Marlanx, puffing and perspiring, his joints dismayed and his brainconfused, rode away at noon with Baron Dangloss. Beverly, quite happy inher complete victory, enjoyed a nap of profound sweetness and then wasready for her walk with the princess. They were strolling leisurelyabout the beautiful grounds, safe in the shade of the trees from theheat of the July sun, when Baron Dangloss approached.

  "Your royal highness," he began, with his fierce smile, "may I beg amoment's audience?"

  "It has to do with Baldos, I'll take oath," said Beverly, withconviction.

  "Yes, with your guard. Yesterday he visited the fortress. He went in anofficial capacity, it is true, but he was privileged to study thesecrets of our defense with alarming freedom. It would not surprise meto find that this stranger has learned everything there is to know aboutthe fort." His listeners were silent. The smiles left their faces. "I amnot saying that he would betray us--"

  "No, no!" protested Beverly.

  "--but he is in a position to give the most valuable information to anenemy. An officer has just informed me that Baldos missed not a detailin regard to the armament, or the location of vital spots in theconstruction of the fortress."

  "But he wouldn't be so base as to use his knowledge to our undoing,"cried Yetive seriously.

  "We only know that he is not one of us. It is not beyond reason that hisallegiance is to another power, Dawsbergen, for instance. Count Marlanxis not at all in sympathy with him, you are aware. He is convinced thatBaldos is a man of consequence, possibly one of our bitterest enemies,and he hates him. For my own part, I may say that I like the man. Ibelieve he is to be trusted, but if he be an agent of Volga or Gabriel,his opportunity has come. He is in a position to make accurate maps ofthe fort and of all our masked fortifications along the city walls."Beyond a doubt, the baron was worried.

  "Neither am I one of you," said Beverly stoutly. "Why shouldn't I proveto be a traitress?"

  "You have no quarrel with us, Miss Calhoun," said Dangloss.

  "If anything happens, then, I am to be blamed for it," she cried in deepdistress. "I brought him to Edelweiss, and I believe in him."

  "For his own sake, your highness, and Miss Calhoun, I suggest that noopportunity should be given him to communicate with the outsideworld. We cannot accuse him, of course, but we can _protect_ him.I come to ask your permission to have him detailed for duty only inplaces where no suspicion can attach to any of his actions."

  "You mean inside the city walls?" asked Yetive.

  "Yes, your highness, and as far as possible from the fortress."

  "I think it is a wise precaution. Don't be angry, Beverly," the princesssaid gently. "It is for his own sake, you see. I am acting on thepresumption that he is wholly innocent of any desire to betray us."

  "It would be easy for someone high in position to accuse and convicthim," said Dangloss meaningly.

  "And it would be just like someone, too," agreed Beverly, her thoughts,with the others', going toward none but one man "high in power."

  Later in the day she called Baldos to her side as they were riding inthe castle avenue. She was determined to try a little experiment of herown.

  "Baldos, what do you think of the fortress?" she

  "I could overthrow it after half an hour's bombardment, your highness,"he answered, without thinking. She started violently.

  "Is it possible? Are there so many weak points?" she went on, catchingher breath.

  "There are three vital points of weakness, your highness. The magazinecan be reached from the outside if one knows the lay of the land; theparade-ground exposes the ammunition building to certain disadvantages,
and the big guns could be silenced in an hour if an enemy had the sensefirst to bombard from the elevation northeast of the city."

  "Good heavens!" gasped poor Beverly. "Have you studied all this out?"

  "I was once a real soldier, your highness," he said, simply. "It wasimpossible for me not to see the defects in your fort."

  "You--you haven't told anyone of this, have you?" she cried, white-facedand anxious.

  "No one but your highness. You do not employ me as a tale-bearer, Itrust."

  "I did not mean to question your honor," she said. "Would you mind goingbefore the heads of the war department and tell them just what you havetold me? I mean about the weak spots."

  "If it is your command, your highness," he said quietly, but he wassurprised.

  "You may expect to be summoned then, so hold yourself in readiness. And,Baldos--"

  "Yes, your highness?"

  "You need say nothing to them of our having talked the matter overbeforehand--unless they pin you down to it, you know."