Then they eagerly plied him with
more agitated questions than he could answer.
"And did you not pursue the wretch?" cried the princess.
"No, your highness. I was commanded to report to you at once. Only the
success of the assassin could have made me--well, hesitate," said he
calmly. "A soldier has but to obey."
"Do you think there was a deliberate attempt to kill you?" asked the
Countess Dagmar. Beverly Calhoun was dumb with consternation.
"I cannot say, madame. Possibly it was an accidental discharge. One
should not make accusations unsupported. If you have no immediate need
of my services, your highness, I will ask you to grant me leave of
absence for half an hour. I have a peculiar longing to investigate."
There was a determined gleam in his eyes.
"No? no!" cried Beverly. "Don't you dare to go out there again. You are
to stay right here in the castle, sir. We have something else for you to
do. It was that awful old Marlanx who shot at you. He--"
"I left General Marlanx in Colonel Quinnox's quarters, Miss Calhoun,"
interposed Baldos grimly. "He could not have fired the shot. For two or
three nights, your highness, I have been followed and dogged with
humiliating persistence by two men wearing the uniforms of castle
guards. They do not sleep at the barracks. May I ask what I have done to
be submitted to such treatment?" There was a trace of poorly concealed
indignation in his voice.
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