She was disturbed by his threat to reprimand Baldos. For some time her

mind had been struggling with what the count had said about "the

lesson." It grew upon her that her friend had been bullied and

humiliated, perhaps in the presence of spectators. Resentment fired her

curiosity into action. While the general was explaining one of the new

gun-carriages to the countess, Beverly walked deliberately over to where

Baldos was standing. Haddan's knowledge of English was exceedingly

limited, and he could understand but little of the rapid

conversation. Standing squarely in front of Baldos, she questioned him

in low tones.

"What did he mean when he said he had given you a lesson?" she

demanded. His eyes gleamed merrily.

"He meant to alarm your highness."

"Didn't he give you a talking to?"

"He coached me in ethics."

"You are evading the question, sir. Was he mean and nasty to you? Tell

me; I want to know."

"Well, he said things that a soldier must endure. A civilian or an equal

might have run him through for it, your highness." A flush rose to his

cheeks and his lips quivered ever so slightly. But Beverly saw and

understood. Her heart was in her eyes.

"That settles it," she said rigidly. "You are not to report to him at

nine tomorrow."

"But he will have me shot, your highness," said he gladly.

"He will do nothing of the kind. You are my guard," and her eyes

were gleaming dangerously. Then she rejoined the group, the members of

which had been watching her curiously. "Count Marlanx," she said, with

entrancing dimples, "will you report to me at nine to-morrow morning?"

"I have an appointment," he said slowly, but with understanding.

"But you will break it, I am sure," she asserted confidently. "I want to

give you a lesson in--in lawn tennis."

Later on, when the victoria was well away from the fort, Dagmar took her

companion to task for holding in public friendly discourse with a member

of the guard, whoever he might be.

"It is altogether contrary to custom, and--" but Beverly put her hand

over the critical lips and smiled like a guilty child.

"Now, don't scold," she pleaded, and the countess could go no further.

The following morning Count Marlanx reported at nine o'clock with much

better grace than he had suspected himself capable of exercising. What

she taught him of tennis on the royal courts, in the presence of an

amused audience, was as nothing to what he learned of strategy as it can

be practiced by a whimsical girl. Almost before he knew it she had won

exemption for Baldos, that being the stake for the first set of

singles. To his credit, the count was game. He took the wager, knowing

that he, in his ignorance, could not win from the blithe young expert in

petticoats. Then he offered to wager the brass candlestick against her

bracelet. She considered for a moment and then, in a spirit of

enthusiasm, accepted the proposition. After all, she coveted the

candlestick. Half an hour later an orderly was riding to the fort with

instructions to return at once with Miss Calhoun's candlestick. It is on

record that they were "love" sets, which goes to prove that Beverly took

no chances.




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