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Julius Marulitch's right hand sought the pocket of the dinner jacket he was wearing. "No, Julius," said Alec pleasantly, "move an inch and you are a dead man. Bosko has my orders, and he will obey them. You may look at him if you doubt my word." Marulitch's well poised head had never before turned so quickly; but he shrank from a wicked looking muzzle pointed straight between his eyes.
Prince Michael and Julius, reassured by Alec's manner, and thanking the propitious stars that had rendered unnecessary the dangerous step they were contemplating, entered the room with as businesslike an air as they could assume at a crisis so fraught with import to their own future. "We ought to be alone," said Beliani in English, with a wary glance at Bosko.
And Alec left it at that; for the man who might reasonably be suspected of offsetting Stampoff's vigilance was dead, and no good purpose could be served by adding one more to his mother's host of bitter memories. A bell sounded, and Bosko went to the front door. He returned, his stolid features exhibiting the closest approach to excitement that they were capable of.
"Here they are, then. Be ready!" The door was ajar, and footsteps sounded on the stairs. Some one knocked. "Come in," said Alec cordially. Beliani was the first to enter. He pushed the door wide open to assure himself that he was not walking into a trap. He saw Bosko on his knees, rummaging in a trunk, and Alec standing in the middle of the room, lighting a cigarette. "Come in," said Alec again.
"Joan's maid will help you to reach your room. Our train leaves at midnight, and Bosko and Pauline will give your maid any help she needs in collecting your belongings." The Princess raised her grief stricken face to his, and it wrung his heart anew to see how that night of misery had aged her. "Oh, my son, my son!" she murmured. "Will you ever forgive me?"
You'll stand by me, Berty, I know. Go to my mother's suite and tell Bosko I want him instantly. Bid him bring a brace of revolvers, and see that they are loaded. Come here yourself with some ropes, leather straps, anything that will serve to truss a man securely, as soon as you are sure that Michael, Julius, and the Greek are safely in the room." Beaumanoir scented a row.
Delgratz wants again to see its Alexis, who is invited to reoccupy the throne on his own terms, wife, infant, mother, Bosko, Pauline, even myself and the domestic cat, all are welcome. There are no restrictions. At a word from the King even the Assembly itself will dissolve."
The day had been warm; but the evening air brought with it the crisp touch of autumn, and Joan was about to summon Pauline, who with honorable mention of the unchanging Bosko had solved for the young couple the most perplexing problem of American life, when the click of the garden gate caught her ear and she heard her husband's firm step. He stooped and kissed her.
As Bosko is giving her maid a hand in the packing, I must look after my own traps. Nesimir's servants would talk, which is just what I want to avoid. The two days in the train will give you plenty of time to learn the harrowing details. I have a pretty story for you; but it must wait. I am not cracked, nor sprung, nor trying to be funny; so you need not look at me in that way.
"I know that you weep; but your tempter's lying heart shall shed drop for drop!" A knock sounded on the door. "Their Excellencies the Prince and Princess Delgrado," announced Bosko, whose jaws underwent strange contortions at being compelled to utter so many syllables consecutively. Alec thrust the sword into its scabbard.
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