"Your highness," addressing
Yetive, "Miss Calhoun has a note which she refuses to let anyone read
but you. Now, my dear young lady, you may give it directly into the
hands of her highness."
Beverly gave him a look of scorn, but without a second's hesitation
placed the missive in Yetive's hand. The Iron Count's jaw dropped, and
he moistened his lips with his tongue two or three times. Something told
him that a valuable chance had gone.
"I shall be only too happy to have your highness read the result of my
first lesson in the Graustark language," she said, smiling gaily upon
the count.
Two men in uniform came rushing up to the party, manifestly
excited. Saluting the general, both began to speak at once.
"One at a time," commanded the count. "What is it?"
Other officers of the guard and a few noblemen from the castle came up,
out of breath.
"We have discerned signal fires in the hills, your excellency," said one
of the men from the fort. "There is a circle of fires and they mean
something important. For half an hour they have been burning near the
monastery; also in the valley below and on the mountains to the south."
There was an instant of deathly silence, as if the hearers awaited a
crash. Marlanx looked steadily at Beverly's face and she saw the
triumphant, accusing gleam in his eyes. Helplessly she stared into the
crowd of faces.
Pages:
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228