"Only that you put up your sword and end this miserable affair by going
to your--your room."
"It is punishment enough. To-morrow's execution can be no harder."
Marlanx had been thinking all this time. Into his soul came the thrill
of triumph, the consciousness of a mighty power. He saw the chance to
benefit by the sudden clash and he was not slow to seize it.
"Never fear, my man," he said easily, "it won't be as bad as that. I can
well afford to overlook your indiscretion of to-night. There will be no
execution, as you call it. This was an affair between men not between
man and the state. Our gracious referee is to be our judge. It is for
her to pardon and to condemn. It was very pretty while it lasted and you
are too good a swordsman to be shot. Go your way, Baldos, and remember
me as Marlanx the man, not Marlanx the general. As your superior
officer, I congratulate and commend you upon the manner in which you
serve the princess."
"You will always find me ready to fight and to die for her" said Baldos
gravely. "Do you think you can remember that. Count Marlanx?"
"I have an excellent memory," said the count steadily. With a graceful
salute to Beverly, Baldos turned and walked away in the darkness.
"A perfect gentleman, Miss Calhoun, but a wretched soldier," said
Marlanx grimly.
"He is a hero," she said quietly, a great calmness coming over her. "Do
you mean it when you say you are not going to have him punished? He did
only what a man should do, and I glory in his folly."
"I may as well tell you point blank that you alone can save him. He does
not deserve leniency. It is in my power and it is my province to have
him utterly destroyed, not only for this night's work, but for other and
better reasons. I have positive proof that he is a spy. He knows I have
this proof. That is why he would have killed me just now. It is for you
to say whether he shall meet the fate of a spy or go unscathed. You have
but to exchange promises with me and the estimable guardsman goes
free--but he goes from Edelweiss forever. To-day he met the enemy's
scouts in the hills, as you know quite well. Messages were exchanged,
secretly, which you do not know of, of course. Before another day is
gone I expect to see the results of his treachery. There may be
manifestations to-night. You do not believe me, but wait and see if I am
not right. He is one of Gabriel's cleverest spies."
"I do not believe it. You shall not accuse him of such things," she
cried. "Besides, if he is a spy why should you shield him for my sake?
Don't you owe it to Graustark to expose--"