He said only the kindest things about you--that you were
able, courteous, brave--a true Dalberg; and that, if it could not be
he, he was glad it was you."
I smiled. "That was clever of him," I commented.
"And he, too, does not believe the Spencer woman's story."
"His cleverness grows," I laughed. "It only remains for him to
renounce his right to the Crown."
"He said it was for the King to choose which was the worthier, and
that, if it fell to you, he would serve you faithfully and well."
I put my hand on her head and softly stroked her hair.
"And you believed him, dear?" I asked.
She looked up quickly.
"Yes--I believed him. I wanted to believe him--Did he deceive me?"
"Listen," said I. "He reached Dornlitz two days ago. Yesterday
afternoon he insulted me repeatedly in my office at Headquarters. Last
night I attended the Vierle Masque. While in the Garden I was struck
in the back with a dagger."
"Stabbed!" she exclaimed, and clutched my arm.
"No, dear--not even scratched, thanks to Bernheim's steel vest I was
wearing. Half an hour later, our cousin of Lotzen, with Mrs. Spencer
on his arm, met me, alone, in a retired part of the Garden, forced a
duel, and did his level best to run me through, by a trick of fence he
thought he, alone knew.
Pages:
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298