"Is it necessary for me to ask you to double the number of lessons I am
to have?" Marlanx asked. He was quite too close to her side to please
Beverly.
"Can't you learn in one lesson? Most Americans think they know all about
poker after the first game."
"I am not so quick-witted, your highness."
"Far be it from me to accelerate your wits, Count Marlanx. It might not
be profitable."
"You might profit by losing, you know," he ventured, leaning still
closer, "Poker is not the only game of chance. It was chance that gave
me a winning hand this evening."
"I don't understand."
"It shall be my pleasure to teach you in return for instructions I am to
have. I have tried to teach your excellent guard one phase of the
game. He has not profited, I fear. He has been blind enough to pick a
losing hand in spite of my advice. It is the game of hearts." Beverly
could not but understand. She shrank away with a shudder. Her wits did
not desert her, however.
"I know the game," she said steadily. "One's object is to cast off all
the hearts. I have been very lucky at the game, Count Marlanx."
"Umph!" was his ironical comment. "Ah, isn't this a night for lovers?"
he went on, changing tack suddenly. "To stroll in the shadows, where
even the moon is blind, is a joy that love alone provides. Come, fair
mistress, share this joy with me."
With that his hand closed over her soft arm above the elbow and she was
drawn close to his side. Beverly's first shock of revulsion was
succeeded by the distressing certainty that Baldos was a helpless
witness of this indignity. She tried to jerk her arm away, but he held
it tight.
"Release my arm, sir!" she cried, hoarse with passion.
"Call your champion, my lady. It will mean his death. I have evidence
that will insure his conviction and execution within an hour. Nothing
could Call him, I say, and--"
"I will call him. He is my sworn protector, and I will command
him to knock you down if you don't go away," she flared, stopping
decisively.
"At his peril--"
"Baldos!" she called, without a second's hesitation. The guard came up
with a rush just as Marlanx released her arm and fell away with a
muttered imprecation.
"Your highness!" cried Baldos, who had witnessed everything.
"Are you afraid to die?" she demanded briefly; and clearly.
"No!"
"That is all," she said, suddenly calm. "I merely wanted to prove it to
Count Marlanx." Tact had come to her relief most opportunely. Like a
flash she saw that a conflict between the commander of the army and a
guard could have but one result and that disastrous to the latter. One
word from her would have ended everything for Baldos. She saw through
the Iron Count's ruse as if by divine inspiration and profited where he
least expected her to excel in shrewdness. Marlanx had deliberately
invited the assault by the guard. His object had been to snare Baldos
into his own undoing, and a horrible undoing it would have been. One
blow would have secured the desired result. Nothing could have saved the
guard who had struck his superior officer. But Beverly thought in time.