"I never can forget you," she cried, touching his injured arm
gently. "Will you forget the one who gave you this wound?"
"It is a very gentle wound, and I love it so that I pray it may never
heal." She looked away suddenly.
"Tell me one thing," she said, a mist coming over her eyes. "You say
they are hunting you to the death. Then--then your fault must be a
grievous one. Have you--have you killed a man?" she added hastily. He
was silent for a long time.
"I fear I have killed more than one man," he said in low tones. Again
she shrank into the corner of the coach. "History says that your father
was a brave soldier and fought in many battles," he went on.
"Yes," she said, thinking of Major George Calhoun.
"He killed men then, perhaps, as I have killed them," he said.
"Oh, my father never killed a man!" cried Beverly, in devout horror.
"Yet Graustark reveres his mighty prowess on the field of battle," said
he, half laconically.
"Oh," she murmured, remembering that she was now the daughter of
Yetive's father. "I see. You are not a--a--a mere murderer, then?"
"No. I have been a soldier--that is all."
"Thank heaven!" she murmured, and was no longer afraid of
him. "Would--would a pardon be of any especial benefit to you?" she
asked, wondering how far her influence might go with the Princess
Yetive.
"It is beyond your power to help me," he said gravely. She was silent,
but it was the silence of deep reflection. "Your highness left the
castle ten days ago," he said, dismissing himself as a subject for
conversation. "Have you kept in close communication with Edelweiss
during that time?"
"I know nothing of what is going on there," she said, quite
truthfully. She only knew that she had sent a message to the Princess
Yetive, apprising her of her arrival In St. Petersburg and of her
intention to leave soon for the Graustark capital.
"Then you do not know that Mr. Lorry is still on the Dawsbergen frontier
in conference with representatives from Serros. He may not return for a
week, so Colonel Quinnox brings back word."
"It's news to me," murmured Beverly.
"You do not seem to be alarmed," he ventured. "Yet I fancy it is not a
dangerous mission, although Prince Gabriel is ready to battle at a
moment's notice."
"I have the utmost confidence in Mr. Lorry," said Beverly, with proper
pride.
"Baron Dangloss, your minister of police, is in these mountains watching
the operations of Axphain scouts and spies."
"Is he? You are very well posted, it seems."
"Moreover, the Axphainians are planning to attack Ganlook upon the first
signal from their ruler. I do not wish to alarm your highness, but we
may as well expect trouble before we come to the Ganlook gates You are
known to be in the pass, and I am certain an effort will be made to take
possession of your person."