"Is he dead?" she asked timorously, returning to the scene of horror.
"Only wounded, I think, as are the other men, though they all deserve
death."
He went with her as close to the gate as he thought safe. Taking her
hand he kissed it fervently. "Good-bye! It won't be for long!" and
disappeared.
She stood still and lifeless, staring after him, for ages, it seemed. He
was gone. Gone forever, no doubt. Her eyes grew wilder and wilder with
the pity of it all. Pride fled incontinently. She longed to call him
back. Then it occurred to her that he was hurrying off to that other
woman. No, he said he would return. She must be brave, true to herself,
whatever happened. She marched boldly up to the gate, gave the
countersign and passed through, not heeding the curious glances cast
upon her by the sentry; turned into the castle, up the grand staircase,
and fled to the princess's bed-chamber.
Beverly, trembling and sobbing, threw herself in the arms of the
princess. Incoherently, she related all that had happened, then swooned.
After she had been restored, the promise of Yetive to protect her,
whatever happened, comforted her somewhat.
"It must have been Marlanx," moaned Beverly.
"Who else could it have been?" replied the princess, who was visibly
excited.
Summoning all her courage, she went on: "First, we must find out if he
is badly hurt. We'll trust to luck. Cheer up!" She touched a bell. There
came a knock at the door. A guard was told to enter. "Ellos," she
exclaimed, "did you hear a shot fired a short time ago?"
"I thought I did, your highness, but was not sure."
"Baldos, the guard, was escaping by the secret passage," continued the
princess, a wonderful inspiration coming to her rescue. "He passed
through the chapel. Miss Calhoun was there. Alone, and single-handed,
she tried to prevent him. It was her duty. He refused to obey her
command to stop and she followed him into the tunnel and fired at
him. I'm afraid you are too late to capture him, but you may--, Oh,
Beverly, how plucky you were to follow him! Go quickly, Ellos! Search
the tunnel and report at once." As the guard saluted, with wonder,
admiration and unbelief, he saw the two conspirators locked in each
other's arms.
Presently he returned and reported that the guards could find no trace
of anyone in the tunnel, but that they found blood on the floor near the
exit and that the door was wide open.
The two girls looked at each other in amazement. They were dumbfounded,
but a great relief was glowing in their eyes.
"Ellos," inquired the princess, considerably less agitated, "does any
one else know of this?"
"No, your highness, there was no one on guard but Max, Baldos, and
myself," "Well, for the present, no one else must know of his flight. Do you
understand? Not a word to any one. I, myself, will explain when the
proper time comes. You and Max have been very careless, but I suppose
you should not be punished. He has tricked us all. Send Max to me at
once."