Count Marlanx, puffing and perspiring, his joints dismayed and his brain
confused, rode away at noon with Baron Dangloss. Beverly, quite happy in
her complete victory, enjoyed a nap of profound sweetness and then was
ready for her walk with the princess. They were strolling leisurely
about the beautiful grounds, safe in the shade of the trees from the
heat of the July sun, when Baron Dangloss approached.
"Your royal highness," he began, with his fierce smile, "may I beg a
moment's audience?"
"It has to do with Baldos, I'll take oath," said Beverly, with
conviction.
"Yes, with your guard. Yesterday he visited the fortress. He went in an
official capacity, it is true, but he was privileged to study the
secrets of our defense with alarming freedom. It would not surprise me
to find that this stranger has learned everything there is to know about
the fort." His listeners were silent. The smiles left their faces. "I am
not saying that he would betray us--"
"No, no!" protested Beverly.
"--but he is in a position to give the most valuable information to an
enemy. An officer has just informed me that Baldos missed not a detail
in regard to the armament, or the location of vital spots in the
construction of the fortress."
"But he wouldn't be so base as to use his knowledge to our undoing,"
cried Yetive seriously.
"We only know that he is not one of us. It is not beyond reason that his
allegiance is to another power, Dawsbergen, for instance. Count Marlanx
is not at all in sympathy with him, you are aware. He is convinced that
Baldos is a man of consequence, possibly one of our bitterest enemies,
and he hates him. For my own part, I may say that I like the man. I
believe he is to be trusted, but if he be an agent of Volga or Gabriel,
his opportunity has come. He is in a position to make accurate maps of
the fort and of all our masked fortifications along the city walls."
Beyond a doubt, the baron was worried.
"Neither am I one of you," said Beverly stoutly. "Why shouldn't I prove
to be a traitress?"
"You have no quarrel with us, Miss Calhoun," said Dangloss.
"If anything happens, then, I am to be blamed for it," she cried in deep
distress. "I brought him to Edelweiss, and I believe in him."
"For his own sake, your highness, and Miss Calhoun, I suggest that no
opportunity should be given him to communicate with the outside
world. We cannot accuse him, of course, but we can protect him.
I come to ask your permission to have him detailed for duty only in
places where no suspicion can attach to any of his actions."