His marked preference for the American
girl did not escape attention. Some of the bolder young officers
indulged in surreptitious grimaces, and all looked with more or less
compassion upon the happy-faced beauty from over the sea. Marlanx
surveyed Baldos steadily and coldly, deep disapproval in his sinister
eyes. He had not forgotten the encounter of the day before.
"I see the favorite is on guard," he said blandly. "Has he told you of
the lesson in manners he enjoyed last night?" He was leading his guests
toward the quarters, Baldos and Haddan following. The new guard could
not help hearing the sarcastic remark.
"You didn't have him beaten?" cried Beverly, stopping short.
"No, but I imagine it would have been preferable. I _talked_ with
him for half an hour," said the general, laughing significantly.
When the party stopped at the drinking-fountain in the center of the
fort, Baldos halted near by. His face was as impassive as marble, his
eyes set straight before him, his figure erect and soldierly. An
occasional sarcastic remark by the Iron Count, meant for his ears, made
no impression upon the deadly composure of the new guard who had had his
_lesson_. Miss Calhoun was conscious of a vague feeling that she
had served Baldos an ill-turn when she put him into this position.
The count provided a light luncheon in his quarters after the ladies had
gone over the fortress.
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