I looked at the woman in wonder.
"But this is madness!" I cried.
"Directly you will see the method in the madness. Without their
knowing there could be no scandal. They will try to stop us. You will
over-power and bind them. There will also be several other witnesses
who will not be participants. Through them it will become known that I
have eloped with an American. Oh, it is a well-laid plan."
"But, supposing I am overpowered myself, thrown into jail and I know
not what?" All this was more than I had bargained for.
"Nothing of the kind will happen. Monsieur will hold a pistol in each
hand when the carriage door is opened. You will say: 'I am a desperate
man; one of you bind the other, or I fire!' It will be done. You will
spring upon the remaining one and I will help you to bind him likewise.
Oh, you will accomplish it well; you are a strong man; moreover, you
are rapid."
I sat in my chair, speechless. Here was a woman of details. I had
never met one before.
"Well, does monsieur accept the adventure or does he politely decline?"
There was a subtle taunt in her tones. That decided me.
"Your Highness, I should be happy to meet a thousand Uhlans to do you
service. What you ask me to do is quite simple." I knew that I should
lose my head in case of failure. I rose and bowed as unconcernedly as
though she had but asked me to join her with a cup of tea.
"Ah, monsieur, you are a man!" And she laughed softly as she saw me
throw back my shoulders. There was unmistakable admiration in her
eyes. "And yet," with a sudden frown, "there will be danger. You may
slip; you may become injured. Yes, there is danger."
"Your Highness," said I lowly, compelling her eyes to meet mine, "it is
not the danger of the adventure or its results that I most fear." I
was honest enough to make my meaning clear.
She blushed. "I said that I trusted monsieur's honor," was her
rejoinder. "Come," with a return of her imperiousness; "it is time
that we were gone!" She drew on her cloak and dropped the veil. "I
might add," she said, "that we will remain in France one hour. From
there you may go your way, and I shall go secretly to my palace."