"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

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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.




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