That same afternoon Baldos, blissfully ignorant of the stir he had

created in certain circles, rode out for the first time as a member of

the Castle Guard. He and Haddan were detailed by Colonel Quinnox to act

as private escort to Miss Calhoun until otherwise ordered. If Haddan

thought himself wiser than Baldos in knowing that their charge was not

the princess, he was very much mistaken; if he enjoyed the trick that

was being played on his fellow guardsman, his enjoyment was as nothing

as compared to the pleasure Baldos was deriving from the situation.

The royal victoria was driven to the fortress, conveying the supposed

princess and the Countess Dagmar to the home of Count Marlanx. The two

guards rode bravely behind the equipage, resplendent in brilliant new

uniforms. Baldos was mildly surprised and puzzled by the homage paid the

young American girl. It struck him as preposterous that the entire

population of Edelweiss could be in the game to deceive him.

"Who is the princess's companion?" he inquired of Haddan, as they left

the castle grounds.

"The Countess Dagmar, cousin to her highness. She is the wife of

Mr. Anguish."

"I have seen her before," said Baldos, a strange smile on his face.

The Countess Dagmar found it difficult at first to meet the eye of the

new guard, but he was so punctiliously oblivious that her courage was

restored. She even went so far as to whisper in Beverly's ear that he

did not remember her face, and probably would not recognize Yetive as

one of the eavesdroppers. The princess had flatly refused to accompany

them on the visit to the fortress because of Baldos. Struck by a sudden

impulse, Beverly called Baldos to the side of the vehicle.

"Baldos, you behaved very nicely yesterday in exposing the duplicity of

those young women," she said.

"I am happy to have pleased your highness," he said steadily.

"It may interest you to know that they ceased to be ladies-in-waiting

after that exposure."

"Yes, your highness, it certainly is interesting," he said, as he fell

back into position beside Haddan. During the remainder of the ride he

caught himself time after time gazing reflectively at the back of her

proud little head, possessed of an almost uncontrollable desire to touch

the soft brown hair.

"You can't fool that excellent young man much longer, my dear," said the

countess, recalling the look in his dark eyes. The same thought had been

afflicting Beverly with its probabilities for twenty-four hours and

more.




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024