Suddenly she smiled nervously and drew back into the shadow of the
pillar. It occurred to her that he might be looking across the moon-lit
park, looking directly at her through all that shadowy distance. She was
conscious of a strange glow in her cheeks and a quickening of the blood
as she pulled the folds of her gown across her bare throat.
"Not the moon, nor the stars, nor the light in St. Valentine's, but the
black thing away off there on the earth," said a soft voice behind her,
and Beverly started as if the supernatural had approached her. She
turned to face the princess, who stood almost at her side.
"Yetive! How did you get here?"
"That is what you are looking at, dear," went on Yetive, as if
completing her charge. "Why are you not in bed?"
"And you? I thought you were sound asleep long ago," murmured Beverly,
abominating the guilty feeling that came over her. The princess threw
her arm about Beverly's shoulder.
"I have been watching you for half an hour," she said gently. "Can't two
look at the moon and stars as well as one? Isn't it my grim old castle?
Let us sit here together, dear, and dream awhile."
"You dear Yetive," and Beverly drew her down beside her on the
cushions. "But, listen: I want you to get something out of your head. I
was not looking at anything in particular."
"Beverly, I believe you were thinking of Baldos," said the other, her
fingers straying fondly across the girl's soft hair.
"Ridiculous!" said Beverly, conscious for the first time that he was
seldom out of her thoughts. The realization came like a blow, and her
eyes grew very wide out there in the darkness.
"And you are troubled on his account. I know it, dear. You--"
"Well, Yetive, why shouldn't I be worried? I brought him here against
his will," protested Beverly. "If anything should happen to him--" she
shuddered involuntarily.
"Don't be afraid, Beverly. I have as much confidence in him as you
have. His eyes are true. Grenfall believes in him, too, and so does
Mr. Anguish. Gren says he would swear by him, no matter who he is."
"But the others?" Beverly whispered.
"Baron Dangloss is his friend, and so is Quinnox. They know a
man. The count is different."
"I loathe that old wretch!"
"Hush! He has not wronged you in any way."
"But he has been unfair and mean to Baldos."
"It is a soldier's lot, my dear."
"But he may be Prince Dantan or Frederic or the other one, don't you
know," argued Beverly, clenching her hands firmly.
"In that event, he would be an honorable soldier, and we have nothing to
fear in him. Neither of them is our enemy. It is the possibility that he
is not one of them that makes his presence here look dangerous."