Her eyes fell upon Baldos, who suddenly appeared in the
background. His face wore a hunted, imploring look. The next instant he
disappeared among the shadows.
CHAPTER XX
GOSSIP OF SOME CONSEQUENCE
"There is no time to be lost," exclaimed Count Marlanx. "Ask Colonel
Braze to report to me at the eastern gate with a detail of picked
troopers--a hundred of them. I will meet him there in half an hour." He
gave other sharp, imperative commands, and in the twinkling of an eye
the peaceful atmosphere was transformed into the turbulent, exciting
rush of activity. The significance of the fires seen in the hills could
not be cheaply held. Instant action was demanded. The city was filled
with the commotion of alarm; the army was brought to its feet with a
jerk that startled even the most ambitious.
The first thing that General Marlanx did was to instruct Quinnox to set
a vigilant watch over Baldos. He was not to be arrested, but it was
understood that the surveillance should be but little short of
incarceration. He was found at the barracks shortly after the report
concerning the signal fires, and told in plain words that General
Marlanx had ordered a guard placed over him for the time being, pending
the result of an investigation. Baldos had confidently expected to be
thrown into a dungeon for his affront. He did not know that Grenfall
Lorry stood firm in his conviction that Baldos was no spy, and was
supported by others in high authority.
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