She was disturbed by his threat to reprimand Baldos. For some time her
mind had been struggling with what the count had said about "the
lesson." It grew upon her that her friend had been bullied and
humiliated, perhaps in the presence of spectators. Resentment fired her
curiosity into action. While the general was explaining one of the new
gun-carriages to the countess, Beverly walked deliberately over to where
Baldos was standing. Haddan's knowledge of English was exceedingly
limited, and he could understand but little of the rapid
conversation. Standing squarely in front of Baldos, she questioned him
in low tones.
"What did he mean when he said he had given you a lesson?" she
demanded. His eyes gleamed merrily.
"He meant to alarm your highness."
"Didn't he give you a talking to?"
"He coached me in ethics."
"You are evading the question, sir. Was he mean and nasty to you? Tell
me; I want to know."
"Well, he said things that a soldier must endure. A civilian or an equal
might have run him through for it, your highness." A flush rose to his
cheeks and his lips quivered ever so slightly. But Beverly saw and
understood. Her heart was in her eyes.
"That settles it," she said rigidly. "You are not to report to him at
nine tomorrow."
"But he will have me shot, your highness," said he gladly.
"He will do nothing of the kind. You are my guard," and her eyes
were gleaming dangerously. Then she rejoined the group, the members of
which had been watching her curiously. "Count Marlanx," she said, with
entrancing dimples, "will you report to me at nine to-morrow morning?"
"I have an appointment," he said slowly, but with understanding.
"But you will break it, I am sure," she asserted confidently. "I want to
give you a lesson in--in lawn tennis."
Later on, when the victoria was well away from the fort, Dagmar took her
companion to task for holding in public friendly discourse with a member
of the guard, whoever he might be.
"It is altogether contrary to custom, and--" but Beverly put her hand
over the critical lips and smiled like a guilty child.
"Now, don't scold," she pleaded, and the countess could go no further.
The following morning Count Marlanx reported at nine o'clock with much
better grace than he had suspected himself capable of exercising. What
she taught him of tennis on the royal courts, in the presence of an
amused audience, was as nothing to what he learned of strategy as it can
be practiced by a whimsical girl. Almost before he knew it she had won
exemption for Baldos, that being the stake for the first set of
singles. To his credit, the count was game. He took the wager, knowing
that he, in his ignorance, could not win from the blithe young expert in
petticoats. Then he offered to wager the brass candlestick against her
bracelet. She considered for a moment and then, in a spirit of
enthusiasm, accepted the proposition. After all, she coveted the
candlestick. Half an hour later an orderly was riding to the fort with
instructions to return at once with Miss Calhoun's candlestick. It is on
record that they were "love" sets, which goes to prove that Beverly took
no chances.