A Modern Mercenary

by K. Prichard and Hesketh Vernon Hesketh Prichard

  CHAPTER XIV.

  HALF A PROMISE.

  Ten minutes later a big emblazoned footman brought Rallywood a summonsfrom the Countess, as he stood talking to Counsellor and the Russian_attache_.

  As he moved away Blivinski placed a bony impressive finger onCounsellor's sleeve.

  'If he were not English, you could not trust him,' he saidenigmatically.

  Counsellor raised his bushy eyebrows, with a humorous glance. 'We havehad our day.'

  'Ah, my friend, you know most things. Also I know a very few,' Blivinskisaid significantly, 'but with your nation patriotism is not a virtue, itis a part of your physical system. You sacrifice all for your country,not because it is right to do so, but simply because you cannot help it;the good God made you so. Therefore this young man, in face of thesupreme temptation of youth, may be trusted. I speak of these things nowbecause you will remember, in good time, that those who are against youwill not dare to injure'--he removed the finger to his own breast--'usalso!'

  And the little silent swarthy man slipped away almost before Counsellorrealised that Russia, the mighty, had given him a pledge which mightprove of immense value in the uncertain future.

  Rallywood found the young Countess crouching and shivering near a woodfire. She was magnificently dressed in rich tones of royal purple, thataccentuated her delicate fairness and beauty, and a small diadem ofamethysts shone in the pale gold of her hair.

  She took no notice of his entrance, though she was acutely consciousthat his eyes were on her. She was hungry of his gaze, and she believedin the power of her own loveliness.

  'Jack,' she said at last, 'come here. I wonder now why I sent for you,but I am miserable.'

  She looked up at him heavy-lidded.

  There was concern in his voice as he answered her.

  'If I told you all,' she went on, 'you would not believe me. I amnow--to-night--in great danger.'

  'In danger? Here? where you are surrounded by friends,' repliedRallywood, beginning to wish himself well out of it. Had there been noValerie Selpdorf, or even had he not uttered those impulsive wordswhich, to his mind, changed his position from the indefinite to thedefinite, the history of his life might have been turned into anotherchannel that evening. As it was, though Valerie remained free as thewind, he felt himself to be in some vague manner bound to her.

  'Nonsense! You know how useless all these friends would be if thingswent wrong with me. They flatter the Countess of Sagan, but not one ofthem would make the smallest sacrifice for Isolde, the woman. I do notknow if you, even you, are my friend. We talked about it--long ago. ButI have not put you to the test, and I--I often wonder if our friendshipstill remains alive.'

  'I am as I always was,' he parried.

  'I wonder if that is true?' She raised her drooping face again. 'I don'tknow how to believe you. Why will you keep up this pretence of--ofreserve between us? You never tell me your troubles, and I suppose youhave them, like the rest of us. We should be quite old friends now, andyet you are always so'--she hesitated for a word--'courteous. Are youever angry, for example?'

  'Very often.'

  'But not with me, and I have given you cause many a time. If you wouldbe angry with me even once, Jack, causelessly angry, then I should knowI had a friend to whom I could go if I were in trouble--in such troubleas I am to-night!'

  'If there is anything I can do for you----'

  The quiet tone annoyed her. She rose quickly.

  'If--if--if! Any man could help me who--cared.'

  'I do care.'

  'I wonder,' she said wistfully, 'how much you mean of what you say. Ihave no standard to judge you by, because you are not quite like othermen. But I owe you my life, and I sometimes think it gives me a claim onyou.'

  'I can never pretend you owe me anything: you were quite safe; noaccident could have happened. You are far too good a horsewoman, thoughyou were nervous for the moment.' He spoke with a carelessaffectionateness, for the young Countess in her helpless beauty appealedto him.

  'Look at me!' she said tragically. 'Do I seem hateful?'

  'You are a young queen,' he paused, and added, 'a young queen--seen in adream! You are too ethereal to be of common earth.'

  'I am of common earth like any other woman,' she answered with a forlornlittle smile; 'I can be afraid and--I can love!'

  'Afraid? In your own Castle, among your own people?'

  'Yes, Jack. Don't think I am silly! It is quite true. You say you havenot changed, that you are still my friend. You are my only one then! Imust look to you for protection; I have no one else in the whole world.'She was very near him, her little cold hand had caught his in hervehemence; she looked apprehensively behind her, and then spoke low inhis ear. 'I am afraid of my husband. He wishes to be rid of me--I haveseen it in his eyes. Sagan will kill me! Do you remember the night ofthe ball, when I gave you the firefly? Have you kept it, I wonder? Isaid mine would be a short life. It is true. Sagan is tired of me, andI--Jack, I--loathe him!'

  'But----' Rallywood began.

  'You don't believe me? See this!' she pushed back a band of black velvetfrom her arm, and held it out to him. This touched him more than all;the slender blue-veined wrist with the marks of those cruel fingersclasped about it moved him far more than the temptations of her delicatebeauty. With an almost involuntary desire to comfort her as one mightcomfort and please a child, he bent above her hand and kissed thebruises.

  Isolde clung to him with a quick sob of relief.

  'Promise me, Jack, that you will save me! When danger threatens me Iwill send for you. You will come? You promise?'

  But Rallywood was not in the least in love with Madame de Sagan for allhis pity. He was again master of himself, and an odd suspicion flashedacross him.

  'I feel certain you are mistaken,' he repeated; 'but you have anotherfriend who can be of more service than I just now, MademoiselleSelpdorf.'

  The Countess sank back into her chair.

  'What do you know of Valerie?' she asked coldly.

  'Very little, but----'

  'Thanks! I know her better than you do. I don't choose that she shouldamuse herself at my expense.

  As it is, she has brought most of this trouble upon me.'

  Rallywood may have been sagacious enough on some points, but on thisparticular one he was a fool. He was not at all aware that Madame deSagan with her innocent eyes and small brain was sifting him.

  'But she meant to defend you!' he exclaimed.

  She laughed softly, and if a woman could have compassed the ruin of aman by means of love and temptation, Rallywood was lost from that hour,for the rivalry of Valerie Selpdorf added the one incentive of bitterresolve that drives such slight-brained jealous souls to the last limitof reckless endeavour.

  'When I find myself in danger I will remind you of the firefly, and youwill come then, Jack!' she said, 'you promise?'

  'When you want me, I will come--as soon as I may.'

  'But that is only half a promise.'

  'Yes,' he replied, 'but you know the other half is pledged already.'

  She sprang up with clenched hands.

  'What? To Valerie? Already?'

  'No, Madame, to the Duke.'

  'Ah, the Duke is well served!' she said sadly as he bowed at the door,but she laughed to herself when it closed behind him, 'Yet you will comewhen I send for you, Jack!'