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"I have been wondering why they did not use them," said Ellerey. "The streets are narrow for them," said Petrescu. "True; but if only a dozen break through there will be confusion." And then, lowering his voice, Ellerey went on: "Is there no way of escape for her?" "We may carve one for her, Ellerey, you and I; it is the only way I know of."
"Much more, Princess; but it is only for your ears." Frina Mavrodin had sped along the corridor so swiftly that she did not hear the door locked after her to prevent her sudden return or the intrusion of others. For a while she had no thought but a half-barbaric satisfaction that Baron Petrescu had justly suffered for his unprovoked insult; but this was succeeded by fears for Ellerey's safety.
"The Countess is in your keeping. Guide her to safety." "I will do all a man may do," Stefan answered, as Ellerey swung himself free by the stout branch of a creeper near the window, and dropped into the garden. The servants, heartened by Baron Petrescu, contested the stairs step by step. With all the odds against them not one turned to fly.
Princess Maritza?" asked Petrescu. "No, Baron; Captain Ellerey." "It was indeed a subtle temptation," and Petrescu turned slowly to look at his companion. "The truth shall quickly be put to the test," said Ellerey. "Give me wine, a full measure, to put new strength in me. Is mine to be the only voice raised in her defence?
Our food was gone, and we had determined to make a dash for safety after dark to-night. That we did not do so last night was by the Princess's desire. Her going must have been in her mind then." "She took the bracelet of medallions with her?" said Petrescu thoughtfully. "She told me it was in the tower yonder; it is not there now, so I presume she took it." "It may possibly secure her safety."
She had denied that Desmond Ellerey had drawn sword in her cause, and yet might he not have done so after all? What she had seen might only have been the end of a quarrel. Baron Petrescu may have spoken some light word concerning her which Ellerey had resented. If Lord Cloverton had spoken the truth, Ellerey's last thought had been of her.
She had a small reception that evening and was the most brilliant, as she was the most frivolous, among her brilliant and frivolous guests. Yet before nine o'clock Baron Petrescu had received some closely written sheets in her handwriting, and knew much of what had happened in Sturatzberg that day. But not all; that was, of course, impossible.
"And that is not to be wondered at," was the answer; "but there will be time to explain presently. Enough that we can shake hands over a past quarrel for which I have paid the penalty, and know that we stand together now." Ellerey took his outstretched hand without a word. "The Princess is with you?" Petrescu asked. "She was until this morning." "Killed!" cried the Baron.
Baron Petrescu, too, had been a prominent figure in the resistance which had been made, and was still unharmed; it was impossible to foretell how many others, from one cause or another. That the attack had been successfully resisted, in so far that the Princess had been able to escape, gave an enormous stimulus to the courage of the rebels.
He kept close upon their heels, ready to stand on the defensive at the first sign of treachery, but he took little notice of where they led him. Suddenly a street corner struck him as familiar, and the next moment the truth flashed upon him. It was the street he had traversed last night. At the bottom there they had met Baron Petrescu.
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