"I only ask your highness to order his arrest," he said, controlling
himself. "He is of the castle guard and can be seized only on your
command."
"Baldos is at the castle steps, your highness," said Colonel Quinnox
from the doorway. The entire party left the council-chamber and passed
out to the great stone porch. It must be confessed that the princess
leaned rather heavily upon Lorry's arm. She and Beverly trembled with
anxiety as they stood face to face with the tall guard who had come back
to them so mysteriously.
Baldos stood at the foot of the stone steps, a guard on each side of
him. One of these was the shamefaced Haddan, Dangloss's watchman, whose
vigil had been a failure. The gaze of the suspected guard purposely
avoided that of Beverly Calhoun. He knew that the slightest
communication between them would be misunderstood and magnified by the
witnesses.
"Baldos," said Lorry, from the top step, "it has come to our ears that
you left the castle surreptitiously last night. Is it true that you were
aided by Miss Calhoun?" Baldos looked thankful for this eminently
leading question. In a flash it gave him the key to the
situation. Secretly he was wondering what emotions possessed the slender
accomplice who had said good-bye to him not so many hours before at the
castle gate. He knew that she was amazed, puzzled by his sudden return;
he wondered if she were glad. His quick wits saw that a crisis had
arrived. The air was full of it. The dread of this very moment was the
thing which had drawn him into the castle grounds at early dawn. He had
watched for his chance to glide in unobserved, and had snatched a few
hours' sleep in the shelter of the shrubbery near the park wall.
"It is not true," he said clearly, in answer to Lorry's question. Both
Beverly and Marlanx started as the sharp falsehood fell from his
lips. "Who made such an accusation?" he demanded.
"Count Marlanx is our informant."
"Then Count Marlanx lies," came coolly from the guard. A snarl of fury
burst from the throat of the deposed general. His eyes were red and his
tongue was half palsied by rage.
"Dog! Dog!" he shouted, running down the steps. "Infamous dog! I swear
by my soul that he--"
"Where is your proof, Count Marlanx?" sternly interrupted Lorry. "You
have made a serious accusation against our honored guest. It cannot be
overlooked."
Marlanx hesitated a moment, and then threw his bomb at the feet of the
conspirators.
"I was in the chapel when she opened the secret panel for him."
Not a word was uttered for a full minute. It was Beverly Calhoun who
spoke first. She was as calm as a spring morning.
"If all this be true, Count Marlanx, may I ask why you, the head of
Graustark's army, did not intercept the spy when you had the chance?"