A great dignity settled upon his face. His dark eyes crushed her
with their quiet scorn.
"I understand, Miss Calhoun. The play is over. You will find the
luckless vagabond a gentleman, after all. You ask me to desert the cause
I serve. That is enough. I shall go to-night."
The girl was near to surrender. Had it not been for the persistent fear
that her proud old father might suffer from her wilfulness, she would
have thrown down the barrier and risked everything in the choice. Her
heart was crying out hungrily for the love of this tall, mysterious
soldier of fortune.
"It is best," she murmured finally. Later on she was to know the meaning
of the peculiar smile he gave her.
"I go because you dismiss me, not because I fear an enemy. If you choose
to remember me at all, be just enough to believe that I am not a
shameless coward."
"You are brave and true and good, and I am a miserable, deceitful
wretch," she lamented. "You will seek Ravone and the others?"
"Yes. They are my friends. They love my poverty. And now, may it please
your highness, when am I to go forth and in what garb? I should no
longer wear the honest uniform of a Graustark guard."
"Leave it to me. Everything shall be arranged. You will be discreet? No
one is to know that I am your--"
"Rest assured, Miss Calhoun. I have a close mouth," and he smiled
contemptuously.
Pages:
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273