Baldos started off at once for the castle, his heart singing. In the
darkness of the night he kissed the message which had come to him from
"her highness." The envelope had been closed with the official seal of
Yetive, Princess of Graustark, and was sacred to the eyes of anyone save
the man to whom it was directed. The words it contained were burned deep
in his brain: "You are ordered to report for duty in the castle. Come at once. Her
highness has sent an official command to Colonel Quinnox. Count
Marlanx has been here. You are not expected to desert until you have
seen me. There is an underground passage somewhere.--B."
Baldos went alone and swiftly. The note to Colonel Quinnox had been
imperative. He was to serve as an inner guard until further
orders. Someone, it was reported, had tried to enter Miss Calhoun's room
from the outside during the rainstorm of the previous night, and a
special guard was to be stationed near the door. All of this was unknown
to Baldos, but he did not ask for any explanations.
He was half way to the castle when the sharp report of a gun startled
him. A bullet whizzed close to his ear! Baldos broke into a crouching
run, but did not change his course. He knew that the shot was intended
for him, and that its mission was to prevent him from reaching the
castle. The attendants at the castle door admitted him, panting and
excited, and he was taken immediately to the enchanted boudoir of the
princess which but few men were fortunate enough to enter. There were
three women in the room.
"I am here to report, your highness," said he, bowing low before the
real princess, with a smile upon his flushed face.
"You are prompt," said the princess "What have you to report, sir?"
"That an attempt has just been made to kill a member of the castle
guard," he coolly answered.
"Impossible!"
"I am quite certain of it, your highness. The bullet almost clipped my
ear."
"Good heavens!" gasped the listeners. 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.