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Gordon and the Frenchman Renauld were far in the lead, walking by themselves and speaking earnestly together; Father Paul was walking with Mrs. Carson and her daughter, and Kalonay was riding with two of the volunteers, the Count de Rouen and Prince Henri of Poitiers. When the King and Erhaupt turned from the window the Countess Zara had disappeared.
"Well," said Colonel Erhaupt, briskly, as he followed Niccolas out upon the terrace, "has the boat arrived? And the launch from the yacht," he continued, "has it started for shore yet?" The man pointed to where the yacht lay, a mile outside the harbor, and handed him the glass. "It is but just now leaving the ship's side," he said. "But I cannot make out who comes in her.
The Baron laughed comfortably. "It is like taking money from a blind beggar's hat," he said. "Why, with two hundred men that I could pick up in London," Erhaupt declared, contemptuously, "I would guarantee to put you on the throne in a fortnight." "Heaven forbid!" exclaimed his Majesty. "So they surrendered as quickly as that, did they?" he asked, nodding toward Madame Zara to continue.
Barrat moved his chair so that it faced the garden-path, the King crossed his legs comfortably and wrapped his padded dressing-robe closer around his slight figure, and Erhaupt stood leaning on the back of his chair with his eyes fixed on the fine insolent beauty of the woman before them.
As Barrat sipped his coffee and munched his rolls with the silent energy of a hungry man, the Colonel turned and strode up and down the terrace, pulling at his mustache and glancing sideways. When the Baron had lighted a cigarette and thrown himself back in his chair, Erhaupt halted and surveyed him in some anxiety. "You have been gone over two weeks," he said.
"If she had been a decent woman " There was a quick parting in the group and the sound of a heavy blow as Kalonay flung himself upon Erhaupt and struck him in the face, so that he staggered and fell at length upon the floor. Gordon stood over him, his fingers twitching at his side. "Stand up, you bully," he said, "and get out of this, before we throw you out."
"It is better so," said Erhaupt; "she was so badly frightened she would have told the truth." The King stood leaning on the back of a large arm-chair. "Well, the moment has come, it is our last chance," he said. "Send for the Crown Prince, Baron. I shall be discovered in the act of taking a tender farewell of my son." Barrat made an eager gesture of dissent. "I would not do that," he cried.
"His Majesty still sleeps." "Wake him," commanded Erhaupt. "Tell him I said to do so. Well, Baron," he cried, gayly, as he stepped forward, "welcome or are you welcome?" he added, with an uneasy laugh. "I should be. I have succeeded," the other replied gruffly, as he brushed past him. "Where is the King?" "He will be here in a moment. I have sent to wake him. And you have been successful? Good.
Do you suppose those scoundrels care for the Church the Church, indeed! Wait until I see them any of them Erhaupt by choice, and I'll make them give up every franc you've lent them, or I'll horsewhip and expose them for the gang of welshers and thimble-riggers they are; or if they prefer their own methods, I'll call them out in rotation and shoot their arms and legs off."
"The American can go to the devil," said the King. "Confound him and his insolence. I'll have him in the prison too, if he interferes. Or Erhaupt can pick a quarrel with him here and fight it out behind the sand-hills before the others get back from their picnic. He has done as much for me before." Zara stood up. She was trembling slightly, and she glanced fearfully from Erhaupt to the King.
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