"I don't think he has any proof against Baldos," said Beverly, thinking
only of the guardsman.
"But it is so easy to manufacture evidence, my dear. The Iron Count has
set his heart upon having you, and he is not the man to be turned aside
easily."
"He seems to think he can get wives as easily as he gets rid of them, I
observe. I was going back to Washington soon, Yetive, but I'll stay on
now and see this thing to the end. He can't scare a Calhoun, no
sir-ee. I'll telegraph for my brother Dan to come over here and punch
his head to pieces."
"Now, now,--don't be so high and mighty, dear. Let us see how rational
we can be," said the Princess gently. Whereupon the hot-headed girl from
Dixie suspended hostilities and became a very demure young woman. Before
long she was confessing timidly, then boldly, that she loved Baldos
better than anything in all the world.
"I can't help it, Yetive. I know I oughtn't to, but what is there to do
when one can't help it? There would be an awful row at home if I married
him. Of course, he hasn't asked me. Maybe he won't. In fact, I'm sure he
won't. I shan't give him a chance. But if he does ask me I'll just keep
putting him off. I've done it before, you know. You see, for a long,
long time, I fancied he might be a prince, but he isn't at all. I've had
his word for it. He's just an ordinary person--like--like--well, like I
am. Only he doesn't look so ordinary. Isn't he handsome, Yetive? And,
dear me, he is so impulsive! If he had asked me to jump over the balcony
rail with him last night, I believe I would have done it. Wouldn't that
have surprised old Marlanx?" Beverly gave a merry laugh. The troubles of
the morning seemed to fade away under the warmth of her humor. Yetive
sat back and marvelled at the manner in which this blithe young American
cast out the "blue devils."
"You must not do anything foolish, Beverly," she cautioned, "Your
parents would never forgive me if I allowed you to marry or even to fall
in love with any Tom, Dick or Harry over here. Baldos may be the
gallant, honest gentleman we believe him to be, but he also may be the
worst of adventurers. One can never tell, dear. I wish now that I had
not humored you in your plan to bring him to the castle. I'm afraid I
have done wrong. You have seen too much of him and--oh, well, you
will be sensible, won't you, dear?" There was real concern in the
face of the princess. Beverly kissed her rapturously.
"Don't worry about me, Yetive. I know how to take care of myself. Worry
about your old Gabriel, if you like, but don't bother your head about
me," she cried airily. "Now let's talk about the war. Marlanx won't do
anything until he hears from me. What's the use worrying?"