Beverly was speechless.
"Of course, your highness," said Baldos, deep apology in his voice,
"Ravone is woefully misinformed. He is honest in his belief, and you
should not misjudge his motives. How he could have been so blind as to
confound you with that frisky American girl--but I beg your pardon. She
is to be your guest. A thousand pardons, your highness."
She had been struck dumb by the wording of the note, but his apparently
sincere apology for his friend set her every emotion into play once
more. While he was speaking, her wits were forming themselves for
conflict. She opened the campaign with a bold attack. "You--you believe
me to be the princess, sure 'nough, don't you?" But with all her
bravery, she was not able to look him in the face.
"How can you doubt it, your highness? Would I be serving you in the
present capacity if I believed you to be anyone else?"
"Ravone's warning has not shaken your faith in me?"
"It has strengthened it. Nothing could alter the facts in the case. I
have not, since we left Ganlook, been in doubt as to the identity of my
benefactress."
"It seems to me that you are beating around the bush. I'll come straight
to the point. How long have you known that I am not the princess of
Graustark?"
"What!" he exclaimed, drawing back in well-assumed horror. "Do you
mean--are you jesting? I beg of you, do not jest. It is very serious
with me." His alarm was so genuine that she was completely deceived.
"I am not jesting," she half whispered, turning very cold. "Have you
thought all along that I am the princess--that I am Grenfall Lorry's
wife?"
"You told me that you were the princess."
"But I've never said that I was--was anyone's wife."
There was a piteous appeal in her voice and he was not slow to notice it
and rejoice. Then his heart smote him.
"But what is to become of me if you are not the princess?" he asked
after a long pause. "I can no longer serve you. This is my last day in
the castle guard."
"You are to go on serving me--I mean you are to retain your place in the
service," she hastened to say. "I shall keep my promise to you." How
small and humble she was beginning to feel. It did not seem so
entertaining, after all, this pretty deception of hers. Down in his
heart, underneath the gallant exterior, what was his opinion of her?
Something was stinging her eyes fiercely, and she closed them to keep
back the tears of mortification.
"Miss Calhoun," he said, his manner changing swiftly, "I have felt from
the first that you are not the princess of Graustark. I knew it
an hour after I entered Edelweiss. Franz gave me a note at Ganlook, but
I did not read it until I was a member of the guard."