"You are not the common goat-hunter you assume. Will you tell
me in confidence who you really are?" The others held their breath. He
hesitated for a moment.
"Will it suffice if I say that I am an unfortunate friend and advocate
of Prince Dantan? I have risked everything for his sake and I fear I
have lost everything. I have failed to be of service to him, but through
no fault of mine. Fate has been against me."
"You are Christobal," cried Dagmar eagerly. He gave her a startled
glance, but offered no denial. Beverly's face was a study. If he were
Christobal, then what of the game-warden's daughter?
"We shall question you no further," said Yetive. "You enlisted to serve
Miss Calhoun. It is for her to command you while you are here. May God
be with you to the end. Miss Calhoun, will you tell him what his duties
are for to-night? Come, my dear."
Yetive and Dagmar walked slowly from the room, leaving Beverly and her
guard alone.
"I am at your service, Miss Calhoun," he said easily. His apparent
indifference stung her into womanly revolt.
"I was a fool last night," she said abruptly.
"No; I was the fool. I have been the fool from the beginning. You shall
not blame yourself, for I do not blame you. It has been a sweet comedy,
a summer pastime. Forget what I may have said to you last night, forget
what my eyes may have said for weeks and weeks.
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