"I have nothing that I can give to him, he says. Paul Baldos asks only
that he may be my champion until these negotiations are ended. Then he
desires to be free to serve whom he will. All that I can do is to let
him have his way. He is a freelance and he asks no favors, no help."
"Well, I think he's perfectly ridiculous about it, don't you? And yet,
that is the very thing I like in him. I am only wondering how we--I
mean, how he is going to live, that's all."
"If I am correctly informed he still has several months to serve in the
service for which he enlisted. You alone, I believe, have the power to
discharge him before his term expires," said he meaningly.
That night Baldos returned to Edelweiss, ahead of the Graustark
delegation which was coming the next day with representatives from
Dawsbergen. He brought the most glorious news from the frontier. The
Duke of Matz and the leading dignitaries had heard of Gabriel's capture,
both through the Bappo boys and through a few of his henchmen who had
staggered into camp after the disaster. The news threw the Dawsbergen
diplomats into a deplorable state of uncertainty. Even the men high in
authority, while not especially depressed over the fall of their
sovereign, were in doubt as to what would be the next move in their
series of tragedies. Almost to a man they regretted the folly which had
drawn them into the net with Gabriel. Baldos reported that the Duke of
Matz and a dozen of the most distinguished men in Dawsbergen were on
their way to Edelweiss to complete arrangements for peace and to lay
their renunciation of Gabriel before Dantan in a neutral court. The
people of Dawsbergen had been clamoring long for Dantan's restoration,
and Baldos was commissioned to say that his return would be the signal
for great rejoicing. He was closeted until after midnight with Dantan
and his sister. Lorry and Princess Yetive being called in at the end to
hear and approve of the manifesto prepared by the Prince of
Dawsbergen. The next morning the word went forth that a great banquet
was to be given in the castle that night for Prince Dantan and the
approaching noblemen. The prince expected to depart almost immediately
thereafter to resume the throne in Serros.
Baldos was wandering through the park early in the morning. His duties
rested lightly upon his shoulders, but he was restless and
dissatisfied. The longing in his heart urged him to turn his eyes ever
and anon toward the balcony and then to the obstinate-looking castle
doors. The uniform of a Graustark guard still graced his splendid
figure. At last a graceful form was seen coming from the castle toward
the cedars. She walked bravely, but aimlessly. That was plain to be
seen. It was evident that she was and was not looking for
someone. Baldos observed with a thrill of delight that a certain red
feather stood up defiantly from the band of her sailor hat. He liked the
way her dark-blue walking-skirt swished in harmony with her lithe, firm
strides.