"And your impressions have gone no further?"
"They have not, sir. It was most confidential."
"Could you accurately reproduce the plans of the fortress?"
"I think so. It would be very simple."
"Have you studied engineering?"
"Yes."
"And you could scientifically enumerate the defects in the construction
of the fort?"
"It would not be very difficult, sir."
"It has come to our ears that you consider the fortress weak in several
particulars. Have you so stated at any time?"
"I told the princess that the fortress is deplorably weak. In fact, I
think I mentioned that it could be taken with ease." He was not looking
at Count Marlanx, but he knew that the old man's eyes were flaming.
Then he proceeded to tell the board how he could overcome the fortress,
elaborating on his remarks to Beverly. The ministers listened in wonder
to the words of this calm, indifferent young man.
"Will you oblige us by making a rough draft of the fort's interior?"
asked Lorry, after a solemn pause. Baldos took the paper and in
remarkably quick time drew the exact lay of the fortress. The sketch
went the rounds and apprehensive looks were exchanged by the ministers.
"It is accurate, by Jove," exclaimed Lorry. "I doubt if a dweller in the
fort could do better. You must have been very observing."
"And very much interested," snarled Marlanx.
"Only so far as I imagined my observations might be of benefit to
someone else," said Baldos coolly. Again the silence was like death.
"Do you know what you are saying, Baldos?" asked Lorry, after a moment.
"Certainly, Mr. Lorry. It is the duty of any servant of her highness to
give her all that he has in him. If my observations can be of help to
her, I feel in duty bound to make the best of them for her sake, not for
my own."
"Perhaps you can suggest modifications in the fort," snarled
Marlanx. "Why don't you do it, sir, and let us have the benefit of your
superior intelligence? No, gentlemen, all this prating of loyalty need
not deceive us," he cried, springing to his feet. "The fellow is nothing
more nor less than an infernal spy--and the Tower is the place for him!
He can do no harm there."
"If it were my intention to do harm, gentlemen, do you imagine that I
should withhold my information for days?" asked Baldos. "If I am a spy,
you may rest assured that Count Marlanx's kindnesses should not have
been so long disregarded. A spy does not believe in delays."
"My--my kindnesses?" cried Marlanx. "What do you mean, sir?"
"I mean this. Count Marlanx," said Baldos, looking steadily into the
eyes of the head of the army. "It was kind and considerate of you to
admit me to the fortress--no matter in what capacity, especially at a
critical time like this. You did not know me, you had no way of telling
whether my intentions were honest or otherwise, and yet I was permitted
to go through the fort from end to end. No spy could wish for greater
generosity than that."