"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.

Advertisement..

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.




Most Popular