An almost imperceptible smile went round the table, and every listener
but one breathed more freely. The candor and boldness of the guard won
the respect and confidence of all except Marlanx. The Iron Count was
white with anger. He took the examination out of Lorry's hands, and
plied the stranger with insulting questions, each calm answer making him
more furious than before. At last, in sheer impotence, he relapsed into
silence, waving his hand to Lorry to indicate that he might resume.
"You will understand, Baldos, that we have some cause for apprehension,"
said Lorry, immensely gratified by the outcome of the tilt. "You are a
stranger; and, whether you admit it or not, there is reason to believe
that you are not what you represent yourself to be."
"I am a humble guard at present, sir, and a loyal one. My life is yours
should I prove otherwise."
Yetive whispered something in Lorry's ear at this juncture. She was
visibly pleased and excited. He looked doubtful for an instant, and then
apparently followed her suggestion, regardless of consequences.
"Would you be willing to utilize your knowledge as an engineer by
suggesting means to strengthen the fortress?" The others stared in fresh
amazement. Marlanx went as white as death.
"Never!" he blurted out hoarsely.
"I will do anything the princess commands me to do," said Baldos easily.
"You mean that you serve her only?"
"I serve her first, sir. If she were here she could command me to die,
and there would be an end to Baldos," and he smiled as he said it. The
real princess looked at him with a new, eager expression, as if
something had just become clear to her. There was a chorus of coughs and
a round of sly looks.
"She could hardly ask you to die," said Yetive, addressing him for the
first time.
"A princess is like April weather, madam," said Baldos, with rare humor,
and the laugh was general, Yetive resolved to talk privately with this
excellent wit before the hour was over. She was confident that he knew
her to be the princess.
"I would like to ask the fellow another question," said Marlanx,
fingering his sword-hilt nervously. "You say you serve the princess. Do
you mean by that that you imagine your duties as a soldier to comprise
dancing polite attendance within the security of these walls?"
"I believe I enlisted as a member of the castle guard, sir. The duty of
the guard is to protect the person of the ruler of Graustark, and to do
that to the death."
"It is my belief that you are a spy. You can show evidence of good faith
by enlisting to fight against Dawsbergen and by shooting to
kill," said the count, with a sinister gleam in his eye.