But I laughed
them aside, telling her it was I who stood in need of pardon for
becoming involved in such a breach of hospitality.
"Your Highness might have been killed," she insisted, woman-like.
"But I wasn't," said I, "so, pray, think no more about it."
Just then, Colonel Moore came up and, seeing us without our masks, he
dropped his, also. I watched Mademoiselle d'Essolde's greeting to him.
It was all even he could have wished.
"I think it is about the supper hour," said Lady Vierle. "Let us go
in."
I offered her my arm and, masking again, we led the way.
"Will Your Highness tell me something?" she asked immediately. "Did
you know your antagonist?"
"I didn't see his face," I evaded.
She looked at me quickly. "Would it be better for me not to know?"
"Yes," said I, "I think it would."
There was, really, no reason why I should shield Lotzen; yet, neither
was there any reason to rattle a family skeleton in public, and raise a
scandal, which would run the Kingdom over and be the gossip of every
Court in Europe.
Then I lifted my mask so she could see my face.
"And, my dear Lady Vierle," I said earnestly, "if you would do me a
great favor, you will promise to forget all about this unfortunate
incident.
Pages:
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294