The Spaniard slowly shook his head and smiled. The expression gave to
his face a touch of the sinister. "No--but it is yet possible to forget,
Señor. I serve no King, I serve you. Sometimes a mistake is the truest
accuracy. Quien sabe?"
The Andalusian looked at the girl who stood puzzled and waiting.
"Sometimes in the Plaza de Toros, Señor," he went on, speaking rapidly
and tensely, "the throngs cry, 'Bravo, matador!' and toss coins into
the ring. Yet in a moment the same throngs may shout until their
throats are hoarse: 'Bravo, toro!' A King is like a bull in the ring,
Señor--he has a fickle fate. To me he is nothing--if it pleases
them--it is their King--let them do as they wish." He shrugged his
shoulders.
Benton straightened. "Manuel," he said with a strained tone, "the flag
comes down."
The Andalusian smiled regretfully, and once more shrugged his shoulders.
"As you say, Señor, but are you sure you wish it so?"
"Manuel, I mean that!" said the American with a steadied voice. "And for
God's sake, Manuel," he added wildly, "throw the rope over the gorge
when you have done it!"
For a moment Benton stood rigid, his hands clenched together at his back
as he watched the quick step of the Andalusian climbing to the
flag-staff. At last he turned dully and looked down where he could see
the royal cortége, not yet half-way along the road to the fortress, then
he went over to the girl's side.
"Cara," he said, "I have earned the right to kiss you good-by."
"It's yours without the earning, but good-by--!" She shuddered. "What
does it all mean?" she asked in bewilderment. "What was it you
discussed?"
"Listen," he commanded. "Tell Von Ritz or Karyl that Lapas is a traitor
and a prisoner in the observatory; that Louis is at his lodge and that
the Countess Astaride is a conspirator in a plot to assassinate the
King. Tell them that a percussion cap and key connect the magazines of
do Freres with the city."
The Princess looked at him with eyes that slowly widened in amazed
comprehension. "I understand," she whispered. "And the flag--see, it is
coming down--that means?"
He dropped on one knee and lifted her fingers to his lips. "It means
that you are to be crowned Queen in Galavia to-morrow," he answered with
a groan. "Long live the Queen!"