In a far corner of the grounds, now gray in the early dusk, Beverly bade
the bearers to set down her chair and leave her in quiet for a few
minutes. The two men withdrew to a respectful distance, whereupon she
called Baldos to her side. Her face was flushed with anxiety.
"You must tell me the truth about that transaction with Ravone," she
said, coming straight to the point.
"I was expecting this, your highness," said he quietly. The shadows of
night were falling, but she could distinguish the look of anxiety in his
dark eyes.
"Well?" she insisted impatiently.
"You saw the notes exchanged?"
"Yes, yes, and I command you to tell me what they contained. It was the
most daring thing I--"
"You highness, I cannot tell you what passed between us. It would be
treacherous, "he said firmly. Beverly gasped in sheer amazement.
"Treacherous? Good heaven, sir, to whom do you owe allegiance--to me or
to Ravone and that band of tramps?" she cried, with eyes afire.
"To both, your highness," he answered so fairly that she was for the
moment abashed. "I am loyal to you--loyal to the heart's core, and yet I
am loyal to that unhappy band of tramps, as you choose to call
them. They are my friends. You are only my sovereign."
"And you won't tell me what passed between you? "she said, angered by
this epigrammatic remark.
"I cannot and be true to myself."
"Oh? you are a glorious soldier," she exclaimed, with fierce sarcasm in
her voice. "You speak of being true! I surprise you in the very act
of--"
"Stay, your highness!" he said coldly. "You are about to call me a spy
and a traitor. Spare me, I implore you, that humiliation. I have sworn
to serve you faithfully and loyally. I have not deceived you, and I
shall not. Paul Baldos has wronged no man, no woman. What passed between
Ravone and myself concerns us only. It had nothing to do with the
affairs of Graustark."
"Of course you would say that. You wouldn't be fool enough to tell the
truth," cried she hotly. "I am the fool! I have trusted you and if
anything goes wrong I alone am to blame for exposing poor Graustark to
danger. Oh, why didn't I cry out this afternoon?"
"I knew you would not," he said, with cool unconcern.
"Insolence! What do you mean by that?" she cried in confusion.